RIVERSIDE - The University of California Board of Regents today confirmed the appointment of UC Santa Barbara Professor Jane Close Conoley as acting chancellor for UC Riverside.

"Jane ... has long been a nationally recognized education expert, and she is a treasured member of the UC community," UC President Mark G. Yudof said. "With her serving in this interim role, I am confident that the Riverside campus will keep moving forward on several fronts, especially student success."

Conoley, 65, officially takes over from departing UCR Chancellor Timothy White on Dec. 31. White, 63, last Advertisement

[ The Tutoring Center ] month accepted the job of chancellor of the 23-campus California State University system. He has been the chancellor of UCR since the fall of 2008.

Conoley has been the dean of the UCSB Gevirtz Graduate School of Education since January 2006. Prior to that she was the dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University.

She will serve as interim chancellor at UCR until the appointment of a permanent successor.

The regents set Conoley's annual salary at $245,600, plus an automobile allowance of $8,916, for the duration of her stay.