Jeffrey Stopple

Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education, UC Santa Barbara

Jeffrey Stopple is a distinguished academic and administrator at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He served as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Education in the College of Letters and Science at UCSB for over three years.1

Academic Background

Dr. Stopple has been a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics at UCSB since 1987.1 He is an expert in analytic number theory and computational number theory, and has authored a highly regarded textbook titled "A Primer of Analytic Number Theory: From Pythagoras to Riemann," published by Cambridge University Press.1

Administrative Experience

Throughout his career at UCSB, Dr. Stopple has held various leadership positions, including:

Vice Chair and Chair of the Department of Mathematics
Member of the Committee on Academic Personnel
Associate Dean of the UC Education Abroad Program
Chair of the Undergraduate Council
Campus lead on UCOP's Budget Framework Implementation Project1

Achievements and Recognition

Dr. Stopple has demonstrated a strong commitment to undergraduate education and research mentorship. In 2012, he was honored with the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research for his contributions as a faculty mentor.1 He has worked with numerous students on senior honors projects and has been involved with the UC Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) program, which aims to prepare promising students for advanced education in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering.1

Recent Developments

In September 2021, after more than three years of leadership as Dean of Undergraduate Education and Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education, Dr. Stopple decided to return to teaching and research following a sabbatical leave.1 His decision to step down from these administrative roles marked the end of a significant chapter in his career at UCSB.

It's worth noting that while Dr. Stopple's contributions to UCSB have been widely recognized, there have been some controversies surrounding his tenure, particularly regarding his approach to post-pandemic education.2