December 1, 2008

Anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”  As the year draws to a close, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our university friends who have demonstrated their steadfast support for the university and our mission of higher education, research and public service.  We are fortunate to have a strong, loyal university community that includes philanthropists, volunteers, and current and former students, faculty and staff.  Our supporters give generously of their time and energy, their hard work and wisdom, their leadership and vision, and most important, their hearts.

The Spirit of Giving Enriches Campus and Community
Walking around campus, you see a university community composed of dedicated researchers, bright students, world-renowned faculty and hard-working staff.  But we are also a community of volunteers.  The men and women who serve on our Foundation Board, Board of Overseers and numerous advisory committees are all volunteers.  We have student organizations dedicated to community service, such as UCSD Cares and the Volunteer Connection.  Our ever-popular, annual Staff Association pancake breakfast doubles as a toy, food and clothing drive.  The Board of Directors at The Preuss School are volunteers, as are more than 100 of our faculty, staff and students who teach and mentor at the school year-round.  Many of our students spend their winter, spring and summer breaks volunteering in our local and national communities or abroad.  In fact, over the coming winter holiday break, UC San Diego students will head to the African nation of Tanzania to work with a wide range of local organizations including a hospital, orphanage and an English-language school.  We also have volunteer tour guides who offer walking and bus tours of the campus for potential students, visitors and community groups.  UC San Diego’s International Center boasts hundreds of volunteers who work with international scholars and students to improve their conversational English, serve as host families and teach cooking classes.  And the list goes on.

I cannot overstate how important our volunteers are to the university; their service to the university is immeasurable and invaluable.  Their dedication and work make it possible for our researchers to innovate, our students to learn, our university to thrive.  Our volunteers also contribute to the university’s local impact, national influence and global reach.  And their support has never been more important.  In these tough economic times, we’re fortunate to have so many people who believe in our mission and are willing to give generously of their time to make this university a better place.  Every campus tour, every toy drive, every individual interaction improves lives and makes a difference on our campus and in our community.  I think Japanese poet Ryunosuke Satoro summed up the spirit of volunteerism well by saying, “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

UCSD Scholars Serving on President-Elect Transition Team
Public service is part of the University of California mission, and now two of our UC San Diego leaders will serve our nation through their appointments to the administration transition team of President-Elect Barack Obama.  Dean Peter Cowhey of the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies has been chosen as a co-leader of the President-Elect transition team preparing for the new Administration’s Special Representative for Trade Policy.  UC San Diego Nobel laureate Mario Molina, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has been named as co-leader of the transition team assigned to develop plans for the nation's science and technology policy.  These two scholars represent the exceptional and deep reservoir of talent among our ranks here at UC San Diego.  I applaud them for their extensive expertise and talent, and for their future service and contributions to our country.

UCSD Nobel Laureate to Receive Award in Stockholm
UC San Diego Nobel Laureate Roger Tsien, Ph.D., will receive his award this month at an official ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.  He shares the prize in chemistry with two other researchers.  They discovered and developed the Green Fluorescent Protein, which has allowed researchers to watch processes in cells that were previously invisible, such as how cancer spreads. The protein has become one of the most important tools used in contemporary bioscience.  The annual Nobel Prize Award Ceremony is held every year on Dec. 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.  Nobel was a Swedish scientist, innovator and entrepreneur who died in 1896 and left much of his wealth for the establishment of the Nobel Prize.  In addition to receiving his award in Stockholm, Roger Tsien will present a lecture on his work with the Green Fluorescent Protein.  He’ll deliver a similar lecture here at UC San Diego in February, which will also include some of his more recent research.

And one final note for our friends who ride the wild waves, UC San Diego has been named the third best surfing college in the nation by Transworld Surf.  I’m just glad the qualifications for the rankings include academics and life experience, in addition to surf quality.

Enjoy the holidays. 

With warm regards,

Marye Anne Fox
Chancellor