CNAS Dean

Meet the new dean of CNAS

tomwt — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 18:22:41 +0000

Meet the new dean of CNAS tomwt Tue, 02/25/2025 - 10:22 More College News January 31, 2025

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CNAS Dean Announcement

tomwt — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 21:06:40 +0000

CNAS Dean Announcement tomwt Tue, 01/14/2025 - 13:06 More College News Elizabeth Watkins | Inside UCR January 08, 2025

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Fall 2024 Welcome from CNAS Interim Dean Peter Atkinson

joanny — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 22:07:22 +0000

Fall 2024 Welcome from CNAS Interim Dean Peter Atkinson joanny Fri, 09/20/2024 - 15:07 More College News September 23, 2024

Dear CNAS Students,

Today marks the beginning of the 2024 academic year for the UC Riverside community, and I have been looking forward to the energy and enthusiasm that our students bring to campus!

For the College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) alone, we welcome 7,325 CNAS students, of which 1,780 are new first-year students, 227 are new transfer students, and 221 are new graduate students. I had the pleasure of meeting many of you and your families at the CNAS New Family Welcome yesterday.

During Welcome Week, you’ll have the opportunity to transition to campus life and explore what UCR and CNAS has to offer. For our CNAS undergraduate students, tomorrow morning are the CNAS New Student Welcome sessions, and immediately following is lunch at the CNAS Community Meet & Greet at the Physics Courtyard at 11:30 a.m. For our graduate students, there are a number of orientations, fall welcomes, open houses, and symposiums that are coming up.

When classes start in the next few days, don’t hesitate to meet your fellow classmates, get to know your faculty, and reach out to staff—we are all here to support you in your success as you develop your careers here at CNAS!

I’m looking forward to seeing you all on campus!

Peter W. Atkinson, Ph.D.
Professor
Interim Dean, College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

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Happy Holidays from the CNAS Dean’s Office

tomwt — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:40:09 +0000

Happy Holidays from the CNAS Dean’s Office tomwt Wed, 12/20/2023 - 14:40 More College News December 21, 2023

Dear CNAS faculty, staff, students and your families,

The holiday season provides time for us to reflect on the year and to be thankful and grateful for our family and friends. In our college, this extends to the individual and collective achievements we have made in our teaching and research and, after more completely emerging from the pandemic, re-establishing our connections to our campus and to each other. I am grateful for your patience, determination, and helpfulness to all that has helped us throughout the year.

On behalf of all of us at CNAS, I thank you for your support to your college and to each other, and hope that you will find peace, happiness, and relaxation with your families over the holiday break.

Gratefully yours,
Peter

Peter W. Atkinson, Ph.D.
Interim Dean of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Professor
Department of Entomology

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Welcome from CNAS Interim Dean Peter Atkinson 2023-2024

tomwt — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:13:16 +0000

Welcome from CNAS Interim Dean Peter Atkinson 2023-2024 tomwt Fri, 09/22/2023 - 08:13 More College News September 25, 2023

Dear CNAS Students,

On behalf of the College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) at UC Riverside, I welcome all our new first-year, transfer, and returning students to the start of the new academic year at UC Riverside.

Being my 27th year at UC Riverside, I have seen and experienced how unique CNAS is within the University of California system. Few universities cover the breadth of science the way CNAS does. From the agricultural, life, and physical sciences, UCR is renowned for providing students the opportunity to participate in research projects in our laboratories where they can work side-by-side with faculty, staff, and fellow students. Our college offers a wide choice of research projects on the compelling issues of our time and the opportunities to help solve them. I couldn’t be more proud to be part of the CNAS community.

When classes start in the next few days, I encourage all of you to step into your lecture halls, classrooms, and labs and take the opportunity to engage with your classmates that are on this journey with you; get to know your faculty during lectures, labs, and office hours; and reach out to staff who are here to support you in your success.

For our new CNAS first-year and transfer students, be sure to attend the CNAS Welcome Week Community Meet & Greet tomorrow, Tuesday, September 26 at 11:30 a.m. at the Physics Courtyard. This will be a perfect time for you to meet the CNAS community — everyone is welcome.

Looking forward to seeing you on campus!

Peter W. Atkinson, Ph.D.
Professor
Interim Dean, College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

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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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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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Happy Holidays from CNAS Dean Kathryn Uhrich

joanny — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 17:35:19 +0000

Happy Holidays from CNAS Dean Kathryn Uhrich joanny Wed, 12/21/2022 - 09:35 More College News December 27, 2022

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The holidays are always a special time for me, a time to relax, recharge, rejuvenate, and spend time with family, friends, and loved ones. It’s also a time to reflect on the past year and an opportunity to look forward to what 2023 will bring.

There are many areas across CNAS of which I am extremely proud. From our faculty’s cutting-edge research, to student achievements both in and outside of the classroom, to our staff, who keep the college moving forward, and our alumni, parents, and community members who offer their support in countless ways. But what truly stands out is our collective effort to support our students.

With your generosity, nearly $500,000 in scholarships will be awarded to CNAS undergraduate and graduate students this year! A few highlights of the CNAS Scholarship awards include:

$225,000 for students receiving the CNAS Science of Sustainability Fellowship, which provides support for environmental and sustainability research
Nearly $40,000 will be awarded to graduate students receiving the Dexiang Dong and Yiyun Cao Graduate Fellowship in Human Virology, and the Leonard Family Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship
$24,000 for CNAS Dean’s Scholarship and Fellowship recipients

Many of the scholarships also play a critical role guiding the college in creating a community where research, teaching, and public service will thrive, including:

Excellence in Inclusivity: Enhancing our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in CNAS and across campus
Graduate Programs: Strengthening support and resources for students in our graduate programs
The Science of Sustainability: Sharing, educating, and informing our local, regional, and global communities of our research to improve the world we live in

As a college, we strive to continually make meaningful progress in these areas, but we need your help. As 2022 comes to a close, please consider making a tax-deductible gift, of any amount, to support the success of our students in the following ways:

The CNAS Dean’s Graduate Student Support Fund provides our graduate students with funding to put towards their educational needs and research.
The CNAS Dean’s Scholarship and Fellowship Fund provides resources for our exceptional undergraduate and graduate students.
The CNAS Dean’s Excellence Fund supports the dean’s priorities for student success in the areas of research, academic inquiry, and more.

There’s a reason why UCR ranks first in social mobility among all public universities for the fourth year in a row — and that reason is you. You have supported our students with your time, expertise, and generosity, and your dedication to our mission has been instrumental in making UCR the world-class educational institution it is today. With your continued support, imagine how much more we will accomplish!

Thank you for all that you do and Happy Holidays!

Kathryn Unrich
Dean, College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

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CNAS Dean's Welcome 2022-2023

joanny — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 22:32:56 +0000

CNAS Dean's Welcome 2022-2023 joanny Fri, 09/23/2022 - 15:32 More College News September 23, 2022

Dear CNAS Community,

All summer long, I have been eagerly waiting for the school year to start. The excitement of having campus bustling with activity, buildings filled with friendly faces, and lecture halls packed with eager students ready to learn, has finally arrived!

As Dean of the College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences, I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome all of you to the 2022 academic year! Whether you are a student, faculty member, or staff, we’re about to embark on a journey for all of us to gather, celebrate, learn, and grow together.

For fall quarter, CNAS has a total enrollment of 7,305 students. Of that, we welcome 1,730 first-year students, 240 new transfer students, and 203 new graduate students.
CNAS welcomes seven new faculty members who bring an infusion of energy, experiences, and expertise in the fields of chemistry, mathematics, physics and astronomy, and statistics.
More than 300 CNAS staff from all corners of the college — agricultural fields, labs, and offices — are here to support our community. To get to know our staff, visit the CNAS staff page or each department's staff page.

You all should be proud to know that CNAS continues to rank among the top programs across the nation:

Top 1% for Most Popular Colleges for Mathematics. (College Factual, 2022)
4th for Highest Paid Bachelor’s Degree General Physics Graduates in California. (College Factual, 2022)
Among the Top 4% for Best Global Universities Subject Rankings in Plant and Animal Science. (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
Among the Top 9% for Best Global Universities Subject Rankings in Chemistry. (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
10th for Most Popular Colleges for Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology. (College Factual, 2022)
Among the top 13% of all ranked world universities for life sciences — and in the top 16% for physical sciences. (Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2022)
In the Top 14% of Best Colleges for Biology in America. (Niche College Rankings, 2023)
Among the Top 18% for Best Global Universities Subject Rankings in Environment/Ecology. (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
Among the Top 21% for Best Global Universities Subject Rankings in Materials Science. (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
Among the Top 21% for Best Global Universities Subject Rankings in Physics. (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
Among the Top 23% for Best Global Universities Subject Rankings in Geosciences. (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
Among the Top 24% for Best Global Universities Subject Rankings in Physical Chemistry. (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)

For our students, the College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences offers a variety of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students to aid your success. Applications for CNAS scholarships are being accepted starting October 1 through October 31.

Thinking about coming back to campus after these COVID-influenced years also has me thinking about what’s important for the College moving forward:

The Science of Sustainability: How can the sciences inform our communities and improve our environment?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: How can we better enhance our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to reflect the communities we serve?
Graduate Programs: How can CNAS better support students in our Ph.D. graduate programs?

One more thing… I had the opportunity to meet many of our first-year students at last week’s CNAS New Student Welcomes — what a pleasure to get to know some of our newest members of the CNAS community! At each of the CNAS New Student Welcomes, I gave a homework assignment for each student to introduce themselves to at least three other students that day. Energized by the response, I’m now extending that homework assignment to all CNAS students, faculty, and staff. Let’s start Week One by introducing yourself to three new people on campus and know that there’s nothing that the CNAS community can’t accomplish together.

Stay well, stay healthy, and see you around campus!

Kathryn Uhrich
Dean, College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

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SciCommUCR Beyond the Bench Podcast with Dean Kathryn Uhrich

joanny — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 16:56:12 +0000

SciCommUCR Beyond the Bench Podcast with Dean Kathryn Uhrich joanny Mon, 10/04/2021 - 09:56 More CNAS in the Media October 04, 2021

SCICOMMUCR/BEYOND THE BENCH PODCAST - SciCommUCR is a student organization working to communicate science in creative ways and bring science communication training to the University of California, Riverside community. In 2019, SciCommUCR started with their communication workshop, Let's Talk Science. They are currently producing the second season of their podcast, Beyond the Bench.

Beyond the Bench
Beyond the Bench explores the stories behind scientists and their work. University of California, Riverside graduate students and science experts from a wide range of fields discuss what it's like to work as a scientist and the questions that drive their curiosity.

Science, Teaching, and Innovation from the Perspective of College Dean Kathryn Uhrich
In this episode of Beyond the Bench, hosts Madison Sankovitz and Monique Rivera talk with CNAS Dean Kathryn Uhrich on a wide range of topics including: How does one person lead a career that involves serving hundreds of faculty as dean of schools in two universities, creating over 70 U.S. and international patents, and publishing 140 peer-reviewed papers? What is it like to work at the intersection of academia and corporate business? Dean Uhrich also discusses the chemistry that initially inspired her to invent polymers for various industries (including drug delivery and personal care), what mentorship has meant throughout her career, and what it's like to be the dean of a college.

Listen to the Podcast
To listen to the latest Beyond the Bench podcast with Dean Uhrich and all the previous Beyond the Bench podcasts, visit Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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