Wallace Loh, vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has resigned to take a cabinet position with the governors office in the state of Washington.
Lohs resignation is effective Sept. 30. He will serve as director of policy for Washington Gov. Gary Locke.
An interim vice chancellor will be named as soon as possible, said Chancellor Richard L. Byyny. A national search will be conducted for a permanent replacement.
The Boulder campus has benefited from Wallace Lohs leadership in strategic planning and commitment to excellence, Byyny said. With quiet persistence, he guided the new Strategic Plan from concept to implementation. Throughout the process, he involved large numbers of the campus community in the planning efforts.
Its been a real joy and privilege to work with so many talented and inspiriting colleagues and students on the Boulder campus, Loh said. For all the support and friendship they have shown me, I shall always be thankful. For the contributions they have made, and will continue to make, to the academic distinction of CU-Boulder, I shall always be proud.
Loh helped develop the Strategic Plan around several core concepts, including the creation of academic neighborhoods to offer more learning experiences in small-group environments like the Honors Program and residential academic programs. The plan places a high priority on undergraduate education, including the creation of a new position, the associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education.
Loh also focused on developing closer ties between budgets and performance, drawing a direct connection between evaluations and results in meeting goals. Loh also made improved academic advising a priority in the Strategic Plan, including increased involvement by faculty.
Loh, formerly dean of law at the University of Washington, was appointed vice chancellor at CU-Boulder in August 1995. The vice chancellor for academic affairs is the top academic office for the Boulder campus and reports to the chancellor. All of the campus academic deans report to the vice chancellor for academic affairs.