UC Regents appoint first Latino Chancellor: Former Mexican Secretary of Health and President of U Miami Dr. Julio Frenk Mora.

Dr. Julio Frenk has begun his tenure as UCLA’s seventh Chancellor after previously serving as the president of the University of Miami since 2015. Frenk also previously served as Secretary of Health under the Vicente Fox administration and was the dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 

 

Many students express both hope and concern for the new appointment. “This is good, especially as UCLA strives to be a more Hispanic-serving institution,” said Grecia Bernal. Bernal, a second-year Bioengineering major, also shared hope for various medical programs on campus and hopes that Chancellor Frenk’s background in community health will lead to stronger and increased opportunities for students in the field. 

 

Frenk’s tenure as Mexico’s Secretary of Health focused on closing the inequality gap in access to healthcare and serving as the Director-General of the Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (National Institute of Public Health of Mexico). The Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA (ranked #9 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2024) will now have an influential and highly experienced individual who brings national and international experience to the school and field. 

 

A large criticism of this appointment is the salary Frenk is set to make with this position. The UC Regents approved a $978,904 annual salary following his appointment. This salary is a pay cut compared to the $1,685,829 annual salary Frenk received as president of U Miami.

 

Fourth-year student Issai Marcial and first-year student Marianna Rebollar weren’t aware of the new chancellor. Still, both had questions that were critical of Frenk’s salary amidst a widening economic gap at the university. Marcial asked, “Does Dr. Frenk support raising the minimum wage for ASUCLA working students?” This comes after the AFSCME Local 3299 strike against the UC on Nov. 20 and 21. Similarly, Rebollar brought up economic struggles for faculty and professors. Rebollar asked, “How do you justify your salary?” Frenk’s salary is amongst the highest in the UC system, just behind UCSF chancellor Sam Hawgood who makes $1,189,260 annually. 

 

Last April and leading into May, the organizers of the Palestine Solidarity Encampment called for divestment from Israel. Chancellor Emeritus Gene Block faced heavy criticism for his handling of the May unrest and violence that shook the campus community. Following all of this, UCLA now finds itself in an unprecedented position with students and faculty arguing that administrators suppressed free speech by shutting down the encampments and that administration’s actions undermined the university’s role in fostering critical thought. Taking this helm, Chancellor Frenk now steps into a tough and crucial role. 

I think it will be interesting to see Frenk’s stance on these issues of UCLA students and staff and his plan to lead the campus forward. With such strong and distinguished experience in global health and higher education, I anticipate that Dr. Frenk will bring innovative and strong leadership to the UCLA campus. Given his background in public health, I hope Frenk will not only help students in the field but also provide more research opportunities and continue to strengthen the already nationally accoladed program. One thing I do note, however, is the tension around economic equity within the UC system. Frenk’s salary serves as a reminder of the widening economic gap across the UC system for many, and I strongly believe the criticism is only beginning to grow. At the end of the day, as a Mexican-American, I realize the magnitude of having a Latino in such an influential role. That’s one of us and because of that, I think this is a good step forward as UCLA strives to become a Hispanic-serving institution. 

 

Dr. Julio Frenk Mora’s success in the role will depend on his ability to bridge divides, foster dialogue, and ensure that UCLA continues to be a leader in both academic excellence and social responsibility. I wish Dr. Frenk nothing but the best in the position and hope he succeeds in moving UCLA forward and leading the #1 public university in the nation.