Dear Colleagues,

I hope that you all had a chance for some relaxation and restorative activities during the Fall Break.  

Sometimes it feels like the world is conspiring against us: the viral resurgence, which makes outdoor activities even more important than usual, has come at the very time when we also face early sunsets that drive us back indoors and an escalating end-of-term workload that ties us to our screens.  

Thankfully, change is in sight. As discussed by UC San Diego Health CEO Patty Maysent at the December 1st meeting of the Representative Assembly of the Academic Senate, effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are starting to be distributed in the US this month -- and will be progressively rolled out on our campus and in greater San Diego in the coming weeks and months. If we can maintain our practices of masking, social distancing, and hygiene, the combination of our careful behavior with the adoption of the vaccines will set us on a happier path.

Even during these very challenging times, you have done a tremendous job of maintaining our academic momentum as a university and our ability to serve the people of California. When we made a presentation to UC President Michael Drake earlier this week, about the Return-to-Learn program and its impact on our ability to persevere in supporting students, undertaking impactful research, and assisting community partners, he was very appreciative and impressed.   

Thank you for showing up each day (albeit mostly virtually) with determination and fresh insights. Your individual contributions are truly making a difference.

Best regards,
Elizabeth H. Simmons