<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><span id="m_-3315380388665575900m_2570885362792141327m_-3570575603666689298gmail-docs-internal-guid-b1d2b4eb-7fff-299f-301c-426844e53bdc"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dear UC Riverside Community,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I write to share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Adriana Romero-Olivares, Assistant Professor in the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, who died on April 28, 2026.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">This is an especially difficult time for the CNAS community and for our campus, as we mourn multiple losses.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dr. Romero-Olivares joined UC Riverside on January 1 and was just beginning what promised to be an impactful career in research, teaching, and mentorship. Though her time with us was far too brief, she quickly made a meaningful impression on colleagues and students alike.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">A soil microbiologist and expert in microbial ecology, Dr. Romero-Olivares was dedicated to understanding how fungi respond and adapt to changing environmental conditions, particularly in desert ecosystems of the American Southwest. Her work aimed to help address some of the most pressing challenges of our time, including the impacts of global warming. She was also deeply committed to expanding access to higher education and was known for her generosity, warmth, and advocacy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dr. Romero-Olivares earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California and her Ph.D. from UC Irvine. She previously served on the faculty at New Mexico State University before joining UC Riverside.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“This is a devastating loss to the research community at UC Riverside,” said Morris Maduro, CNAS Divisional Dean of Life Sciences. “Dr. Romero-Olivares had just joined our campus earlier this year after five years as an assistant professor at New Mexico State University. Her research in soil microbiology—exploring how fungi respond and adapt to a changing environment—was already contributing to and strengthening the work of our college. She quickly felt at home in Riverside’s desert climate, and we feel the loss of one of our own, even in such a short time.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Those who wish to learn more about Dr. Romero-Olivares’ life and contributions may read a more detailed tribute </span><a href="https://cnas.ucr.edu/news/2026/05/04/remembering-adriana-romero-olivares-scientist-educator-and-advocate" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">here.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We recognize that this loss is especially painful for her family, friends, students, and colleagues in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved her, especially her husband, Dr. Jovani Catalan-Dibene, and their two young children.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sincerely,</span></p></span></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">Liz<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Elizabeth Watkins, PhD</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor</span></i><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Professor of History</span></i><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">University of California, Riverside<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">951.827.1129 | <a href="mailto:Elizabeth.Watkins@UCR.edu" target="_blank">Elizabeth.Watkins@UCR.edu</a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0px 0px 12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><img border="0" width="198" height="61" src="cid:image001.png@01DB719C.EFF85DB0" style="width:2.0625in;height:0.6354in"></span></p></div></div></div></div>
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