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<span style="margin:0px;font-family:Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:black"><font size="4"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Hi all,</span></font></span></div>
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<span style="margin:0px;font-family:Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:black"><font size="4"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The
</span><a href="https://facultyaffairs.arizona.edu/strategic-priorities-faculty-initiative" title="https://facultyaffairs.arizona.edu/strategic-priorities-faculty-initiative"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Strategic
Priorities Funding Initiative (SPFI)</span></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> was established with the goal of enhancing Inclusive Excellence at
the University of Arizona as outlined in the Universities purpose and values document and as such provides a unique opportunity to directly hire faculty outside of the traditional search process. Our candidate submissions for this program are due at the end
of March to the Provost, hence the time frame described below.</span></font></span>
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<font size="4"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We were able to advertise by word of mouth (and without an actual position description!) from late 2020
through January, and received information from approximately 70 applicants. For the first round we asked candidates to submit a C.V. and DEI statement, followed in the second round with a combined teaching and research statement for the second round. A huge
thank you to everyone that helped to advertise throughout networks, it really made a huge difference!</span></font></div>
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<div style="margin:0px;font-family:Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="4"><span style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Over the last
few weeks we have narrowed down the candidate pool to four</span><span style="margin:0px;color:black"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span></span><font color="blue"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">excellent</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">candidates,
and we've scheduled interviews to take place over the next two+ weeks. The candidate interview schedule is as follows:</span></font></font></div>
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<font size="4"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Dr. Atiako Acheampong: March 4th and 5th</span></font></div>
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<font size="4"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Dr. Andre Velasquez: March 9th and 10th</span></font></div>
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<font size="4"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Dr. Cecilia Rodriguez-Furlan: March 11th and 12th</span></font></div>
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<font size="4"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Dr. Daniela Vergara: March 15th and 16th</span></font></div>
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<div style="margin:0px;font-family:Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="4"><span style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The interviews
will consist of a virtual seminar (I think at 10am Arizona time) on the first day of the interview. This will be recorded and will be available to PLS faculty</span><font color="blue"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">who
cannot attend live</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">. I've also planned on having two separate spots for faculty to
meet with each candidate as a group. Given how tiring Zoom is for us all and certainly for the candidates, I'd like to try and avoid scheduling many smaller independent meetings. However, happy to try and accommodate other times if need be, just email me directly.
For each faculty group time, I'd like to cap the number of participants to 5 as I think this helps to provide the best virtual environment experience. To sign up, please fill out slots on the Google schedule I'll send out for each candidate. Please also email
me directly if you would like to have access to the files that the four candidates submitted.</span></font></font></div>
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<font size="4" style=""><span style="color: rgb(32, 31, 30); margin: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><font color="blue"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Pending
the results of the interviews, t</span></font></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">he committee would like to suggest two candidates
for the SPFI initiative, with a couple of caveats. We have recently learned that SPFI positions must be</span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(32, 31, 30); margin: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><font color="blue"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">cleared
through CALS before we pass them up to the Provost. </span></font></span><font color="#201f1e"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The committee is currently
working on ways</span></font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><font color="blue" style="color: rgb(32, 31, 30);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">to</span></font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><font color="#201f1e"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">clear</span></font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><font color="blue" style="color: rgb(32, 31, 30);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">the</span></font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><font color="#201f1e"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">new
positions through CALS in the next month, but</span></font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><font color="blue" style="color: rgb(32, 31, 30);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">the
timing is tight.</span></font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><font color="#201f1e"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">There
is a chance that positive outcomes for hiring through the SPFI process could affect the status of the Digital Ag and/or Host-Microbe positions</span></font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><font color="blue" style="color: rgb(32, 31, 30);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">that
have already been approved through CALS but which have not been cleared through the Provost (and which may not be approved until next Fall).</span></font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I
think it is highly possible that we can receive two SPFI hiring spots</span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(32, 31, 30); margin: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><font color="blue"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">if
they reach</span></font></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">the
Provost's office, but I also want to emphasize that nothing is promised and the Provost could deny one or both positions. </span></font></div>
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<span style="margin:0px;font-family:Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:black"><font size="4"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">As we envision
bringing in these faculty as Tenure track faculty, it is also likely that negotiation of startup packages could affect future hires. With these potential limitations in mind, I think it's critical that we as a School are on board with whatever plan is chosen
going forward and so</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>I'd
like to schedule a faculty meeting for March 18th (at 12:30PM)</b> to discuss the issue</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">.</span></font></span></div>
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<font size="4"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: normal; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Thank you and please be on the lookout for scheduling emails for the four candidates.</span></font></div>
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<span style="margin:0px;font-family:Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:black"><font size="4"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: normal; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Dave
Baltrus (on behalf of the SPFI committee; Ramin Yadegari, Karen Schumaker, Rebecca Mosher, Mark Beilstein).</span></font></span></div>
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