Last week we wished a number of long-time colleagues well as they set off for retirement. They will be missed and no doubt things won't quite be the same around the office. But change is inevitable and, after all, we are all working towards that day. The upside is that this week we welcome a number of new colleagues! If you happen to run into any of the following, please give them a warm welcome.
- Ksenia Krasileva is an AES researcher in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at UC Berkeley, specializing in genomics of plant disease resistance – focusing on wheat and other cereals.
- Anders Naar is an AES researcher in the Department of Nutritional Science and Toxicology at UC Berkeley, studying the mechanics of gene regulation in diseases such as cancers and cardio-metabolic disorders with focus on molecular mechanisms involved in controlling the output of genes important in cholesterol and fat metabolism.
- Liliana Vega is an Assistant CE Advisor, 4-H Youth Development, based in San Luis Obispo, with programmatic responsibilities in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
- Monique Rivera is an Assistant CE Specialist in in the Department of Entomology at UC Riverside.
- Mehdi Nemati is an Assistant CE Specialist in Water Resource Economics and Policy in the School of Public Policy at UC Riverside.
- Ellen Bruno begins as a CE Specialist, Quantitative Policy Analysis, at UC Berkeley
This is a short week. Given the number of meetings on my calendar this week, I am guessing that many are taking some time away from the office. Me, too. I head out on Thursday for the summer meeting of the Western Extension Directors and the Western Ag Experiment Station Directors. The Western CARETs (Council on Agriculture, Research, Extension, and Teaching) and Western Administrative Heads (Deans of Ag colleges) are meeting as well but given that the meeting is in Guam, I'm not sure how many from UC are planning to attend. I know Dan Munk is attending to receive the WEDA Award of Excellence on behalf of the Conservation Agriculture Systems Innovation (CASI). The weather promises to not only be warm but humid, too. I haven't been to Guam before and certainly wouldn't have picked July as the ideal time to go, but I am looking forward to the new experience and a few days away.
Enjoy the 4th and stay safe!