Jan. 1, 2012

Marie Lynn Miranda began her term as dean of the School of Natural Resources and Environment Jan. 1. Dean Miranda has devoted much of her professional career to research directed at improving the health status of disadvantaged populations, particularly children. To inaugurate her tenure, she sent the following email to faculty, students and staff Jan. 1:

Dear SNRE Colleagues,

Every year, for as long as I can remember, I have been astonished by the arrival of the new year—"it always seems impossible that a whole year has gone by already.  My astonishment is especially pronounced today, as the new year officially marks the start of my term as dean of the School of Natural Resources and Environment.  

I first want to thank Dave Allan for his outstanding service to the school as the Interim Dean.  Dave is both a great scientist and a natural leader, and I am grateful for his contributions to SNRE.  I am also grateful for his wise counsel to me during the transition. In addition, I want to thank Rosina Bierbaum for her 10 years of service to the school.  Rosina's leadership was transformative for the school, and I look forward to working with and learning from her as well.

As part of my transition, I have been meeting one-on-one with faculty and regularly with staff and student government leaders.  I will be doing more of each in the weeks ahead, as I seek to understand in what direction we need to move to find our brightest future.  One theme that is consistently emerging in these conversations is the deep connection that the entire SNRE community feels to the school's mission to contribute to the protection of the Earth' resources and the achievement of a sustainable society. Advancing the SNRE mission requires a commitment to placing talent and directing inquiry in service to addressing our most challenging environmental problems nationally and internationally —“ it also requires us to work collaboratively if we are to realize our full potential.
 
As the only American-born member of an immigrant family, I consider the provision of 12 years of free public education to be one of the greatest commitments that our country has made to young people.  We extend this commitment through first class and affordable public universities.  As a native Detroiter, I grew up admiring the University of Michigan, both for what it accomplished, but also for its emblematic status as the very finest public research university.  UM is an amazing institution, and SNRE is a very special place within it.  I could not be more delighted to be joining the SNRE community.

With all best wishes for a joyous new year.

GO BLUE!

mlm