Prepared remarks of France Córdova, UC Riverside Chancellor

“Good morning Regents, President Dynes, fellow chancellors, Provost Kliger and members of the Santa Cruz family, representatives from the entire UC community, family of Denice, and Gretchen.

Vibrant, energetic, visionary, committed, creative, tireless, passionate, gifted, accomplished–all words used to describe our friend, our chancellor Denice Denton. She has been called a ‘rare gift,’ a ‘vigorous leader,’ ‘a trailblazer.’ But arguably what people will remember most about Denice Denton is her unwavering commitment.

Martin Luther King said, ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.’ Denice was never silent about things that matter. With laptop in hand, and armed with facts, figures, humor, and analogies, she was eager to show you individually–or in front of a crowd of hundreds–the evidence for why change was needed. She was a resolute and articulate spokesperson for the nation on the need to increase the pipeline of women and minorities in science and engineering careers.

During her inaugural address as chancellor, she said, ‘Not content with “thinking at the edge,” let’s embrace the challenge to “lead at the edge,” to build on our past accomplishments, and to continue to make a difference in a society that is rife with challenges affecting everyone on the planet.” And that is how she lived her life. Because she wanted to make a difference, the things that mattered to her were of consequence to a nation seeking its way in the face of threats to national security, global competitiveness, and challenged with educating successfully a growing, diverse population.

The theme of her inauguration, held in this auditorium on November 4, 2005, was achieving excellence through diversity: a call to action.

Denice Denton believed deeply in what she espoused, led by example, and was an inspiration for girls and women in every arena, from kindergarten through the professoriate. Denice made a difference in the lives of many people, some of whom have never met her but who benefited nevertheless from the causes she held dear. She was not afraid to speak out. She battled for social justice, prevailed against institutional barriers, and challenged traditional thinking. She did these things because they mattered—not only to her personally, but to society at large. 

As a tribute of the great respect and esteem accorded to her by the academy, Chancellor Denton was given this year the prestigious Maria Mitchell Women in Science award. Just this week, a National Academy report on women in science and engineering was dedicated to Denice by the chair of the committee, Donna Shalala, president of the University of Miami and past Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Denice’s spirit is evoked by the voices of the chancellors who each month shared a day with her and with each other, and every two months shared an intimate dinner before the Regents meetings–a dinner in which we discussed life, the university, and everything under the sun.

One chancellor writes, “I have lost a newfound friend whose imagination, intelligence and commitment to the purposes of higher education were second to none."

Another says, “Denice and I became very good friends… I was always particularly impressed by her commitment to excellence and by how creative she was in her ideas on how to educate well.”

Another chancellor says, “She was a tireless worker for the rights and opportunities of others, and her passionate leadership in improving higher education has been an inspiration to all of us who had the privilege to work with her. Even more, however, she was a treasured friend.”

And another: ‘Denice was a gifted and accomplished colleague, with so much potential that tragically will now go unrealized. The UC family has suffered a great loss.’

‘This is a tragic loss to her family and friends… [she] will be greatly missed, but the legacy of her leadership…will live on.’

And from a female chancellor of a university back East: “This tragedy is a call to all of us to continue the highest forms of leadership in achieving equity, diversity, and educational excellence for all, and to support each other in doing so."

I return to King’s quote: ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.’ The things that mattered last week matter even more today. Your presence here today, your commemoration of the life and spirit of Denice, mean that her day continues.”

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