Over the weekend I went in search of the bowling balls near Schooner Gulch in Mendocino County. I didn't fantasize the experience would be anything that rivals the Moeraki Boulders of New Zealand or the ice balls on Lake Superior but I had hoped to add the bowling balls to my bucket list of sights, nonetheless. I didn't find them. The trail was closed due to erosion of the steps. So we took a different route and instead came across this sand/limestone formation that looked like a huge lizard and at times other than low tide obscured our access to the beach path that would take us to the bowling balls. Then we tried a different route that had magnificent ocean views but none of our intended destination. Fortunately the weekend was about the journey and not the destination itself; it did not disappoint.

Beach lizard near Schooner Gulch

Now it's back to work, a week full of various meetings and preparations for next week's Statewide Conference. Tomorrow I have a meeting with VP Tu Tran to review the budget requests and feedback received to date from Program Council and the Administrative Review Process. Based on that, Tu and I formulate recommendations that we will present to Glenda later in the spring. What we are looking for are opportunities to invest in programs and units that use that investment as leverage for achieving more than what the investment actually funds.

The VP Council will be meeting on Thursday. Agenda items include updates on accomplishments of the strategic plan, an overview of the ANR budget process for FY18-19 followed by conversations about budget priorities, a conversation about reorganization of UCOP, and updates from the various program and unit leaders that comprise VP Council. I need to prepare the updates for strategic plan goals that I own and, in particular, identify areas where the goal outcomes would be strengthened by input from the VP Council. There isn't any input in particular that I am seeking. Rather there are particular areas where I think the VP Council can contribute different approaches and ideas to strategies already identified.

Friday starts with the monthly call with REC directors followed by the CD call. Each call has a full agenda and promise to be productive. Following, I will be spending much of the afternoon with a candidate for the Vice Provost – Academic Personnel and Development position. This is a new position for ANR that has specific responsibilities in working with academics to foster and support professional development. I hope a large number of people are able to attend the interview, either in Davis or by Zoom. At this point, it is too early to tell if the candidate is what we are looking for but even if it doesn't work out, no doubt we will learn much along the journey and likely find a better path.