Robert C. Dynes
Encyclopedia
Robert C. Dynes is a Canadian-American physicist, researcher, and academic administrator, and professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley
, and the former President of the University of California system, and former Chancellor
of the University of California, San Diego
.
, Canada
where he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Western Ontario
in 1964. He then earned master's (1965) and doctorate (1968) degrees in physics from McMaster University
. He became a naturalized United States citizen in 1984.
(UCSD) in 1991. In 1996 he became Chancellor of the UCSD campus, then in 2003 was chosen to be the 18th President of the University of California system.
Dynes' scientific honors include the 1990 Fritz London
Memorial Prize in Low Temperature Physics and his 2001 election to the Council of the National Academy of Sciences, a society to which he was elected in 1989.
Dynes is a fellow of the American Physical Society
, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
.
Dynes remains active in his research and heads a modest sized low temperature physics laboratory at Berkeley.
After five tumultuous years as President of UC, filled with compensation scandals, the suicide of UCSC Chancellor Denice Denton
and other challenges, on August 13, 2007, Dynes announced he would resign his position as the President of the University of California to return to his teaching position and spend time with his new wife, Ann Parode. He resigned on August 16. 2007, and was replaced by Mark Yudof
, formerly chancellor of the University of Texas.
In November 2008, Dynes' close aide and his UC Associate President Linda Morris Williams, was awarded a controversial pay out and re-hired as an Associate Chancellor at University of California, Berkeley by Chancellor Robert Birgeneau
. Birgeneau is a fellow Canadian and old friend of Dynes at Bell Labs
. This event led President Mark Yudof
to make changes to the buy out program.
in May 1998 and they divorced in 2006. He married former UCSD legal counsel and UC Associate of the President, Ann Parode, in March 2007.
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and the former President of the University of California system, and former Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
of the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
.
Early years
Dynes was born in OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
in 1964. He then earned master's (1965) and doctorate (1968) degrees in physics from McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
. He became a naturalized United States citizen in 1984.
Career
Dynes worked at Bell Laboratories from 1964 to 1990, studying semiconductors and superconductors. He then became professor of physics at the University of California, San DiegoUniversity of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
(UCSD) in 1991. In 1996 he became Chancellor of the UCSD campus, then in 2003 was chosen to be the 18th President of the University of California system.
Dynes' scientific honors include the 1990 Fritz London
Fritz London
Fritz Wolfgang London was a German theoretical physicist. His fundamental contributions to the theories of chemical bonding and of intermolecular forces are today considered classic and are discussed in standard textbooks of physical chemistry.With his brother Heinz, he made a significant...
Memorial Prize in Low Temperature Physics and his 2001 election to the Council of the National Academy of Sciences, a society to which he was elected in 1989.
Dynes is a fellow of the American Physical Society
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research enables Canadian researchers to work on international research teams that are custom built to transform their fields of study...
, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
.
Dynes remains active in his research and heads a modest sized low temperature physics laboratory at Berkeley.
After five tumultuous years as President of UC, filled with compensation scandals, the suicide of UCSC Chancellor Denice Denton
Denice Denton
Denice Dee Denton was an American professor of electrical engineering and academic administrator. She was the ninth chancellor of the University of California, Santa Cruz until her suicide in June 2006.-Early years :...
and other challenges, on August 13, 2007, Dynes announced he would resign his position as the President of the University of California to return to his teaching position and spend time with his new wife, Ann Parode. He resigned on August 16. 2007, and was replaced by Mark Yudof
Mark Yudof
Mark G. Yudof is an American law professor and academic administrator. He is president of the University of California , former chancellor of the University of Texas System , and former president of the University of Minnesota .In addition to his position as Chancellor at The University of Texas,...
, formerly chancellor of the University of Texas.
In November 2008, Dynes' close aide and his UC Associate President Linda Morris Williams, was awarded a controversial pay out and re-hired as an Associate Chancellor at University of California, Berkeley by Chancellor Robert Birgeneau
Robert Birgeneau
Robert Joseph Birgeneau is a Canadian physicist, educator, and university administrator. He is the ninth chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, and was the fourteenth president of the University of Toronto from 2000 to 2004.-Biography:The first from his family to finish high school,...
. Birgeneau is a fellow Canadian and old friend of Dynes at Bell Labs
Bell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
. This event led President Mark Yudof
Mark Yudof
Mark G. Yudof is an American law professor and academic administrator. He is president of the University of California , former chancellor of the University of Texas System , and former president of the University of Minnesota .In addition to his position as Chancellor at The University of Texas,...
to make changes to the buy out program.
Personal life
Dynes naturalized to the United States in 1984. He married Cristel Dynes in 1968 and they divorced in January, 1998. He married physics professor, Frances HellmanFrances Hellman
Frances Hellman is a physicist at University of California, Berkeley who studies the thermodynamic properties of novel solid materials, especially thin film semiconducting, superconducting, and magnetic materials. She is currently the chairwoman of the physics department and holds a dual...
in May 1998 and they divorced in 2006. He married former UCSD legal counsel and UC Associate of the President, Ann Parode, in March 2007.