Mary Rita Cooke Greenwood | |
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![]() Greenwood speaks to Navy leadership in 2011 | |
14th President of the University of Hawaiʻi | |
In office August 24, 2009 – September 30, 2013 | |
Preceded by | David McClain |
Succeeded by | David Lassner |
7th Chancellor of the University of California, Santa Cruz | |
In office July 1, 1991 – March 31, 2004 | |
Preceded by | Karl Pister |
Succeeded by | Martin Chemers (acting) Denice Denton |
Personal details | |
Born | 1943 Gainesville, Florida, U.S. |
Alma mater | |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Human Nutrition |
Institutions | |
Thesis | The regulation of body weight: Developmental, behavioral and physiological considerations (1973) |
Mary Rita Cooke Greenwood (born April 11, 1943[citation needed]) is a nationally recognized leader in higher education, nutrition, and health sciences. Additionally, her research has been extensively published, internationally recognized, and has earned awards.[1]
Greenwood had served as president of the University of Hawaiʻi and chancellor of the University of California, Santa Cruz. She had held leadership positions in several academic and profession societies and had served in several scientific organizations within the United States government.
She currently holds an appointment as a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Nutrition and Internal Medicine at the University of California, Davis.
Greenwood was born in 1943 in Gainesville, Florida.[2] Greenwood earned the A.B. degree in biology, Summa cum laude, from Vassar College in 1968.[3] She received her Ph.D. in physiology, Developmental Biology, and Neurosciences from Rockefeller University in 1973,[4] and she completed a postdoctoral study in Human Nutrition at Columbia University in 1974.[2]
She is best known for her position as the associate director for Science in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy[1] (confirmed by the US Senate) during the Clinton Administration. She also served as President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1999. In addition, she has been President of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO)—now the Obesity Society; and also President of the American Society of Clinical Nutrition.
Formerly an adjunct professor of Public Health and Nutrition at the University of California, Berkeley, she currently holds an appointment as a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Nutrition and Internal Medicine at the University of California, Davis.
She held various positions in the University of California system: as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of California Office of the President; Chancellor of University of California, Santa Cruz; and Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice Provost at University of California, Davis. During her time at chancellor, she oversaw the opening of the University of California system's first new residential college in 30 years. Her tenure oversaw the hiring of 250 new faculty members and academic programs were expanded by 52 percent.
In 2005, the University of California found that Dr. Greenwood had violated its conflict of interest rules related to a management position created for a colleague with whom she co-owned a rental property.[5] The university found no evidence of improper conduct in a second allegation that she influenced a position held by her son at UC Merced, concluding no pattern of impropriety or ethics violations in regard to both matters that were thoroughly investigated.[6] The university accepted Dr. Greenwood's resignation from the position and affirmed her return to the tenured professorship she formerly held at the University of California, Davis.
Greenwood became the President of the University of Hawaiʻi in 2009 and was the first woman to hold the position.[1] During her tenure, she oversaw several major projects including the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, the new University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu campus, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Hawaiian Language and Culture building, the Windward Community College Learning Center, the Maui Community College Science and Technology Center, the Kauaʻi Community College Campus Center project, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Campus Center and a new Information Technology Building.[1] On May 6, 2013, Greenwood announced her retirement from the University of Hawaiʻi as president.
She is a member of the Institute of Medicine in the National Academy of Sciences, and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.