UC Riverside Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox was presented with the Riverside Hero award at the Riverside State of the City Address on Thursday, Jan. 30.

The Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce cited Wilcox’s transformative educational initiatives in his 12-year tenure at UCR in selecting him for the award, which goes to a group or person who has “made a significant contribution to promote the community at the state and/or national level during the past year.”

Wilcox announced last fall that he will be stepping down from his position this summer.

“This year’s recipient has committed over four decades to academia, culminating in his exceptional tenure as the ninth chancellor of the University of California, Riverside,” said Nicholas Adcock, president and CEO of the chambers. “Under his leadership UCR’s reputation has soared. Enrollment has increased by 25% and the campus has grown by over 2 million square feet in major development.”

Adcock also cited the importance of projects such as the School of Medicine expansion and Wilcox’s pivotal role in the California Air Resources Board selecting Riverside for its Southern California headquarters, which opened in 2021.

Wilcox accepted the award during a ceremony preceding Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson’s address, where she also lauded UCR as a key partner in the city’s growth.

In his speech, Wilcox described three actions a university can do for the city it calls home: pursue excellence, be a part of the community, and provide leadership.

Wilcox said UCR has achieved those actions through an excellent faculty that includes two Nobel laureates; joining the prestigious American Association of Universities in 2023; and its No. 1 ranking for social mobility.

“We’re very proud of the fact that we are repeatedly the best university in the country at making a difference in students’ lives, and those students come from right here,” he said.

Wilcox thanked the area’s elected and business leaders for their support and working with UCR to better the region’s future.

“I’ve repeatedly said I was terribly fortunate to come to UCR period,” he said. “But doubly fortunate to come here when I did, when the city was on the rise and when there are so many great partners to be had. We could not have done anything that we’ve achieved without all of you.”