UCSD Foundation Dinner
Honors Departing Vice Chancellor Langley for Service

By Paul Mueller I June 13, 2005

Chancellor Marye Anne Fox with departing Vice Chancellor James M. Langley.

The Great Hall at Eleanor Roosevelt College rang with the stately chords of chamber music and the sprightly clatter of Irish dance on June 3 as the UCSD Foundation and invited guests bid farewell to James M. Langley, the departing Vice Chancellor for External Relations and president of the foundation.

Ronald R. Taylor, chair of the foundation, hosted the event and in his remarks lauded Langley's service to the university and wished him well at his new post, a similar position at Georgetown University.

Chancellor Marye Anne Fox echoed those sentiments, citing Langley's achievements during his tenure at UCSD and praising the External Affairs organizations he helped to build.

"As you know, Jim has served UCSD in many capacities," said Fox. "As Vice Chancellor for External Relations, he has managed our development success, doubling annual gift income; he's been our outreach ambassador, building support and engagement among alumni and other philanthropic constituencies; and he has implemented a strong strategic communications and federal and community relations vision. As president of the UCSD Foundation, he has spearheaded a growth effort beyond all imaginable goals. And last, but most important, he created, implemented, and has driven our "Imagine What's Next" campaign to succeed at incomparable levels. We are currently at two-thirds of the $1 billion campaign and remain on schedule, thanks to the work of Jim and his staff."

Acknowledging Langley's Celtic roots, Fox concluded with a traditional Irish toast:

"May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand."

Guests, including deans of the colleges, faculty, staffers, and family, enjoyed entertainment provided by a student chamber group and a troupe of young Irish dancers.

Dancers from the Rose Academy of Irish Dance.

The students' performance was notable not only for their musical expertise but for their academic achievements as well. Lindsey Jenkins-Stark, soprano, is a third-year major in sociology with a minor in music; Erin Meierhenry, violin, is a sophomore majoring in human biology and minoring in music; Theresa LaGuardia, viola, is majoring in pharmacological chemistry and minoring in music; Talar Kaloustian, cello, is a political-science major with minors in music and law and society; and David Kimpton, piano, is a fourth-year molecular biology major minoring in music, physics and math.

The Rose Academy of Irish Dance - run by UCSD staffer and alumna Patricia Rose -- provided the light-footed dancers, whose group and solo performances brought dinner guests to their feet, clapping in time to the Hibernian rhythms.

The air of merriment put a fitting cap to the UCSD Foundation's evening of thanks and congratulations to Langley.

The foundation is a separate nonprofit corporation formed in 1972 to promote the educational and research purposes of UCSD. Governed by an independent board of directors, the Foundation generates and accepts charitable donations, and manages a diverse portfolio of assets.