SUBJECT:  Appointment of Director - Physical Planning

I am delighted to announce that Susan Peerson assumed responsibilities as Director of Physical Planning, effective October 1, 2002. Following a nationwide search, Ms. Peerson filled the position held by Nada Borsa, who retired on September 30th after 17 years of extraordinary service to the University.

Ms. Peerson, in addition to earning a Master's in Landscape Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, has 15 years of physical planning and urban design experience in both the public and private sectors. Ms. Peerson came to UCSD in 1999 as a Senior Planner and has since overseen the preparation of plans that are guiding the physical development of both the UCSD School of Medicine and the UCSD Medical Center in La Jolla.

In addition, Ms. Peerson has been responsible for plans to conserve and enhance the UCSD Park, the campus system of ecologically valuable habitat areas and eucalyptus groves. As Director, Ms. Peerson's responsibilities include administration of the processes associated with campus land use plans, the selection of sites for new buildings, and environmental impact analyses.

Please join me in congratulating Ms. Peerson (speerson@ucsd.edu, phone 534-0030, Torrey Pines Center South - Suite 340) and wishing her the very best in her new role at UCSD.

                                                Jeffrey A. Steindorf
                                                Assistant Vice Chancellor