<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#467886;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I am excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Peter Atkinson, Interim Dean of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS), as the permanent CNAS Dean, effective January 6, 2025.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">A UCR faculty member since 1997, Peter is a professor in the Department of Entomology whose research focuses on developing novel, molecular biology-based strategies for the genetic control of pest insects. Peter
has served in a variety of administrative roles within CNAS and at UCR, including Divisional Dean of Life Sciences; Deputy and Interim Director of the Genomics Institute/Institute for Integrative Biology; Director of the Interdepartmental Graduate Program
in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology; Director of the Center for Disease Vector Research; Chair of the Institutional Biosafety Committee, Chair of the Senate Planning & Budget Committee; and member of the Senate Executive Council. He has served as
CNAS Interim Dean for the past 16 months. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">During his service as Interim Dean, Peter has worked with department chairs and graduate program directors to develop and implement new strategies for providing funding for Ph.D. students while maintaining
the sizes of their graduate programs. In coordination with Environmental Health & Safety, he has implemented new procedures that ensure documentation of safety protocols in CNAS instructional laboratories. Peter successfully advocated placing three new science
buildings on the Campus Capital Projects List, reunited the CNAS Dean’s office staff in a single suite in Olmsted Hall, revived the CNAS Science Lecture Series, and enabled the development of initial proposals for several self-supporting professional graduate
degree programs. Under his leadership, the CNAS Dean’s Office has augmented and extended UCOP’s funding for the college’s junior faculty mentorship program and expanded outreach to local schools and the surrounding community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">A first-generation college student, Peter obtained his BS and Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and completed postdoctoral training in the Biology Department at Syracuse University
in New York. He then returned to Australia, where he worked as a Research Scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Canberra before joining the UCR faculty as an associate professor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Peter’s appointment follows the conclusion of a highly competitive national search conducted by the firm Isaacson, Miller, through which Peter emerged as the most accomplished and experienced candidate, ready
to lead CNAS through its next period of growth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I would like to thank the members of the search committee for their engagement in helping to select our new CNAS Dean:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Christopher Lynch, BCOE Dean and Professor of Mechanical Engineering (Chair)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Hoori Ajami, Associate Professor, Environmental Sciences<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Djurdjica Coss, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development & Professor of Biomedical Sciences<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Elizabeth Davis, CHASS Equity Advisor and Associate Professor of Psychology (Affirmative Action Compliance Liaison) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Jennifer Farias, CNAS Chief Financial and Administrative Officer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Chukwufunanya (Funanya) Ikechukwu, Undergraduate Student <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Karine Le Roch, Professor, Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology (MCSB)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Paige Mejia, CNAS Financial Operations Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Umar Mohideen, Professor, Physics, former Divisional Dean of Physical Sciences <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Lan Pham, Graduate Student<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Richard Redak, Professor, Chair of Entomology <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Kathy Redd, CNAS Director for Graduate Student Advising <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Helen Regan, Professor, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology (EEOB)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Yinsheng Wang, Distinguished Professor, Chemistry<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Please join me in congratulating Peter on this appointment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Liz<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Elizabeth Watkins, PhD </span>
</b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(she / her / hers)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Professor of History</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">University of California, Riverside</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">951.827.1129 | </span><a href="mailto:Elizabeth.Watkins@UCR.edu"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Elizabeth.Watkins@UCR.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img border="0" width="198" height="61" style="width:2.0625in;height:.6354in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DB61B4.5C810B10"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>