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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>On Behalf of Dr. Brian Larkins:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='color:#1F497D'>Dear PLS Faculty,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='color:#1F497D'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='color:#1F497D'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='color:#1F497D'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='color:#1F497D'>I look forward to working for you.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='color:#1F497D'>Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='color:#1F497D'>Brian <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>