Helping Hands - Jim Katzman

Jim Katzman

Deans' Advisory Council

Jim Katzman, cofounder of Tandem Computers and a Silicon Valley venture capital investor, has served on the Deans' Advisory Council for ten years, providing a valuable industry perspective to the deans of UCSC's Division of Natural Sciences and Jack Baskin School of Engineering.

Katzman, an amateur astronomer, was first drawn to the Deans' Advisory Council by the opportunity to work with renowned radio astronomer Frank Drake, then dean of natural sciences. He also provided financial support for the Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope at Lick Observatory.

Katzman describes the deans' council as a group of "friendly observers" who can offer impartial advice because they are not directly involved in the university. "It's good for the university to have an independent sounding board that gives support and advice," he says.

Katzman also served on the committee that investigatedthe feasibility of establishing a school of engineering at UCSC. He has been friends with Jack Baskin since the two met 15 years ago while both were vacationing in Hawaii.

Katzman, who is semi retired, doesn't limit his volunteer activities to UCSC. He also serves on the boards of directors of several nonprofit organizations and has been closely involved with Hospice of the Valley in San Jose, including a stint as president from 1986 to 1987.

"It feels good to give back to the community something meaningful," he says.

--Tim Stephens