Al Seib / Los Angeles Times
Says she is cancer-free
By Teresa Watanabe | Los Angeles Times
University of California President Janet Napolitano, who has championed immigrant students and sexual abuse victims but whose management of the UC system has sparked criticism, announced Wednesday she was resigning.
Napolitano made the announcement at the UC regents meeting at UCLA. She will step down Aug. 1, 2020.
“It was a tough decision,” Napolitano said but added that “the university will benefit from some fresh blood.” She said she is “looking forward to a very productive year at the end of my presidency.”
Napolitano, 61, said she would join the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy to teach and write in fall 2021 after a year-long sabbatical. She said she was not stepping down because of health, saying she was “completely clear” of cancer after her 2016 treatment, but that she was ready to move on after what would be seven years of UC service.
She did not rule out running for political office, taking a Cabinet position or serving on the U.S. Supreme Court if nominated.
