Sally Peterson is Retiring!

Few, if any, individuals have had a greater impact on students or campus life more than Sally Peterson who is gracefully celebrating 35 years of service to UCI with a summer retirement. Her vision, guidance, and influence have set the tone for student activities, programs, policies, and campus climate since UCI's infancy. She has been a great role model, leader, mentor, educator, colleague, and student advocate during her tenure, and students, faculty, staff, and administrators will all miss her greatly.

We wish her well and hope to carry on with the finest traditions and core values that she has brought and helped instill into the campus.

RSVP for her celebration event on June 30 and write her a personal message in "Dear Sally...".

Dear UCI Community,

It is with deep appreciation and lament that I announce the retirement of Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, Sally Peterson.

Dean Peterson joined the UC Irvine community in 1974, when the campus was only nine years old.  Over her thirty-five years of service to the University, she has managed virtually every student service area at UCI.

Sally has also worked as a program and staff director during three Semester at Sea programs, consulted for Simon and Schuster Education Group, and Coast Telecourses of KOCE TV, lectured in the School of Social Sciences, given countless presentations and written many articles.  She has received numerous grants and awards, including several FIPSE project grants, the Lauds and Laurels Community Service Award, the NASPA VI Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean, and honorary membership in Order of the Omega.

Under her guidance, the Office of the Dean of Students has become a programmatic model across the UC system and to universities nationally and internationally.  Sally's vision has been fiercely student-centered, and her commitment, enthusiasm, integrity, and contributions to the campus will persist through the legacy of her engaging leadership.

She has organized and mentored an outstanding staff that will continue the excellent work for which she is known.  Across the nation there are many UCI alumni who have become student affairs professionals and higher education leaders as a direct result of her influence and mentoring.

Her unique contributions to our campus include the building of student life and campus spirit.  This spirit will help guide us as we begin a national search for her replacement.  I will keep you informed as we move forward in the process.

In the meantime, let us all thank Dean Sally Peterson.  We have been inestimably enriched by her dedication.  Despite the loss her retirement represents, Sally's work has built a model for student-centered organizations across the higher education landscape.  I look forward to inviting the campus community when we celebrate her achievements before she retires in July.

Sincerely,

Manuel N. Gomez
Vice Chancellor Student Affairs