[Microplantpath_faculty] April Update on BMP - from the CNAS Dean

[Dominica Albitre]

Dear Faculty of the Departments of Biochemistry and Microbiology & Plant
Pathology,

I provide here an update on our BMP unit.  Consistent with our
expectations, the new BMP leadership team is off to a strong and steady
start. Dominica Albitre has hit the ground running as FAO, bringing focus,
responsiveness, and sound operational discipline. Mariam Plowman is
providing clear coordination and structure as Financial Operations Manager,
and together they are quickly establishing the stability and clarity the
unit needs. The early momentum is noticeable, and our team is building
confidence across the board.

Consistent with the direction established by the Dean's Office and as
discussed with your Department Chairs, Maria Sedillo will not continue in
an ongoing operational support role for the unit. Instead, Maria, working
from her location in Batchelor Hall/Botany & Plant Sciences, is engaged in
a limited consultative capacity, providing expertise related to historical
records and documentation to ensure continuity and a smooth transition. Her
institutional knowledge remains valuable in this capacity, and she is
supporting the new administrative team as they move forward.

Maria is not assigned to operational responsibilities for the BMP unit and
is not authorized to initiate or submit new proposals, transactions, or
administrative actions on behalf of the unit. While she is not working
directly with PIs on forward-looking funding activities, she is helping
ensure that the most complex legacy funds receive the technical attention
needed to support accurate reporting, responsible closeout, and overall
compliance. If clarification of historical or forensic information is
needed, Maria may participate in discussions with faculty as appropriate.
Those interactions will be coordinated through the BMP leadership team to
ensure clear communication and alignment with the unit’s current
administrative structure. Faculty who are currently working with Maria on
legacy matters may continue those interactions as needed to bring those
issues to resolution, with coordination through the BMP leadership team.
Progress on this focused body of work will be monitored, with the
expectation that these efforts will be substantially completed by November
2026.

To maintain clarity going forward, all faculty interactions related to BMP
administrative matters should be directed through the BMP leadership team.
I appreciate the partnership of faculty throughout this transition. Our
collective priority remains reinforcing the new administrative structure
and allowing the team to continue building stability and forward progress.

On behalf of the CNAS Dean’s Office, I again thank you for your advice,
patience and collaboration.

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
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