This was a roller coaster week.  The ANR conference ended Thursday the 27^th and the next morning Davis residents learned of the violent death of David Breaux (The Compassion Guy). Saturday night (April 29) the life of computer science major Karim Abou Najm was ended all too soon. Monday night Kimberlee Guillory was stabbed multiple times and remains in the hospital. By Tuesday mid-day you couldn't find a can of pepper spray in Davis or Woodland. The Police Department had all major TV stations' camera crews present each morning at 7am. Thursday afternoon police had arrested a suspect. Searching of the suspect's house included a helicopter for hours (presumably TV representation). Just a week later on Friday night, people were walking about individually or in groups. Some assemblage of normalcy appears to be returning after a surreal week. This is but one city that suffered unnecessary violence. Numerous others exist across the country leaving people to wonder WHY?

Pollinating rosemary.

Communities are precious. Life is precious. In ANR, we're privileged to contribute to the goodness of making California a better place one person at a time. I'm reminded of this regularly as I review academic merit and promotion packages. Greatness is happening throughout California. For those new to the Division, UC academics are reviewed on a regular basis for merit or promotion. Expectations exist for each rank. I highly recommend academics read the eBook to understand the advancement process. These merits are not a means of granting a cost-of-living increase. These merits acknowledge improved technical and professional competence as well as development of an outreach program. Combined positive impacts are made to make California better.  We're fortunate in UC to have merits built into our academic evaluation process. For many other Land Grant Universities, two types of salary increase exist: COLA (cost of living adjustment) or salary increase when a promotion is achieved. As our name suggests, increasing steps is a function meritorious work of delivering scholarship or scholarly activity, extension programming, university/public service, and affirmative action. A merit is not something one gets merely for living and breathing.

We're excited to extend a warm ANR welcome to new academics Dania Orta Aleman with Nutrition Policy Institute and Clarissa Reyes in Yuba/Sutter. Based on the email exchanges, we'll be welcoming new campus-based specialists soon enough. The following community education specialists were hired to work in counties: Victoria Sandoval, Stanislaus; Andrea Castillo, Kern; Karen Maggio, Contra Costa; Marilynn Click, San Diego; Larry Burrow, Merced; and Marlee Duane, Capitol Corridor.