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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; color:rgb(51,51,51); font-family:arial; font-size:14px; margin:0px; padding:0px; text-align:left">
<span style="font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style:inherit; font-variant:inherit; font-weight:inherit; letter-spacing:normal; orphans:2; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; widows:2; word-spacing:0px; background-color:rgb(255,255,255); text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial; border:0px; font-stretch:inherit; line-height:normal; vertical-align:baseline">Dear
 Cullen College Faculty and Staff,</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; color:rgb(51,51,51); font-family:arial; font-size:14px; margin:0px; padding:0px; text-align:left">
<span style="font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style:inherit; font-variant:inherit; font-weight:inherit; letter-spacing:normal; orphans:2; text-transform:none; white-space:normal; widows:2; word-spacing:0px; background-color:rgb(255,255,255); text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial; border:0px; font-stretch:inherit; line-height:normal; vertical-align:baseline"><br>
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<div class="x_x_OutlineElement x_x_Ltr x_x_BCX0 x_x_SCXW75914470" style="margin:0px; clear:both; color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:&quot;Segoe UI&quot;,&quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size:12px; text-align:start; background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">
<p class="x_x_Paragraph x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin:0px; font-weight:normal; font-kerning:none; color:windowtext; text-align:left">
<span lang="EN-US" class="x_x_TextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-variant-ligatures:none!important; font-size:12pt; line-height:20.5042px; font-family:Calibri,Calibri_EmbeddedFont,Calibri_MSFontService,sans-serif"><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">I
 am pleased to report that</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">o</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">ur&nbsp;new
 partnership with Dalian Maritime University</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">, the UH-DMU</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">International
 Insititute</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;(UH-DMU),</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">is
 off to an auspicious start.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">The
 inaugural cohort,</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;which is</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">approximately
 180 students, will be welcomed as official UH</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Cougars
 this fall. Based off our current enrollment trajectory, the institute is projected to have over 1200 students in the program by 2025. This is</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">vital
 in our college’s mission to achieve our enrollment goals set forth in our strategic plan.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">The
 Cullen College thanks Dr. Li Sun for his commitment and leadership in these efforts</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;as Program Director</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">The
 Institute has&nbsp;</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">exceeded all expectations, and I am excited to see how it progresses.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">As
 UH-DMU continues to grow and evolve, we must be proactive in responding to</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">its&nbsp;</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">changing
 needs and</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">any</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">challenges
 that may arise</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">, and as such, the College will institute some leadership and organizational changes
 to&nbsp;ensure the&nbsp;successful continuity of the program.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">As
 part of this restructure, Dr.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Roberto</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SpellingErrorV2 x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; background-repeat:repeat-x; background-position:left bottom; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Ballarini</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">will
 assume</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">the
 position of Di</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">rector of the</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;UH-Dalian
 Ins</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">titute. This change is effective today, June 1.&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_EOP x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">&nbsp;</span></p>
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<p class="x_x_Paragraph x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin:0px; font-weight:normal; font-kerning:none; color:windowtext; text-align:left">
<span lang="EN-US" class="x_x_TextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; color:rgb(34,34,34); font-size:12pt; line-height:20.5042px; font-family:Calibri,Calibri_EmbeddedFont,Calibri_MSFontService,sans-serif"><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Dr.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SpellingErrorV2 x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; background-repeat:repeat-x; background-position:left bottom; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Ballarini</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">joined
 the Cullen College as Chairman of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department in the Fall of 2014. He previously served as James L. Record Professor and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at University of Minnesota, Leonard Case Professor of
 Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, and F.W. Olin Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Dr.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SpellingErrorV2 x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; background-repeat:repeat-x; background-position:left bottom; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Ballarini</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">earned
 his B.E. in Civil Engineering from City College of New York, and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">,
 and his research accomplishments span many areas, including theoretical, computational and experimental mechanics of materials and structures associated with civil, mechanical, aeronautical, biomedical, chemical and materials engineering. Among his</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">extensive
 list</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;of</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">accolades</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">,
 Dr.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SpellingErrorV2 x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; background-repeat:repeat-x; background-position:left bottom; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Ballarini</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;was
 recently&nbsp;awarded the Raymond D. Mindlin Medal</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">in
 2019&nbsp;</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">and&nbsp;elected as a Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;this
 year</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">.&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_EOP x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; color:rgb(34,34,34)">&nbsp;</span></p>
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<p class="x_x_Paragraph x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin:0px; font-weight:normal; font-kerning:none; color:windowtext; text-align:left">
<span lang="EN-US" class="x_x_TextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; color:rgb(34,34,34); font-size:12pt; line-height:20.5042px; font-family:Calibri,Calibri_EmbeddedFont,Calibri_MSFontService,sans-serif"><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Dr.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SpellingErrorV2 x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; background-repeat:repeat-x; background-position:left bottom; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Ballarini</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">has</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;made
 great strides in creating close ties with leadership at Dalian Maritime University and has made numerous visits to the campus. His kn</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">owledge
 of the University and the relationships he has built will be invaluable resources in the coming years as UH-DMU continues to mature.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span></span><span class="x_x_EOP x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; color:rgb(34,34,34)">&nbsp;</span></p>
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<p class="x_x_Paragraph x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" lang="EN-US" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin:0px; font-weight:normal; font-kerning:none; color:windowtext; text-align:left">
<span lang="EN-US" class="x_x_TextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; color:rgb(34,34,34); font-size:12pt; line-height:20.5042px; font-family:Calibri,Calibri_EmbeddedFont,Calibri_MSFontService,sans-serif"><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">In
 his new role, Dr.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SpellingErrorV2 x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; background-repeat:repeat-x; background-position:left bottom; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Ballarini</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">will&nbsp;</span></span><span lang="EN-US" class="x_x_TextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:12pt; line-height:20.5042px; font-family:Calibri,Calibri_EmbeddedFont,Calibri_MSFontService,sans-serif"><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">work
 to promote the University of Houston and assist local leadership in Dalian in their outreach, recruitment and retention efforts; work with our college's</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Associate
 Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Distance Learning</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">to
 plan the academic mission at UH</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">-DMU</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">and
 to provide any necessary student services; work with non-UH faculty in preparing, qualification and teaching based on UH curriculum; work with the Cullen College department chairs</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;of
 electrical and mechanical engineering</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">to
 recruit and schedule instructors at Dalian, and provide, with the help of local staff at Dalian, the support needed by visiting UH&nbsp;faculty; work with the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs&nbsp;to help recruit students wishing to pursue graduate degrees at&nbsp;UH;&nbsp;work
 with&nbsp;the</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Director</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">of
 Engineering Programs at UH Katy&nbsp;to schedule and manage courses that are to be delivered online at UH-DMU;&nbsp;work with&nbsp;the&nbsp;Cullen College Communications team to regularly disseminate news and achievements of UH-DMU;&nbsp;work with&nbsp;the Executive Director of Business
 Operations to develop and manage annual budgets for the&nbsp;Institute; and provide annual reports on student success metrics as needed by UH Institutional Research, and as requested by the dean, provost and the&nbsp;president for dissemination to UH stakeholders.&nbsp;</span></span><span lang="EN-US" class="x_x_TextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-variant-ligatures:none!important; font-size:12pt; line-height:20.5042px; font-family:Calibri,Calibri_EmbeddedFont,Calibri_MSFontService,sans-serif"><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span></span><span class="x_x_EOP x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">&nbsp;</span></p>
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<span lang="EN-US" class="x_x_TextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-variant-ligatures:none!important; font-size:12pt; line-height:20.5042px; font-family:Calibri,Calibri_EmbeddedFont,Calibri_MSFontService,sans-serif"><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">I
 look forward to Dr.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SpellingErrorV2 x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; background-repeat:repeat-x; background-position:left bottom; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Ballarini</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SpellingErrorV2 x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; background-repeat:repeat-x; background-position:left bottom; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">’s</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">forthcoming
 leadership of UH-DMU and warmly thank Dr. Sun for getting us to this point.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">UH-DMU
 has the potential to help us reach our strategic goals and beyond, and</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">I
 have the utmost confidence that Dr.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SpellingErrorV2 x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; background-repeat:repeat-x; background-position:left bottom; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Ballarini’s</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">directorship</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">will
 ensure this potential develops into reality</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">.</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Please
 join me in congratulating</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">him</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">in
 his new role!</span></span><span class="x_x_EOP x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">&nbsp;</span></p>
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<span lang="EN-US" class="x_x_TextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:12pt; line-height:20.5042px; font-family:Calibri,Calibri_EmbeddedFont,Calibri_MSFontService,sans-serif"><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">Thank
 you and</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">all
 the best</span><span class="x_x_NormalTextRun x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; line-height:normal">,</span></span><span class="x_x_EOP x_x_SCXW75914470 x_x_BCX0" style="margin:0px; font-size:12pt; line-height:20.5042px; font-family:Calibri,Calibri_EmbeddedFont,Calibri_MSFontService,sans-serif; color:rgb(0,0,0)">&nbsp;</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:14px; font-family:Arial">Joseph W. Tedesco, Ph.D., P.E., F. ASCE</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:14px; font-family:Arial">Elizabeth D. Rockwell Dean</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:14px; font-family:Arial">Cullen College of Engineering</span></p>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="margin:0px; padding:0px; border-spacing:0px; border-bottom:1px solid #b7b7b7; background-color:#ffffff">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="600" class="x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_fluid-on-mobile x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_img-wrap" style="margin:0px; padding:0px; border-spacing:0px; max-width:100%">
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<span style="color:#333333; font-size:11px">UH Cullen College of Engineering<br>
E421 Engineering Bldg 2, Houston, TX 77204-4007</span></p>
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<span style="color:#333333; font-size:11px">713-743-4200</span></p>
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<span style="color:#333333; font-size:11px">The University of Houston is an EEO/AA institution.</span></p>
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