UC Names Director of Science and Math Initiative

Lynda J. Goff, a UC administrator and faculty member who played a lead role in designing the University of California's initiative to train more K-12 science and mathematics teachers, has been named director of the program, the University announced Tuesday. Under the "California Teach" program, the UC system over the next several years will quadruple its annual production of credentialed science and mathematics teachers, from 250 per year to 1,000 per year by 2010. Undergraduates at UC will be able to achieve, in four years of study, both a bachelor's degree in science, mathematics or engineering and the preparation to enable them to become a secondary-school science or mathematics teacher. "This initiative reflects the University of California's commitment to play a constructive role in improving K-12 achievement in California and in positioning our state for continued economic success," said UC President Robert C. Dynes. "Lynda's deep understanding of the nature of the challenge, her familiarity with educators across the state who will make this effort successful, and her personal passion for teaching make her the ideal person to lead this undertaking." For the last year, Goff has been serving as executive faculty assistant to the UC provost on a temporary basis, focusing largely on the development of this initiative. Goff has been a member of the biology faculty at UC Santa Cruz for 30 years and served as vice provost and dean of undergraduate education at the campus from 1999 to 2004. As executive faculty associate and director of UC's science and mathematics initiative, Goff will lead the continued build-out of the "California Teach" program, which was announced by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and education and business leaders in May and which will begin enrolling students in 2005-06. The initiative is a public-private partnership that already has attracted $4 million in contributions from California businesses that see the importance of expanding the state's supply of highly qualified science and math teachers to develop the educated workforce that California will need to remain competitive in the global economy. Goff was chosen at the unanimous recommendation of a search committee after a Universitywide search. She will receive a salary of $192,100 per year in the position, the same level she received during her temporary appointment over the past year. See more information on the California Teach program here. Source: UC Office of the President