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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; font-weight:400">May 15, 2020</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; font-weight:400">Re: UC Merced Non-Senate Academics Council 2020 Grants and Awards Announcement</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; font-weight:400">Dear Campus Community,</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; font-weight:400">On behalf of the NonSenate Academics Council (NSAC), I am pleased to announce that the Non-Senate
Academics Council Executive Committee (NSAC-EC) has selected eight nominees to receive four Research and Innovation Grants as well as four awards for excellence in various areas. These areas are: teaching, research, campus service, and mentorship. We are pleased
to be able to recognize these individuals for their commitment to excellence and as prominent members of the UC Merced academic community. The range of research grants, applications, and awards is a testament to how our Non-Senate Academics contribute to the
successful progress of our campus mission with respect to our student body and our surrounding communities. Please join me in congratulating the following academics:</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; font-weight:400">Grants have been awarded to:</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; background-color:#ffffff; font-weight:400">1. Parveen Kumar, Office of Research “Decorating MoS22-D Materials
with Metal Nanostructures for Sensor Applications”</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; background-color:#ffffff; font-weight:400">2. Khan Hassan, School of Natural Sciences “Generation of Antibodies
to Characterize the Sea Lamprey Immune System” </span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; background-color:#ffffff; font-weight:400">3. Antoinette Stone, School of Natural Sciences “Efficacy of Asynchronous
Learning as a Supplement to Active Engagement Pedagogies </span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; background-color:#ffffff; font-weight:400">4. Ross Avilla, SSHA Psychology “First Generation Student Research
Lab”</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; background-color:#ffffff; font-weight:400">Excellence Awards have been awarded to:</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; background-color:#ffffff; font-weight:400">Excellence in Mentoring: David Gravano, Office of Research</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; background-color:#ffffff; font-weight:400"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline !important">Excellence
in </span>Service: Christopher Ramirez, Merritt Writing Program</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; background-color:#ffffff; font-weight:400"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline !important">Excellence
in </span>Teaching: Sushma Shrinivasan. School of Engineering</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; background-color:#ffffff; font-weight:400"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline !important">Excellence
in </span>Research: Leili Hejri, Mechanical Engineering</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; font-weight:400">It is due to team players and leaders such as yourself this campus can boast of community members
who honor and strive for intellectual achievement, growth, and overall research excellence. Please anticipate the award to be granted by the UC Merced Vice Provost for the Faculty office by July 1, 2020.</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; font-weight:400">With best regards,</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; font-weight:400">Iris D. Ruiz</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:'Times New Roman'; color:#000000; font-weight:400">UC Merced Non-Senate Academics Chair</span></p>
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<td style="width:300px; padding-left:5px"><span style="font-weight:bold; color:rgb(9,47,68); text-transform:uppercase">DR. IRIS D. RUIZ</span><br>
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<span style="font-size:10px; display:block; margin-top:10px; color:rgb(9,47,68); text-transform:uppercase">CONTINUING LECTURER</span><br>
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