Richard L. Kravitz, director of the UC Center Sacramento, or UCCS, has announced he will step down on June 30, 2024, after nearly 11 years leading the center. Kravitz will return full-time to the faculty in the UC Davis School of Medicine, where he is a distinguished professor of medicine. The University of California will launch a search for his successor this fall.

UCCS is a systemwide program managed by UC Davis, with the director dually reporting to the UC Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and to the UC Davis Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor.

“Dr. Kravitz has been an extraordinary leader and program innovator, and I couldn’t be more grateful for his contributions to UCCS and to the University of California,” said Katherine S. Newman, UC Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs. “I offer my deepest gratitude to him for his unwavering dedication and commitment to the students who participate in the UCCS academic program, as well as to the knowledge-sharing function of the center, both of which have made UCCS a strong presence in the state capital.”

Kravitz was initially appointed interim director of UCCS in 2013 and became its permanent director two years later. He led a strategic and collaborative visioning process that resulted in a plan to grow the center’s enrollment, enhance the student experience, build a more active alumni network, and expand its research dissemination efforts in the service of evidence-based public policy.

“It has been a pleasure working with Dr. Kravitz and his team at UCCS, and to see the remarkable progress he and his team have made over the last decade,” said Mary Croughan, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor. “This center has helped to raise understanding and awareness of public policy and civic engagement, and it has instilled a passion in countless students to pursue fulfilling public service careers. UCCS is a tremendous asset to this state and the UC, and we have Dr. Kravitz to thank for his vision and leadership.”

In Kravitz’s first five years alone, UCCS successfully doubled its enrollment and welcomed a diverse student body representing all undergraduate campuses. About half of the students enrolled in the program were first generation college students and a majority were Pell Grant recipients. UCCS also expanded its course offerings and established several new scholarship opportunities, which has provided for more students with access to the program.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kravitz and his team worked to expand fundraising efforts to increase UCCS’ knowledge-sharing activities. He also established CalSPEC, the California State Policy Evidence Consortium, a two-year pilot that implements a rapid systematic review process to produce non-partisan, evidence-based reports on select policy topics for legislative committees.

“This has been the most thrilling job of my career,” Kravitz said. “It has been my great privilege to work with students, faculty, staff, university leaders, policymakers, community members and supporters in the service of our missions to prepare California’s future leaders, and to share knowledge that supports public policy. We have made so much progress and there is more to be done, and I am confident that the amazing staff and supporters will continue building on our collective success.”