Donald F. Tuzin

Don Tuzin, professor, former chair of the Department of Anthropology, and former chair of the our campus Academic Senate, passed away on Sunday, April 15th 2007. Don was a valued faculty member and leader of the UC San Diego community and his contributions, both in and out of the classroom, touched many.

Since joining the UC San Diego Department of Anthropology in 1973, Don contributed to the academic and cultural life of the university in myriad ways. He served as chair of the Academic Senate from 2004-2005, where he played a leadership role in addressing numerous campus and system-wide issues. He was a champion of the UCSD tradition of shared governance and, by his leadership of the Senate, illustrated how the synergism of the faculty-administration relationship can result in innovative and exciting initiatives.

As a social anthropologist, Don was one of the world’s top authorities on Melanesian culture, and was co-founder and director of UCSD’s Melanesian Archive, the world’s leading depository of unpublished materials on the societies and cultures of Melanesia.

In spite of the many demands placed on him as scholar and teacher, Don was never too busy to consult and advise on various campus projects and issues. He served on the board of directors of the UCSD Faculty Club and was a member of the University House Task Force. He was also a member of the Friends of the UCSD Libraries Board of Directors and served as an associate chancellor to former UCSD Chancellor and UC President Richard Atkinson. Over the years, Don played an important role in recruiting faculty, within the Anthropology department, the social sciences and for campus leadership positions.

Donations may be sent to the Donald F. Tuzin Memorial Fund, #4494 at the UCSD Foundation or to  Chimp Haven, 13600 Chimpanzee Place, P.O. Box 36004, Shreveport, LA 71130-6004, phone 1-888-98-CHIMP.