Mesa Drive renamed in honor of Henry T. Yang

In recognition of Henry T. Yang's 31 years of service as UC Santa Barbara's fifth chancellor, Mesa Road has been renamed in Yang's honor.Signage for Henry T. Yang Drive will be installed before the start of fall quarter, during the week of September 15, 2025.

"The University of California is extremely grateful for (Chancellor Yang's) three decades of service and leadership to UC Santa Barbara and our entire University of California community," former University of California President Michael Drake said last spring of the name change. "As the longest serving chancellor in the history of the UC system, (he has) made countless contributions to our academic community and worked tirelessly on behalf of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. (He and his) wife, Dilling, are synonymous with UC Santa Barbara, and their impact on the UC will be felt for generations.

"Thanks to Chancellor Yang's leadership, UC Santa Barbara stands among the top public research institutions in the country. He played an integral role in helping UC Santa Barbara join the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) and eventually become the first AAU campus to be designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution. During his tenure, the campus saw six faculty named Nobel laureates, became a model for sustainability, and grew its research enterprise to $270 million annually.

"In addition to the administrative and fundraising work of a chancellor, Yang continued his work as a scholar, teaching and mentoring students, conducting research, and serving on, and often chairing, numerous scientific advisory boards and academic committees, including the international Thirty Meter Telescope project.

"As I said when I had the honor of presenting Chancellor Yang with the UC Presidential Medal of Honor, he is a giant in his field and an embodiment of the University's mission. He has been an exemplary leader for a generation of students, faculty and staff at Santa Barbara, and it has been an honor to serve the UC alongside him."

"I am humbled and honored by this special recognition on our beloved campus," Yang said. "Serving as chancellor of UC Santa Barbara alongside Dilling has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. This university has been our home for 31 years, and the remarkable students, extraordinary faculty, devoted staff, and fantastic alumni, supporters, and friends have been our inspiration.

"I share this honor with all who have walked this path with me and into the future, and I am filled with gratitude to all on our campus, at the University of California, and to President Drake for this meaningful tribute. I hope Henry T. Yang Drive will serve as a lasting symbol of the sense of connection and purpose that defines UC Santa Barbara.

"Serving as chancellor of UC Santa Barbara alongside Dilling has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. This university has been our home for 31 years, and the remarkable students, extraordinary faculty, devoted staff, and fantastic alumni, supporters, and friends have been our inspiration."

About UC Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society. All of this takes place within a living and learning environment like no other, as we draw inspiration from the beauty and resources of our extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.