From christine.morgando at ucr.edu Tue Dec 9 17:29:51 2025 From: christine.morgando at ucr.edu (Christine Morgando) Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2025 17:29:51 -0800 Subject: [Microplantpath_faculty] BMP Transition Update Message-ID: On behalf of Dean Atkinson - Dear BMP Faculty -- I am providing an update on our ongoing plans for the BMP (formerly BMPN) unit. Plans for a transition of the FAO and FOM roles in the BMP admin unit are taking shape. It is clear that we need to bring in a strong team with a short-term objective to ensure grants are closed, records are reviewed, and any outstanding discrepancies are remedied. For a period of three months, beginning January 1 and extending through March 31, Sherice Underwood will be appointed as acting FAO. Sherice comes to BMP from Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology; Molecular, Cell & Systems Biology; Natural Reserves (EMN), where she has acted as FAO for several years. Sherice will transition from EMN to a role in the CNAS Dean's Office. As her first assignment with the Dean's Office, Sherice will head the BMP administrative leadership team. Working with Sherice, we have secured Maria Sedillo from Botany & Plant Science to act as FOM in the BMP unit from January 1 through March 31. Maria has many years of experience as FOM and is deeply familiar with the complexities of fund management. Both Sherice & Maria will be dedicated to BMP during this three month period at 100% time, working within BMP but for the CNAS Dean?s Office. To get a head start in reviewing the unit's records and structure, Sherice and Maria have agreed to begin work in the unit at 50% time, beginning December 15. This will allow Christine and Sarah to transition to their new positions and will afford the opportunity for Sherice and Maria to meet with the staff and provide day to day supervision of operations beginning December 15. Christine and Sarah will be available for consultation to Sherice, Maria and BMP staff after December 15 and are very significant contributors to the transition plan. It is imperative that communications and planning between the outgoing and incoming BMP management begin now and will continue beyond the official January 1 date given the complexity of the unit and the volume that is managed by BMP. All have been very clear in their desire to assist and ensure that the transition and support beyond the transition date is as smooth as possible. In addition to the forensic accounting issues that will be addressed by the new leadership team, Sherice will be focused on unit structure and workload. She will be evaluating the needs of the unit and paving the way for recruitment for both a permanent FAO and FOM. We will launch recruitments for these positions as early as February 1st to allow overlap on or about March 1. We expect that the BMP faculty will be appointed to the search committees. Jennifer Farias will be the committee chair in both cases to help alleviate the administrative burden and ensure candidates of the highest caliber are presented as finalists. Only active participation from faculty will ensure that we choose a permanent team that will meet the unit's needs. These transitions come with shared responsibility. CNAS is fortunate to have secured two highly capable and experienced leaders from within the college to jump-start a new era for the BMP unit. Teamwork from all staff and faculty continues to be needed to make both transitions, the one now, and the permanent one in late winter-early spring, successful. Finally, our sincerest thanks go to Christine & Sarah. Their efforts to keep the unit moving forward in the wake of staff shortages, faculty growth, new systems, and many more complications have been clear to all. We are delighted that they will continue to work in and contribute to CNAS in very meaningful ways. Their depth of knowledge and work ethic are evident, and CNAS is fortunate to be able to continue to invest in their success. Sincere thanks to Sherice and Maria for accepting this new challenge. They are ready to work with both faculty and staff to make the most of this transition period. We know BMP is in good hands under their leadership. Peter Peter W. Atkinson, Ph.D. Dean College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences 2315 Olmsted Hall (Dean's Office) 2234A Genomics Building (Faculty Office) University of California Riverside, CA 92521, USA Ph: 951-827-3101 e-mail: peter.atkinson at ucr.edu https://atkinsonlabentm.ucr.edu/ Executive Assistant: Jennifer Markovski (office) 951-827-4597 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: