The campus’s top administrator at the helm of the university’s major fundraising efforts – which included its flagship $1-billion “”Imagine What’s Next”” campaign – has resigned.
Last week, Keith Brant left the position of vice chancellor of external affairs, granting him six months of separation pay, in addition to severance-related perks.
In an e-mail sent to the external relations staff, the campus provosts and other university leaders, Chancellor Marye Anne Fox said that Brant resigned “”to pursue other business interests.””
Brant was hired eight months ago after a months-long search to fill the administrative slot, culminating in his selection, which Fox said was, “”exactly what UCSD was searching for.”” Brant had extensive experience within the UC system, serving UCLA as assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations and as executive director of the university’s alumni association. He took over similar duties at UCSD, taking charge of philanthropic efforts and participating in the UCSD Foundation and UCSD Student Foundation.
Brant’s resignation will minimally impact the billion-dollar “”Imagine What’s Next”” campaign, according to Associate Vice Chancellor Communications Stacie A. Spector. The operation – UCSD’s primary fundraising drive – was thriving during Brant’s tenure. The project is slated for early completion this summer.
“”The campaign will proceed to its end as planned,”” Spector said.
UC Senior Vice President of Business and Finance emeritus V. Wayne Kennedy has been tapped to take charge of external relations as interim vice chancellor.
Wayne is a veteran of the campus, according to the statement released by Fox, taking on several positions until 1982, when he served for over a decade as UCSD’s vice chancellor for administration.
Brant’s departure means that the A.S. Council has lost one of its strongest supporters within administration, A.S. President Harry Khanna said.
Brant provided backing for several council initiatives, including its all-campus baccalaureate.
The project, which has been postponed to 2008 with promised support from the Chancellor’s Office, according to Khanna.
“”[Brant] was one of our biggest advocates,”” he said. “”It seemed that he genuinely cared about students and put them first; that’s something rare.””
Brant is the eighth of nine top-tier administrators who have departed or are slotted to depart from UCSD since Fox became chancellor in 2004.
Brant has not shared with the university which other “”business interests”” he will be pursuing, according to Spector.
“”Over the past two years, UC San Diego and the University of California system have been undergoing extraordinary transition due to the retirements of the many talented individuals who have dedicated their careers to our University and the decisions of others to explore new career opportunities,”” Fox said in her statement.
