[Plsfaculty] Message to the Faculty from Dr. Larkins

[Donna-Rae Marquez]

On Behalf of Dr. Brian Larkins:

 

 

Dear PLS Faculty,

 

I had a surprise telephone call in the middle of my MBC181 lecture last
week.  Fortunately, my cell phone was turned off so I didn't get the message
until later than night.  In any case, you know who it was!  The Dean asked
me to serve as interim Director of the School of Plant Sciences, with the
understanding that he would immediately begin a search for a new, full-time
Director.  I spent the past few days meeting with the Deans, Donna-Rae and
Dennis to get up to speed with budget and teaching matters, and I plan to
start meeting with faculty and staff next week.  Although I am acquainted
(or at least known) by many of you, there are a number of new people who may
not be aware that I served as department head for six years prior to Dr.
Leonard's arrival.  Hopefully, my past experience will make me a fast
learner and I'll be up-to-speed in a short time.  I asked Donna-Rae to
request a copy of your cv so I can get a quick overview of what you've been
doing.  Although I chaired the Peer Review Committee last year and read all
of your Annual Activity Reports, your cv will provide me with broader
knowledge of your program.  I am looking forward to meeting with you and
answering your questions.  I don't know that I can solve any of your
problems, but I'll do the best I can.  I am planning to first meet with the
new faculty, but please contact Gabe if you feel a pressing need to talk to
me right away.

 

There are several important issues that the department needs to work on
immediately: 1) our undergraduate degree program; and 2) graduate recruiting
and graduate training.  The deans are challenging us to increase the number
of undergraduate majors, and we need some creative thinking about the best
approaches to change how we recruit and manage graduate students.  Due to
financial limitations, the paradigm we have been using to fund graduate
students will work no longer, and we have to find better options.  These are
serious problems that will impact all faculty members, so everyone has a
stake in solving them!  I am planning to reconstitute several of the
departmental committees and get a large segment of the faculty working on
these issues.  My goal is to have a plan in place by the time we interview
candidates for the Director of the School.  It would be good if we can
impress them with our vision and ability to work cohesively to address these
challenges.

 

I hope you will bear with me for the next few weeks as I get up to speed
with everything and everyone.  I have a lot to learn.

 

I look forward to working for you.

 

Best wishes,

Brian  

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://list.cals.arizona.edu/pipermail/plsfaculty/attachments/20100905/8eec1e72/attachment.htm>