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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing of Joanne Chory, a true champion of plant sciences, an inspirational role model, and
an unwaveringly dedicated scientist. Joanne passed away on Tuesday afternoon due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Her passing is an immense loss to the scientific community, but her legacy will endure. Joanne’s groundbreaking contributions to plant science have
left an indelible mark, and her visionary work will continue to inspire generations of scientists. Her memory lives on, and her impact will forever shape the landscape of scientific achievement.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Joanne will be deeply missed, but the light she kindled in our field will never dim. Let us honor her by continuing to pursue the curiosity and rigor
she exemplified throughout her life.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">With deepest condolences to all,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Katie<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Katayoon (Katie) Dehesh</span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Director, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, Distinguished Professor
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Ernst and Helen Leibacher Endowed Chair in Botany and Plant Sciences</span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">University of California, Riverside, CA 92521</span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Phone: (951) 827-6370; Fax: (951) 827-5155</span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Aptos"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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