From the Chancellor
2008 University of California, Irvine Medal
May 19, 2008
Dear Colleagues:
Each year, the Medal is bestowed upon a few extraordinary individuals
who have made exceptional contributions to the mission, spirit and
vision of the University of California, Irvine. The Medal is the
university’s most prestigious honor, and I am honored to share with you
the names of those who will receive this year’s recognition.
The following distinguished recipients will be honored for their outstanding leadership, dedication and support:
Carol & Ralph Cicerone
Ralph and Carol Cicerone are most certainly an academic power couple,
but they’re also widely known for their devotion to the University of
California, Irvine. They came to UCI in 1989, and by the time they
departed in 2005, when Ralph became president of the National Academy of
Sciences, Ralph, as chancellor, and Carol, as a respected professor,
had left an indelible and compassionate mark upon the campus.
In 2003, Carol received UCI Alumni Association’s top honor, the
Extraordinarius Award, for her talent and contributions as an educator,
researcher, campus advocate and ambassador. While at UCI, she served on
both the Academic Senate Committee on Research and the UC Committee on
Research Policy. Over the years, she has served on many prestigious
panels and boards, and she has edited numerous scholarly publications.
Originally hired as the founding chair of the Department of Earth System
Science in 1989, Ralph served as dean of the School of Physical
Sciences from 1989 to 1994 and as chancellor from 1998 to 2005. He has
shaped science and environmental policy both as an atmospheric chemist
and as president of the nation’s leading independent scientific body,
the National Academy of Sciences.
James Mazzo
Jim Mazzo’s vision has helped his company, Advanced Medical Optics,
become an industry leader. At UCI, he is a Foundation Trustee, a member
of the Chief Executive Roundtable, and he chairs The Eye Institute
capital campaign and the Engineering Advisory Board. A featured speaker
at university events, he also sits on several community boards, and he
is a founding board member of OCTANe, a private, non-profit corporation
that drives innovation and technology in the region. Jim and his wife,
Kelly, a philanthropist and community volunteer, co-chaired the 2005
Medal Awards, and their efforts helped raise nearly $1.3 million for
scholarships and fellowships – setting a new event fundraising record at
the time. Jim, both with his wife and through AMO, has generously
donated to a wide variety of campus areas over the years.
Stanley van den Noort
Attracted by an opportunity to build a department of neurology from the
ground up, Stanley came to UCI in 1970 as a professor and chief of
neurology. From 1973 through 1985, he served as the dean of the College
of Medicine - now the School of Medicine. During his tenure as dean, his
leadership was marked by the expansion of UCI’s neurology department to
16 people and the establishment of a Multiple Sclerosis Center on
campus. A pioneer in multiple sclerosis education, research and patient
care, Stanley was also instrumental in influencing the building of
Irvine Hall, Hewitt Hall, the Hitachi Research Center and Gottschalk
Medical Plaza at UCI. In addition, he has been a diplomat of the
American Board of Neurology since 1963. An active volunteer for the MS
Society for many years, Stanley has served the organization as member
and chair of the Medical Advisory Board, chair of the Clinical Care
Committee, and co-chair of the Long-term Care Committee. He also served
as chief medical officer of the MS Society from 1997 to 2001, and he
continues to be an active member of the Orange County Chapter.
Hosted by the University of California, Irvine Foundation, A Celebration
of Stars is the campus’s largest fundraiser. Proceeds support key
programs such as Regents’ Scholarships and graduate fellowships, which
are given to those students who exhibit academic merit and outstanding
promise.
This year’s celebration will be chaired by Hazem and Salma Chehabi.
Hazem is the president of Newport Diagnostic Center, a premiere medical
imaging facility, and Salma is a community leader and philanthropist who
earned her bachelor’s degree from the School of Biological Sciences at
UCI.
One of Orange County’s premier events, the Medal awards will be held
this year over the course of two evenings on Oct. 3 and 4. To honor
UCI’s past Medalists, the evening of Oct. 3 has been dubbed “A Parade of
Medalists” and will be held at the Barclay Theatre. On the following
evening, the main event will be held at the Bren Events Center.
For more information on tickets and sponsorships, please call (949) 824-9801.
Please join me in congratulating this remarkable group of individuals.
We are thankful for everything they have done on behalf of the
University of California, Irvine.
Chancellor Michael Drake