It is with great sorrow that I announce the passing of Chancellor Emerita Marye Anne Fox on May 9, 2021. She was 73.
As UC San Diego’s seventh chancellor, Fox was the first woman to be appointed as permanent chancellor. She led the university during a historic era of extraordinary campus growth and through unprecedented financial challenges. Under her leadership, UC San Diego successfully completed a billion-dollar capital campaign, celebrated its 50th anniversary, and expanded the campus at a record pace to accommodate student growth and a billion-dollar research enterprise.
Chancellor Fox was also an internationally renowned chemist. Her pivotal research advanced the world’s understanding of renewable energy and environmental chemistry. For her groundbreaking work, she received the Charles Lathrop Parsons Award from the American Chemical Society and the prestigious Othmer Gold Medal, jointly awarded by the Science History Institute, the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, The Chemists' Club, and the American section of the Société de Chimie Industrielle. In 2010, Fox received the National Medal of Science from President Barack Obama.
Among her many prestigious appointments and honors, she was elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and to fellowships both in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association of Advancement of Science. She also received honorary degrees from 12 institutions in the United States and abroad.
Chancellor Fox was also a gifted administrative leader who advocated for lasting change on complex issues. Because of her vision, UC San Diego became one of the greenest campuses in the nation and is now a living laboratory for climate change research and solutions. Fox also instituted systemic changes in leadership, visibility and funding to improve diversity and enhance UC San Diego’s campus climate. Her dedication paved the way for the university to establish a Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and laid the foundation for continuous learning and improvement.
In addition to her service to UC San Diego, Chancellor Fox served on the Council on Competitiveness, Building Engineering and Science Talent (BEST), the Association of American Universities (AAU), National Security – Higher Education Advisory Board and the World Universities Network (WUN), amongst other distinguished committees.
Marye Anne was extremely gracious during the transition period and upon my arrival at UC San Diego. She left the campus in a very strong position—ready for growth, poised for continuous innovation, and valued for its contributions to the region, state and world. We would not be where we are today without her visionary leadership and steady hand.
She is survived by her husband James K. Whitesell, UC San Diego Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, as well as three sons and two stepsons.
