Spencer Olin is a founding faculty member at UCI, having joined the Department of History the year the campus opened in 1965. In subsequent years he served UCI in a number of capacities, including Acting Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Chair of the Department of History, Chair of the Academic Senate, Dean of Humanities, Acting Executive Vice Chancellor, and Acting Director of the Program for Global Peace and Conflict Studies. A specialist in the history of modern America and of California history, Olin is the author, coauthor, and editor of six books and anthologies and many articles ranging across such topics as reform movements, race relations, politics, the causes of international conflict, and the nature of metropolitan development. In recognition of these various accomplishments, Olin received the Daniel G. Aldrich Distinguished Service Award and, in 1998, the UCI Medal. For 2004-2006 he served at the recommendations of Chancellors Ralph Cicerone and Michael Drake as Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professor. In 2006, as well, he was recognized by the UCI Alumni Association with its highest honor, the annual Extraordinarius Award. Olin is now retired and lives in Irvine with his wife, Rita Olin, also retired from UCI as a financial analyst.