Blue 'n' gold guy: Fourth-generation Berkeley grad and new executive director Tuck Coop says, "More Cal folks on and off campus need to know what we’re accomplishing."
Peg Skorpinski

The California Alumni Association Board of Directors has unanimously selected R. Tucker (“Tuck”) Coop ’67 as CAA’s executive director. Coop, who served as director of CAA’s Lair of the Golden Bear family vacation camp for the past six years, plans to bring a new spirit to the independent, nonprofit organization. He replaces Randy Parent, who stepped down in October after a five-year tenure. “I want employees at CAA to walk a little taller—to be really proud of what they do and be proud of who they work for,” Coop said, while addressing the CAA staff. “Under Randy’s leadership, CAA’s programs improved enormously. Now, more Cal folks on and off campus need to know what we’re accomplishing, and how they can join in.”

Many CAA members know Coop for his jovial spirit and contagious laugh, but he also brings years of business experience to the association. He founded a successful national health care business in 1978, which was sold 20 years later after growing the company revenue from less than $1 million to more than $135 million. Coop is married, with two children and five grandchildren, and is a fourth-generation Berkeley graduate. “Cal is in my blood,” he said.

At this stage, Coop does not intend to “reinvent the strategic wheel” at CAA. In his first month, his priorities are simple and few, although he says his work—and his ability to effect change—will grow exponentially in the coming months. “Randy was a great strategist,” he says. “I want to apply my interpersonal skills to build on his successes.”

Alumnus of the Year
California Alumni Association has named Donald Fisher, San Francisco philanthropist
and founder and chairman
emeritus of The Gap, as the 2007 Alumnus of the Year. Fisher, ’50, a generous patron of the university who served as chairman of the Haas School of Business Advisory Council, will be honored at the 135th Charter Gala Banquet on March 24, 2007. A profile of him will appear in the special centennial edition of California in March.
Peg Skorpinski

He also wants to see the relationship between the association and the university flower. “I want to continue to align our approach with the campus approach and make friends wherever we can,” Coop says. “I want people to think of CAA as a collaborative, cooperative organization. We are only limited by our vision of how we can support one another.” He wants to improve external understanding of the association’s role. “I don’t think enough people know about what we do on campus,” he said.

Although the CAA board will conduct a formal search before making any official announcements, Coop has assumed all the authority of the executive director, and plans to stay as long as he and the board feel is productive. “It’s kind of a love-fest right now,” he says. “I’ve been doing this for a month, so I’m on my honeymoon. I’m loving it.”