Dr. Julio Frenk, the current president of the University of Miami, has been appointed as the next chancellor of UCLA, making him the first Latino to lead the top public institution, which has recently been embroiled in protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
During a meeting on the UCLA campus on Wednesday, the University of California Board of Regents selected Dr. Frenk, a prominent global health researcher, as the university’s new leader. The meeting took place amid heightened anticipation of more protests after dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested on campus late Monday.
Frenk will become UCLA’s seventh chancellor, succeeding Gene Block, who will step down on July 31 after 17 years marked by significant growth in enrollment and research funding.
Block announced his retirement last August, before the university faced intense scrutiny for its response to pro-Palestinian protests that swept college campuses nationwide in late April and early May. The UCLA protests reached a critical point on April 30 when counter-demonstrators clashed violently with pro-Palestinian protesters.
Although Frenk did not address the protests or UCLA’s response during his appointment announcement, he emphasized the importance of this period for higher education.
“We need to clearly and passionately communicate the numerous societal benefits provided by UCLA and its peer institutions, especially given the growing mistrust in higher education,” Frenk said. “Currently, campus communities nationwide are grappling with complex issues, including safeguarding student well-being, eliminating all forms of discrimination, and upholding the free expression of rights.”
Frenk will officially assume his role on January 1, 2025. Until then, Darnell Hunt, UCLA’s executive vice chancellor and provost, will serve as interim chancellor starting in August.
Who is Dr. Julio Frenk?
Dr. Julio Frenk has been the president of the University of Miami, a private institution with over 17,000 students, since 2015. He previously served as dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health for nearly seven years.
Born in Mexico City, Frenk was Mexico’s health secretary from 2000 to 2006, where he reformed the nation’s health system and launched Seguro Popular, a program providing universal health insurance. This initiative expanded healthcare access to more than 55 million uninsured people.
Frenk also established Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health and served as an executive director at the World Health Organization. Prior to joining Harvard University, he was a senior fellow with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s global health program in 2008.
During his tenure as dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Frenk was recognized for his efforts in fundraising and educational reform.
At the University of Miami, Frenk “achieved a dramatic turnaround” of the academic health system, and the university invested significantly in intercollegiate athletics, educational innovation, and interdisciplinary research. He led a $2.5 billion fundraising campaign, resulting in over 100 new faculty chairs.
“In his nine years at the University, Julio guided us through some of the most significant moments in our history,” stated Manny Kadre, Chair of the University of Miami Board of Trustees. “He helped guide the University through unprecedented challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and empowered our students, faculty, and staff to achieve excellence in every area—education, research, patient care, and service to society.”
Frenk received his medical degree from the National University of Mexico in 1979. He then earned master’s degrees in public health and sociology and a joint doctorate in medical care organization and sociology from the University of Michigan between 1981 and 1983.
