Flamenco Guitarist Moore Will Pluck John Muir College Strings as Provost

Updated at 4:20 p.m. March 8, 2013

John Moore, professor of linguistics at UC San Diego and a widely known flamenco guitarist, has been appointed the new provost of John Muir College, effective Sept. 1, the school announced Friday.

Moore performs under the name Juan Moro. He joine UCSD’s faculty in 1992, will succeed visual arts professor Susan Smith, stepping down after seven years as provost.

“Moore has a demonstrated history of commitment to undergraduate education, and diversity in teaching, research and service, which will serve him well in his new position as provost,” said Suresh Subramani, executive vice chancellor of academic affairs.
                
Said Moore, 58, in a news release: “One of the most important aspects of undergraduate education is the possibility of engendering passion in academics. My hope is that the college experience can enable this type of intellectual passion.”
              
According to Subramani, Moore’s administrative and academic accomplishments and his commitment to the John Muir College theme of “stressing the spirit of individual choice and responsibility within the framework of a welcoming and supportive community,” make him exceptionally well qualified to provide leadership as provost of Muir College.
              
In the spirit of John Muir, the college said it also promotes awareness of environmental issues and involvement in environmental preservation and sustainability.
                
“Both environmental challenges and changing demographics are issues that the university cannot afford to ignore,” said Moore, a Chula Vista resident. “I hope to address these in tandem through John Muir College seminars and events.”
              
Moore will make $135,000 a year, according to UCSD spokeswoman Christine Clerk. He received his Ph.D. in 1991 from UC Santa Cruz. A highly regarded scholar in theoretical syntax, Moore's work has concentrated on Spanish syntax.
              
His current research includes work on the Moro Project, Border Spanish and Heritage Persian.
              
He has served as department chair, departmental diversity representative and has served several terms on the Muir College Executive Committee (chairing the committee in 2006-07).
               
Moore currently serves as chair of the Academic Senate Committee on Academic Personnel.

Combining his skills, he recently completed a translation of stories from flamenco singer Pericón de Cádiz.

Muir is one UCSD’s six undergraduate colleges—a system designed to provide students with many of the advantages of a small liberal arts college plus the opportunities and resources of a large research university.

A provost at each college serves as the academic and administrative head of the college and is responsible for the oversight of all educational affairs and activities, UCSD says. He or she is also a tenured member of the faculty who continues to engage in scholarly research and teaching.

As leader of the college, the provost’s responsibilities include:

•  Developing college curriculum
•  Evaluating faculty for promotion
•  Overseeing the programs and activities of college life
•  Providing a link with alumni, parents and families