June 2005

Dear Colleagues:

2005 Commencements

The 2005 Commencement season is in full swing, and I am enjoying my first experience of this UCSD rite-of-passage for our graduates and our campus. This year, UCSD celebrates a record 10 commencement ceremonies – including Sixth College’s first-ever graduation of 10 seniors on June 12 and the UCSD Preuss School’s second-ever commencement for 75 graduating seniors. Starting this past weekend with the School of Medicine Commencement, I will hand out diplomas to 5,000 new UCSD alumni, including 4,000 undergraduates and 1,000 graduate students. This is believed to be our largest graduating class ever, and it will put us over 100,000 alumni, an indication of how much UCSD has grown as an institution. I want to emphasize here that Commencement is not just a milestone for our graduates and their loved ones. Our faculty and staff should take great pride in these graduates because your efforts in the classroom, in administrative offices, in residence and dining halls, and in an array of student services have contributed to the achievements of the Class of 2005. For a full schedule of 2005 Commencement events, please visit: http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/general/graduation2005.asp

Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies Marks 25th Anniversary

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the UCSD Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, its founding director, Wayne A. Cornelius, and its current director, Christopher Woodruff, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. This was celebrated on May 25 with a dinner featuring remarks by Dr. Luis Carlos Ugalde, president of Mexico's Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) and a graduate of the Center’s Summer Seminar in U.S. Studies. Since the Center’s founding in 1979, more than 150 volumes on Mexico and U.S.-Mexico relations have been published under its auspices, and it has created an alumni network of more than 1000 former Visiting Scholars and participants in the Summer Seminar in U.S. Studies. Expanding UCSD’s international scope is one of my priorities as Chancellor, and I am keenly interested in strengthening ties with Mexico and in taking maximum advantage of UCSD’s strategic location next to Latin America. The Center will continue to play a unique role in strengthening our partnerships with our international neighbors.

UC Joins Governor and CSU in “California Teach” Program

I want to join President Dynes in expressing great excitement about the “California Teach” program that was launched May 31 as a partnership effort involving Governor Schwarzenegger, the University of California, California State University, and state business leaders. This bold new effort will enhance the supply and preparation of science and mathematics teachers for California's public schools at a time when our state is lagging dangerously behind in the academic performance of K-12 students. Under the "California Teach" program, UC aims to quadruple its annual production of credentialed science and mathematics teachers over the next several years, from 250 per year to 1,000 per year by 2010. In four years of study, our undergraduate students will be able to earn a bachelor’s degree in science, math or engineering and adequate preparation for teaching in secondary schools. As a scientist and science teacher, I have a profound personal interest in improving K-12 science and math teaching, and as a university administrator, I know that the quality of our student population in years to come will only be as good as the quality of our high school applicants. So I am very eager for our campus to become actively involved in this landmark initiative. To learn more about “California Teach,” please visit: http://ucnewswire.org/news_viewer.cfm?story_PK=4875&

Distinguished Faculty Teachers, Exemplary Staff Honored

Let me end this letter by conveying congratulations and personal thanks to 19 individuals who were recognized in recent weeks for their contributions to UCSD as distinguished faculty teachers and as exemplary staff. Each of them serves as an inspiration to us all, and I am very pleased that our campus community has honored them.

Distinguished Teaching Award, Academic Senate Members

Wayne Cornelius, Political Science
Katja Lindenberg, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Jeffrey Omens, Bioengineering and Medicine
Kathryn Shevelow, Literature
Barbara J. and Paul D. Saltman

Distinguished Teaching Award, Non-Senate Members

Shawn Bender, Anthropology
Melvyn Freilicher, Literature
Alexandra Schwartz, Orthopaedic Surgery
Barbara J. and Paul D. Saltman

Excellent Teaching Award, Graduate Students

Larissa Kokernot, Theatre and Dance
Irmary Reyes-Santos, Literature

Exemplary Staff Employees of the Year

Leann Cortimiglia, Clinical Nurse II, UCSD Regional Burn Center, Health Sciences, Principal Exemplary Staff Employee

Aaron Borovoy, Senior Publications Coordinator, Publications, External Relations

David Cupp, Senior Administrative Analyst, Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools, Student Affairs

Penny Dockry, Administrative Analyst, Marine Biology Research Division, Marine Sciences

Theotis Duncan, Senior Custodian – Supervisor, Facilities Management, Business Affairs

Julia Engstrom, Food Service Coordinator, Housing and Dining Services, Business Affairs

Lourdes (Lou) Felix, Senior Administrative Analyst – Supervisor, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences

Ann Fulcher, Community Health Program Manager, UCSD Healthcare: Women's Specialties Health Services

Esteban Marquez, Administrative Analyst, Financial Aid Office, Student Affairs

Brenda Wong, EH&S Specialist III – Supervisor, Environment, Health and Safety, Business Affairs

As always, I encourage you to provide comments via my web page. Please pass along any suggestions via my chancellor@ucsd.edu email address.

With warm regards,

Marye Anne Fox