A Message from the Dean
Hello and greetings from the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences, also known as CNAS!
I'm Peter Atkinson, Dean of the College. I've been a member of the UC Riverside community since 1997, and I'm a proud member of the Department of Entomology. My training is in genetics, and as a researcher, I work on developing and implementing genetic control strategies for pest insects.
At CNAS, our mission is simple: to transform lives through discover, community, translation, application and preservation of knowledge.
Our community members actively work to improve the quality of life for inhabitants of the state, the nation, and the world by educating students like you...students who come to CNAS to learn science, and who leave with an integrated grasp of how they can change the world.
As an R1 institution, our scientists are engaged in impactful research that grapples with the most pressing challenges facing our world today. Over half of CNAS undergraduates participate in research, both on campus and around the world.
We're dedicated to your success at CNAS and beyond. Our Learning Communities (LCs) promote academic success, help new students transition to college, and give them the tools they need to thrive. Since LCs also provide reserved seating in the appropriate math, chemistry, biology and physics classes during a student's first year, students don't have to worry about being able to access required STEM courses!
In a nutshell, you won't just learn science as a CNAS student...you'll also actively prepare yourself for the career you choose while developing skills that will enable you to change to world.
I invite you to check out the CNAS admitted student webpage in the weeks ahead to lean more about all that CNAS has to offer. Don't forget to check your inbox for copies of Element, our admitted student newsletter, which contain helpful information about how to submit your Statement of Intent to Register.
I hope to see you on campus during our Highlander Day open house programs for admitted students and their families. You'll not only get to explore campus, you'll have the opportunity to tour CNAS, attend information sessions, and interact with current CNAS faculty, Students and staff. We also hope you'll join us for Ask CNAS, an interactive virtual webinar series designed to help you learn more about CNAS from the students themselves.
Congratulations again on your admission to UC Riverside! I look forward to seeing you on campus this fall!
Sincerely,
Peter W. Atkinson
Dean
UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences
