Winter doesn’t begin officially until later this month, but there was ice on the cars (and roofs!) this morning. Being from Philadelphia, ice in December isn’t something all that unusual to me, but here in our region of California it’s always a bit of a surprise. With finals behind us, and the end of the year just around the corner, things are slowing down on campus.

This year has come with its fair share of challenges and obstacles for our college’s community. A year-end message is one way I can share my appreciation for our dedicated faculty and outstanding staff. I’m deeply grateful for each of them, and for their efforts to keep our college running smoothly, and for maintaining continual levels of excellence. Thank you!

I am also appreciative of the college’s many supporters. This year saw a record number of gifts to CBS, as well as record-breaking philanthropic contributions to our university as a whole. To all of the college’s many generous donors, I thank you for your continued support of our institution. To those who are considering giving, gifts of any amount make a difference, and, in many cases, are tax deductible. If you would like to make a gift in the support of the college, you can do so here.

This year saw a number of exciting accomplishments for the college. We welcomed well over 6,000 students at the start of the academic year, and our faculty continued to publish new papers on diverse topics ranging from evolution in reef fish to respiration in single-celled organisms. You can see some of our many highlights in our year-end video.

Campus will be getting quieter over the next week, as many in our community take well-deserved time away from the office to be with their loved ones. I will be doing the same and wish each of you health and happiness during this holiday season, and peace through the coming year.

See you in 2023!