Diane Fields Geocaris, Chief Campus Counsel

Dear colleagues,

Diane Fields Geocaris, chief campus counsel, has informed me that after 27 years of service to UCI, she plans to retire, effective Sept. 1.

Diane was hired in 1990 by Chancellor Emeritus Jack Peltason as the first chief campus counsel in the UC system. In this role, she has led a team of three attorneys and two staff members to help provide vital legal advice to UCI senior management in all areas affecting the campus, including health sciences, research regulations and compliance, employee relations, student affairs, land use, gift matters, contracts and constitutional law. Diane also has been a senior adviser on institutional policy and decision-making requiring a legal perspective, as well as a member of my cabinet and advisory council, the Whistleblower Investigations Work Group, the Committee on Internal Audit, and the Ethics & Compliance Risk Committee. From July 2007 to July 2008, she was interim associate chancellor and chief of staff for the Office of the Chancellor under Michael V. Drake.

An accomplished attorney prior to her appointment at UCI, Diane was a partner with Rudnick & Wolfe (now DLA Piper) in Chicago and held associate positions at Sidley & Austin in Chicago and Washington, D.C., and at Gray, Cary, Ames & Frye (now DLA Piper) in San Diego. She is an alumna of Stanford University, where she earned both her undergraduate and law degrees. Diane has been a steadfast supporter of education, having served as a trustee of her alma mater, president of Stanford Associates’ board of governors and, locally, a member of the finance committee for Sage Hill School in Newport Beach. In 2007, she was awarded the Stanford Medal in recognition of her volunteer efforts on behalf of the university.

The entire UCI community is tremendously thankful for Diane’s invaluable insight, dedication and service. Her analytical, discerning guidance has made a major impact on campus operations and partnerships and has contributed to our overarching success through the years.

Please join me in congratulating Diane on reaching this milestone and in wishing her well in the next chapter of her life.

Sincerely,

Chancellor Howard Gillman