Kathryn Uhrich

Kathryn Uhrich to embark on new adventure after nearly 8 years as College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences Dean

tomwt — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 20:24:02 +0000

Kathryn Uhrich to embark on new adventure after nearly 8 years as College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences Dean tomwt Wed, 07/26/2023 - 13:24 More College News July 26, 2023

Dear CNAS Community,

With summer in full swing, many of us still find ourselves wrapping up the academic year and starting to plan for the future. It’s naturally a good time to reflect on where we have been and where we are going.

I can’t help but to feel a deep sense of pride reflecting on what we’ve accomplished and challenges we’ve overcome in the nearly 8 years that I’ve been CNAS Dean.

In the area of CNAS student success:

Our 4-year graduation rate for CNAS students has increased by more than 10 percentage points.
The total number of CNAS degrees awarded increased almost 60 percent.
For FY23, CNAS awarded more than $500,000 in student scholarships and awards. In the last five years, CNAS alone increased the scholarship amount awarded to students more than 10-fold.

A few key highlights on CNAS faculty success include:

CNAS faculty became more diverse by race, ethnicity, and gender.
CNAS faculty helped UCR claim the top spot in the UC system for percentage of NSF CAREER awards per ladder-rank faculty.
Two Nobel Laureates and many other current and future leaders in their fields have joined our esteemed faculty.
During the pandemic, CNAS was at the forefront of keeping our community safe by opening a diagnostic lab for expanded and rapid testing of students, staff, and faculty members.

In support of CNAS staff success:

When I implemented CNAS Dean’s staff office hours, it allowed me to better understand and engage with staff across CNAS — particularly during COVID times. I got to know many of you and truly enjoyed our time together.
During my time as Dean, the CNAS Staff Advisory Committee was created, giving staff members a voice and helping to guide CNAS in making better decisions that impacted all members of our community.

In terms of fundraising and grants:

In FY22, CNAS faculty received $98.8M in grants, which is nearly 50% of all grants received across campus and during the last five fiscal years, CNAS’ contract and grant funding has increased by 27%. Additionally, CNAS’ FY22 funding rate of nearly 50%, is extremely high in comparison to other colleges and universities nationwide.
Over the last two years, CNAS raised $8M for the Beyond Brilliant campaign to expand need- and merit-based scholarships and fellowships.
When UCR’s Living the Promise capital campaign concluded in 2021, CNAS raised over $100M, a third of the campus total.

Recent awards and recognition:

CNAS was an integral part of UCR’s acceptance into the Association of American Universities (AAU), a prestigious group of America’s leading research universities, who earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research that improves public health.
Last month, I went to Washington, D.C. to testify before Congress where I requested additional funding for agricultural research at UCR and provided perspectives specific to being a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and among Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU). It was an honor to represent HSIs, HSACUs, UCR, and CNAS.
While serving as your dean, I have experienced major highlights in my career, most recently being named a fellow of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2021 and, just this year, being honored as a Distinguished Professor.

We truly have accomplished so much together, and for that I will always be thankful for the opportunity to have worked with the brightest, most thoughtful, and talented minds in academia. Which makes it bittersweet to share that I will be stepping down from my position as CNAS Dean, effective September 1, 2023. It is time for me to focus on my next adventure.

Campus Leadership is aware of my decision and Provost Watkins just sent an announcement to the UCR community. While I won’t be serving as your dean, I will continue serving UCR as a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry.

I’m very grateful for my time as dean. Please know that I appreciate and value each and every one of you, and that you all have impacted my life in immeasurable ways. I thank you sincerely for being part of my journey.

All my best,
Kathryn

Read Provost Watkins' Announcement

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Kathryn Uhrich

CNAS Dean

CNAS Dean Kathryn Uhrich Testifies in Washington, D.C.

tomwt — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 19:55:54 +0000

CNAS Dean Kathryn Uhrich Testifies in Washington, D.C. tomwt Fri, 06/16/2023 - 12:55 More College News June 14, 2023

CNAS Dean Kathryn Uhrich

June 14, 2023 – Earlier today, CNAS Dean Kathryn Uhrich testified in Washington, D.C., before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology. During the hearing — “A Review of Title VII: University Perspective on Research and Extension Programs” — testimony from each witness allowed the subcommittee to hear directly from land-grant institutions, a non-land-grant college of agriculture, and a Hispanic-serving agricultural university. Testimony provided the subcommittee insight as it considers provisions for the 2023 Farm Bill. Dean Uhrich shared agricultural research that is currently being conducted at UC Riverside and provided perspectives specific to being a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and among Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU). For more information about today’s hearing, visit the House Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

WATCH THE VIDEO

READ DEAN UHRICH’S WRITTEN TESTIMONY

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Kathryn Uhrich

CNAS Dean

Giving Tuesday -- Give to CNAS!

ilseu — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 17:31:18 +0000

Giving Tuesday -- Give to CNAS! ilseu Tue, 12/01/2020 - 09:31 More College News November 30, 2020

Dear CNAS Colleagues,

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, many of us reflected on this year and all we are thankful for. I would like to express my gratitude to each and every one of you. Every member of the CNAS community has been instrumental in helping our students, the college, the university, and each other navigate through these extraordinary times. You continue to exhibit great resilience, courage, and empathy as we work to provide students with an accessible world-class education during unprecedented circumstances. I am incredibly thankful for your individual and collective efforts.

Nonprofit organizations across the globe are preparing for #GivingTuesday on December 1 and UC Riverside’s colleges and schools will be participating as well. CNAS’ featured funds focus on the importance of supporting our students and campus community and I invite you to learn more and support the college’s #GivingTuesday efforts by clicking on the links below.

CNAS Student Scholarships and Fellowships Fund allows supporters to make a direct impact on the lives of CNAS graduate and undergraduate students who will become the next generation of scientists. These funds play a critical role in helping students who demonstrate financial need during this time.

Advancing Inclusivity in Entomology Endowed Scholarship will support entomology undergraduate students who experience social, cultural, and financial barriers and allow them to participate and excel in entomology research at UCR without worrying about financial commitments.

Donations made to the UCR Botanic Gardens Conservatory will be used for a new interactive exhibit space designed to engage and educate visitors about the diversity of the plant kingdom while allowing them to enjoy nature safely.

Thank you again for your commitment and your support to the CNAS community.

Dr. Kathryn Uhrich
Dean, College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

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Giving

Kathryn Uhrich

UCR Botanic Gardens

Department of Entomology

Dr. Pedram Salimpour ’90 receives 2020 UCR Alumni Service Award

ilseu — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 16:14:04 +0000

Dr. Pedram Salimpour ’90 receives 2020 UCR Alumni Service Award ilseu Tue, 10/20/2020 - 09:14 More College News CNAS Communications Staff October 19, 2020

The UCR Alumni Service Award honors superior service in the public sector or a sustained pattern of volunteer service in the community, arts, or for the benefit of UCR that has positively represented the university and fellow citizens.

Dr. Pedram Salimpour serves as Chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Pierce Health Solutions, a California-based company focused on the creation of novel health delivery systems for large employers throughout the United States. Dr. Salimpour also serves as a three-time appointed commissioner of the Los Angeles Fire & Police Pensions Board, managing over $25 billion in assets.

Prior to Pierce Health Solutions, Dr. Salimpour co-founded multiple companies including CareNex Health Services, a healthcare technology organization specializing in neonatal disease management, Plymouth Health, and Boss Surgical Group, an ambulatory surgery center organization with locations throughout the U.S. Dr. Salimpour has co-authored major grant awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well as dozens of peer-reviewed scientific publications. He serves on multiple boards of directors and has been published in the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, GQ, Newsweek, der Spiegel, the London Daily Telegraph, and more.

Dr. Salimpour earned his bachelor's degree in biology at the University of California, Riverside, attended the Boston University School of Medicine, and completed his residency training at USC Medical Center.

2020 UCR Alumni Service Award

Watch video on YouTube

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Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology

Pedram Salimpour

Kathryn Uhrich

Alumni

Dean Uhrich welcomes CNAS community to 2020-2021 academic year

joanny — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:57:23 +0000

Dean Uhrich welcomes CNAS community to 2020-2021 academic year joanny Thu, 10/01/2020 - 09:57 More College News CNAS Communications October 01, 2020

Dear CNAS Community,

Welcome to the 2021-2020 academic year! Whether you are new to the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences or you are returning to CNAS, starting the academic year in a virtual learning environment will be a new experience for all of us. I, for one, am thrilled to be on this journey with you. Each and every single one of us are trailblazers in our own right as there has never been a journey quite like the one we’re on now! As we continue to adapt to this ever changing world, rest assured that CNAS and UCR remain steadfast at providing the highest quality educational experience that we can offer.

For the second consecutive year, UC Riverside ranked No. 1 in the country for social mobility in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. UCR also rose up in the U.S. News & World Report charts in the overall rankings as well, now placing No. 34 among all public universities and No. 88 overall.
CNAS surpassed its $100 million fundraising campaign goal which will advance faculty research, provide scholarships for students, and enhance programs throughout CNAS.
Join me in welcoming 11 new faculty members representing the agricultural, life and physical sciences.
The CNAS family also welcomes 1,775 first-year students, 406 transfer students, and 165 graduate students — overall, the number of new students increased over last year.
We celebrated more than 70 of our students’ summer research projects at the 2020 Research in Science and Engineering (RISE) Symposium.
CNAS offers a variety of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the college. Applications for CNAS scholarships are being accepted now through October 31.

We have so much to celebrate and be proud of at CNAS. The work we do across the college helps to strengthen UCR as an international leader in education and research. Our collaborative work contributes to advancing and solving some of the world’s most pressing issues. Despite the current challenges we face globally, our CNAS community remains resilient and continues to innovate -- characteristics that position each and every single one of us to succeed, even under the most difficult circumstances.

We are all in this journey together and resources are available to support your success:

CNAS Resources

CNAS Undergraduate Academic Advising Center: cnasstudent.ucr.edu
CNAS Graduate Student Affairs Center: cnasgrad.ucr.edu
CNAS Faculty: cnas.ucr.edu/people/faculty/faculty-by-department
CNAS Departments: cnas.ucr.edu/academics/departments
CNAS Institutes and Centers: cnas.ucr.edu/academics/centers-institutes
CNAS Scholarships: cnas.ucr.edu/cnas-scholarships

Campus Resources

UCR COVID-19: ehs.ucr.edu/coronavirus
Campus Return: campusreturn.ucr.edu
Ask UCR: ask.ucr.edu
Keep Learning: keeplearning.ucr.edu
Keep Teaching: (link no longer valid)
Student Affairs: studentaffairs.ucr.edu
Housing: housing.ucr.edu
Student Health: studenthealth.ucr.edu

As we trailblaze through the new academic year, please reach out to any of the resources that are available to you — together we will succeed.

Stay well, stay healthy, and the best of luck for a memorable and productive year!

Kathryn Uhrich
Dean, College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

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Kathryn Uhrich

CNAS Dean

CNAS meets Living the Promise campaign goal

ilseu — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 18:27:32 +0000

CNAS meets Living the Promise campaign goal ilseu Fri, 09/25/2020 - 11:27 More College News Iqbal Pittalwala | Inside UCR September 25, 2020

A gift made anonymously to the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UC Riverside has helped the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, or CNAS, in which the department is housed, meet and surpass its goal of raising $100 million toward the $300 million Living the Promise campaign, the university’s first ever comprehensive fundraising campaign

“Exceeding our $100 million goal is an incredible feat and the timing couldn’t be more critical,” said Kathryn Uhrich, dean of CNAS. “Despite facing one of the most challenging times in recent history, supporters recognize how much value CNAS and UCR bring to our local and global communities.”

By advancing faculty research, providing scholarships for students, and enhancing programs in CNAS, the generosity of the college’s donors will further UCR’s standing as an international leader in education and research.

“This generosity also demonstrates the confidence our supporters have in our students, faculty, and staff to drive discovery, innovation, and education,” Uhrich said. “We are incredibly grateful for every gift made that helped CNAS reach its campaign goal. The anonymous gift of $600,000 that pushed us over the $100 million mark is especially meaningful. After dedicating more than 30 years of service to the UCR community, an emeritus faculty member will continue his legacy by supporting graduate and undergraduate students with physics scholarships.”

The anonymous gift, made earlier this month, is the largest gift the Department of Physics and Astronomy has received.

“The receipt of this generous gift, which will be used to fund prestigious student fellowships, helps to propel the UCR Department of Physics and Astronomy to the next level,” said Kenneth Barish, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Read the original article here:

View article

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Inside UCR

Department of Physics & Astronomy

Kathryn Uhrich

Kenneth Barish

UCR ranks No. 3 in graduating Hispanic students in STEM majors

ilseu — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 17:46:05 +0000

UCR ranks No. 3 in graduating Hispanic students in STEM majors ilseu Tue, 02/25/2020 - 09:46 More College News Imran Ghori | Inside UCR February 21, 2020

A National Science Foundation report found that UC Riverside ranks third in the nation when it comes to graduating the most Hispanic or Latino students in science and engineering fields.

The data is included in a 2019 report called “Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering”, which looks at the progress of underrepresented groups in science and engineering education and employment.

The report includes a data table showing UCR conferred 4,656 bachelor’s degrees in science and engineering to Hispanic students between 2012-16. Only Florida International University in Miami and University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, had more Hispanic graduates in the STEM fields.

“Given our students’ commitment to learning, and the dedication of UCR faculty and academic staff to their success, I’m not surprised that UCR ranks high for Hispanic and Latino/a STEM graduates,” said Kathryn Uhrich, dean of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. “At CNAS, our classes, laboratories, research experiences, and student success programs are designed to help students thrive.”

The college offers a number of programs providing underrepresented students with support and resources, including CNAS Learning Communities, First Year Success Series, Science Ambassador Program, and STEM Pathway Program.

In 2018, UCR received the Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine for the Riverside Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program. A partnership with Riverside City College, the program identifies students committed to pursuing a career in science and facilitates their transfer and successful completion of a UCR degree in STEM fields.

The report states Hispanics or Latinos have gradually attained STEM degrees over the last 20 years, but they still remain underrepresented in degree completion and in the workplace.

Hispanic Serving Institutions — a federal designation for colleges and universities with a Hispanic student population of more than 25% — have played a large role in increasing their representation, the report found.

In 2016, 46% of Hispanic students who earned bachelor’s degrees in STEM majors graduated from Hispanic Serving Institutions, and 37% who earned doctorates between 2013 and 2017 attended one, according to the report.

UCR was designated a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2008.

View the original article on Inside UCR:

Read article

View the 2019 NSF report “Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering” online:

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