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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Greetings all,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">With much sadness I am writing to inform you that our esteemed colleague Xuemei Chen has accepted an endowed professorship position, together with the Deanship of the Biological Sciences at Peking
University starting this July.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Throughout her profession, Xuemei has been recognized by many prominent institutions, including HHMI and the U.S. National academy, recognitions based on the sheer power of her science and NOT
political maneuvering. Yet despite all these awards she has remained modest, and generous with her time and efforts, as exemplified by the courses she has developed, research instruments she has brought to IIGB and the core facility, programs she has chaired,
and, last but not least, her acceptance of the leadership of IIGB during my recent sabbatical. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> She is a true gem, that decorated the crown of IIGB and UCR for seventeen years. Her departure leaves an immense vacuum behind. However, I am hopeful that her departure will open new channels
of interaction between Peking university and UCR.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">We will plan for a gathering to celebrate her before her departure. She is currently not in the country but I will find an agreeable time for us to collectively acknowledge her, her achievements
and to express thanks for her selfless efforts for improving science in our community.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Please join me in congratulating her for yet another prominent recognition, and wish her all the best and much power.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Be powerful,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Katie</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Katayoon (Katie) Dehesh<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Director, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, Distinguished Professor
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Ernst and Helen Leibacher Endowed Chair in Botany and Plant Sciences<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">University of California, Riverside, CA 92521<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Phone: (951) 827-6370; Fax: (951) 827-5155<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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