A Message From Mike Riley, Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer:
As we continue to support our most valued resource—you—I am pleased to announce the appointment of Nicole Pollack as UC Merced’s Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Assistant Vice Chancellor (AVC) for Human Resources. Her appointment will begin Aug. 5.
Nicole brings with her a wealth of experience, most recently from San Mateo County with over 20 years of experience in all aspects of public sector HR with hands on experience in recruitment, talent acquisition, talent development and management, policy development and employee relations. She also serves as the chair of the Bay Area Social Services Consortium Human Resources Committee, working as a liaison for 12 Bay Area counties and Bay Area universities, including UC Berkeley and four CSU universities.
I want to extend my deep appreciation to the CHRO Search Advisory Committee for their active participation in the search process for this critical position. The committee was involved in recruiting, screening and conducting interviews with qualified candidates, and Nicole stood out as a solid choice to lead our campus in all matters related to Human Resources. The members of the search committee include:
- Michael Reese, Vice Chancellor Emeritus
- Luanna Putney, Associate Chancellor and Chief of Staff to the Chancellor
- Rich Shintaku, Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Provost
- Kristin Hlubik, Health Promotions Coordinator
- Demitra Borrero, Interlibrary Services Coordinator
- Sam Traina, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development
- Chou Her, Chief of Police
- Kurt Schnier, Professor of Economics and Chair of the Academic Senate
I also want to thank the many people who participated in the final interview process, especially during the warm summer months. We owe this successful search in large part to your efforts and dedication to the mission and vision of our institution. We are UC Merced, and your commitment to finding excellent people shows true through this search.
Nicole is a hands-on, innovative leader in her field with a commitment to collaboration, coalition-building, and inclusiveness. I’m confident that Nicole brings the right combination of skills and experience to our campus at exactly the right time.
Please join me in welcoming Nicole Pollack to the Bobcat community as she steps into this important role that ultimately positions us to better serve our people and our UC Merced community.
