Kevin Reed, currently the vice chancellor for legal affairs at UCLA, will become the UO’s first vice president and general counsel.

UO President Michael Schill announced the hire in an all-campus announcement. Reed will begin his new position Oct. 5.

Before serving as vice chancellor for legal affairs and associate general counsel at UCLA, Reed was general counsel for the Los Angeles Unified School District and a partner at the private firm Strumwasser and Woocher in Santa Monica.

Reed earned his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1989 and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in 1986. He was one of three finalists for the general counsel position, which Schill elevated to vice president with expanded responsibilities.

In his announcement, Schill said Reed has substantial experience working on complex legal issues that often arise at large universities. Reed noted in his application letter that he has experience with the areas of academic freedom, intellectual property, equal protection in admissions, athletics compliance, research compliance and criminal law, among many others.

Schill also thanked interim General Counsel Doug Park, who has managed the university’s legal affairs since the departure of Randy Geller in June 2014.

“Doug’s legal insights, professionalism and wisdom proved invaluable during his interim tenure,” Schill wrote. “The entire staff of the general counsel’s office has done incredible work during this period and I am grateful.”

The entire announcement is available on the president’s website.