UC Santa Barbara Foundation Board of Trustees elects new chair, adds new members

An engaged alumnus and, for 10 years, an elected trustee of the UC Santa Barbara Foundation, John Arnhold ’75 has been named chair of the foundation’s board.

Arnhold assumes the role of chair as the foundation also welcomes four new members — three of them UC Santa Barbara alumni. Chris Fletcher ’77, Paul A. Graziano, Wenbin Jiang ’93 and Hongjun Zhu ’02 join the leadership body that promotes the university by increasing philanthropy and managing and growing the endowment.

“I want to be involved with institutions where I can have an impact, organizations that are really open to embracing new ideas. UC Santa Barbara is exactly that, and I’m so honored to be serving as chair of the foundation,” Arnhold said. “I am eager to help marshal the full talents and resources of our board of trustees to further the mission of the university."

Prolific and devoted supporters of UC Santa Barbara, Arnhold and Jody Arnhold, his wife, are passionate about the arts and humanities, which have been a focal point of their philanthropy to the university. They have made leadership gifts to the English department, providing essential support for students to engage in research, and have invested significantly in theater and dance for student productions and for visiting artists-in-residence. Their expansive generosity to the campus also includes support for creative curricular initiatives and for UCSB Arts & Lectures.

The Arnholds’ support for environmental initiatives includes the recently established Arnhold UC Santa Barbara-Conservation International Climate Solutions Collaborative, a joint venture with Conservation International, based in UCSB's Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.

In addition, as longtime donors to UCSB Athletics, the New York-based Arnholds have supported scholarships for student-athletes, and funded the recently opened, state-of-the-art Arnhold Tennis Center. John Arnhold for the past five seasons has served as a volunteer assistant coach to the Gaucho women’s tennis team.

“How excited and honored we are to have alumnus John Arnhold at the helm of our Foundation Board,” said UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Henry T. Yang. “John is a visionary and dynamic leader and a longstanding benefactor whose commitment to our university has crossed academic disciplines and enriched the lives of our students, student athletes, and our entire campus community. We are also excited that three additional alumni are giving back to our UC Santa Barbara family through service on the board. Each brings unique and valuable strengths, experience and interests, and working collaboratively, with John as the chair, this group will achieve many great accomplishments to advance our institution.”

As UC Santa Barbara’s principal fundraising organization, the nonprofit foundation generates and administers private gifts to the campus, including support for students, research and instruction. It also ensures the appropriate use of all private funds.

Helping to forge links between the professional and business communities and the campus to increase private support for university programs, the foundation plays a critical role in promoting and achieving fundraising goals and priorities. The board consists of philanthropic leaders sharing a commitment to advance UC Santa Barbara’s mission and sustain its reputation for excellence.

More about the new trustees:

• Chris Fletcher ’77 — Real estate investor; former real estate finance and banking executive (Corona del Mar, Calif.) 

• Paul A. Graziano — Managing senior partner, Allen & Kimbell (Santa Barbara, Calif.)

• Wenbin Jiang ’93 — Co-founder E2O Communications, Inc.; co-founder and chief executive officer, Cytek Biosciences (Fremont, Calif.) 

• Hongjun Zhu ’02 — Entrepreneur; co-founder, WiTagg (Los Altos, Calif.)

The UC Santa Barbara Foundation Board of Trustees includes up to 100 elected distinguished trustees and 14 additional university representatives, and complies with the University of California Policy on Campus Foundations set by the Regents of the University of California. From its inception in 1973, members of the foundation’s board have formed a valuable link between UC Santa Barbara and the local, regional and national communities. As they encourage private gifts and identify and cultivate potential donors, trustees build interest and support for the campus and communicate to the public an informed understanding of UC Santa Barbara’s mission.