Dear Colleagues,

This month marked a big milestone for the entire UC Riverside community and me personally when I was officially inaugurated as chancellor on February 5th. I am deeply grateful to the many people who made the event happen and showcased the power and possibilities at UCR to other University of California leaders, UCR Foundation trustees, delegates from other universities around the country, elected officials, and community leaders, as well as my friends and family, colleagues, and former students.

Since I arrived at UCR, I’ve communicated four campus priorities—deepening our commitment to student success and social mobility, accelerating mission-driven research and innovation, expanding UCR Health, and strengthening partnerships with industry, alums, foundations, communities, and organizations in California and beyond. In my inauguration address, I referred to these not merely as priorities but as commitments.

Then, I added a fifth: to build a shared future.

The only way we can succeed is through a commitment to our people. As I ask all of you to join me in advancing our priorities, we will also work to support your professional development, well-being, and success. Together, we build the foundation for what comes next.

Financial Stewardship

In February, we have been holding a series of meetings to review budgets across academic and administrative units. The meetings are scheduled to continue into March, at which time, we will have met with every academic and administrative unit across campus. We want to ensure that our financial plans align with our strategic priorities. We have been learning a great deal about our programs.

I also play an active role in securing revenue from the state and UC system, philanthropy, and through research and innovation. Because I will often ask others to invest in UC Riverside, I must be fluent in how we steward the resources entrusted to us.

At the center of our work are our students. Ensuring they have the resources to succeed — academic support, basic needs assistance, mentoring, and pathways to opportunity — remains one of our highest priorities. When we invest in student support, we invest in the future of our region, our state, and our society.

Remember to mark your calendars for Give Day, April 7-8

Last month, we shared information about participating in Give Day through project page submissions and campus engagement opportunities. Our campus goal is to inspire 1,275 donors to make a gift to any area of the university in support of Highlanders and their needs. Gifts of all sizes help unlock challenge funds and surpass last year’s record.

Whether you participate by making a gift or by supporting department initiatives that connect alumni and donors with our work, thank you for your dedication to our mission.

Together, through shared commitment, careful stewardship, and coordinated effort, we continue to strengthen UC Riverside and expand opportunities through education, research, and service for the students and communities we serve.