As UC Riverside Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox winds down his tenure, his name is now a lasting part of the campus landscape.

A bright blue street sign unveiled against a brighter blue sky made it official: Campus Drive is now Kim Wilcox Drive.

The street renaming was part of a day of tributes Thursday, May 8 celebrating Wilcox’s legacy. He will retire at the end of the academic year after leading the university for almost 12 years, the second-longest serving chancellor in its history.

At the renaming ceremony, a lunch reception, and a larger campus celebration at the Rivera Lawn in the afternoon, university, community, staff and faculty leaders praised his accomplishments and leadership style, recalling heartfelt and humorous memories of him.

At the morning street dedication, Wilcox said the renaming was meaningful to him because it brought back memories of driving to campus when he was first named chancellor. Referring to the route—which circles the heart of the campus—as a “thoroughfare,” Wilcox said he was honored to be affiliated with “the main route of our town.”

He added that the word thoroughfare has another definition: “a path or road forming a road a route between two points.”

“How many people have come here from a point, not really knowing where their next point is, but they've moved somewhere else in their lives?” Wilcox said. “They learned something they never would have learned otherwise; they met people, created relationships. It was a route to a new place. And that's what UCR is, and I certainly hope that’s what this circle drive is with a new name.”

Speakers at the intimate gathering included local elected officials, and UC and UCR leaders. 

UC Regent Maria Anguiano, who served as UCR’s vice chancellor for budget and planning from 2014 to 2017, said Wilcox helped UCR visualize what was possible and brought together the right people to make it happen, noting its admission into the prestigious Association of American Universities in 2023.

Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson called Wilcox “one of the greatest chancellors of all time” and a model leader who could be counted on for a kind word and a good laugh. 

Elizabeth Watkins, provost and executive chancellor, reflected on how Wilcox has supported her since she joined UCR in 2021.

“Kim has developed a collegiality with the leadership team that means we’re genuinely excited to be around the table,” she said.

Later that afternoon, a couple hundred staff and faculty members joined the retirement celebration on the Rivera Lawn, which began with a performance by the UCR Chamber Singers. 

Kate Sweeny, a professor of psychology and associate dean for graduate academic affairs, described Wilcox as a tireless and passionate voice for UCR. She was among many speakers who referenced Wilcox’s unmistakable laugh.

“That laugh says it all,” she said. “It’s the sound of someone who genuinely enjoys the work, the people, and the community that he’s created here.”

Melanie Ramiro, UCR Staff Assembly president, spoke about how Wilcox included staff input in key decisions and guided the campus through major events such as the pandemic.

“In every interaction, Kim embodied humility, inclusion, and excellence,” she said.

Wilcox joked that he had been practicing not to cry in recent weeks as he met with different groups for his final time as chancellor. But his voice broke with emotion at times in both the morning and afternoon speeches, which were attended by his wife, brother, and sister, who he thanked for their support.

Although his parents couldn’t afford to go to college, they instilled in him and his siblings a strong commitment to education, values shared by UCR, Wilcox said.

Wilcox described UCR as a place that values academic excellence and where everyone roots for each other to succeed. 

“A university is only as great as its people and those at UCR helped transform the campus,” he said.

Using a sports analogy, Wilcox likened UCR to a hungry challenger for most of its history. But in recent years, other universities have looked to the campus as it topped social mobility rankings, increased graduation rates, and closed graduation gaps among minority students.

“We are now the champions,” he said. “I feel good about UCR as I hope you can tell. I’m terribly sad to leave but my time has come and gone. But I feel good about leaving because of where we are at the top of the hill.”

The retirement celebration was another full circle moment as Wilcox recalled his investiture ceremony from 2014, which included a reception on the lawn near the UCR Bell Tower.

“I wanted a party for the campus, a picnic on the lawn, and it's just very nice to come back and do it again,” he said.

The event included booths with the themes of university, community, and reputation with games and prizes including buttons and stickers with photos of Wilcox.

Attendees were offered refreshments including fruit cups, ice cream made from UCR citrus, and cupcakes and cookies with the UCR logo. 

Wilcox mingled with the crowd, stopping often to take selfies. Those at the celebration could also take photos with cardboard cutouts of Wilcox, including one in a cart popularized in his lighthearted “Wilcox on Wheels” videos.

At one booth, attendees recorded video messages for Wilcox. 

Maria Centeno, who was part of the Citrus Grove catering team serving food at the event, recorded a video message with her colleague Stephanie Avila and noted how Wilcox always came up to them at events to thank them for their work.

“He’s a very humble man,” she said. “We were very pleased to have him as chancellor and we’ll miss him very much.”