Kirsten Tollefson:  Statement

Particle physics is at a crossroads with the Tevatron winding down and 
the LHC ramping up.  When CDF and D0 stop taking data in 2009 hundreds 
of Fermilab Users will no longer be involved with experiments that are 
physically based at Fermilab.  The HEP community needs a plan to keep 
the U.S. particle physics program strong and Fermilab as a major player.  
The LHC Physics Center is a start but nothing draws physicists to a 
laboratory better than a running experiment or building a new experiment.  
As an assistant professor from Michigan State University I can attest to 
the fact that the only reason I brave the Chicago road construction and 
traffic congestion almost every week is the opportunity to be where the 
action is.  I would like to see the UEC play a significant role in advising 
the laboratory on its future direction and working with the Fermilab 
Steering Group to develop a plan for Fermilab's accelerator-based HEP 
program.  

I have been a Fermilab User for 17 years starting as an undergraduate and 
progressing to assistant professor.  I have experienced life at Fermilab 
from various viewpoints including as an employee.  Though I have spent most 
of my career on CDF I started out on a fixed target test beam and have a 
keen interest in particle astrophysics.  I've had several leadership roles 
on CDF including the leader of the Trigger Working Group and convener of 
the Top Quark Physics group.  At Michigan State University I am on a Women's 
Advisory Committee to the Dean for the college of Natural Science.  I believe 
my broad interests and leadership skills will make me a good listener to the 
User community and an effective advocate with the Fermilab management.