Two changes became effective on January 1 for employees with United Behavioral Health (UBH) as their mental health care provider—mostly members of Blue Cross Plus, Blue Cross PPO, and Definity Health. First, to avoid higher co-pays, members must notify UBH before using any “out-of-network” provider, even if that provider was used in 2004; secondly, all outpatient services with such providers are limited to 20 visits in a calendar year. Call UBH member services at (888) 440-8255 for details.

Kaustav Banerjee, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, has received the 2004 Outstanding New Faculty Award from the Association for Computing Machinery. An early career award, the honor is based on the impact the candidate has had on his or her field; it comes with a monetary grant.

Will Wood, UCSB Bookstore asset protection manager, and his wife, Nancy, were one of two couples selected to represent Santa Barbara at next month’s opening of a new international airport in Toba, Japan. Toba and Santa Barbara are sister cities.

Kathleen Magazino has moved from physical activities and recreation to become the Instructional Development Department’s new personnel/payroll assistant. She has been a campus employee for more than three years.

Leslie Voss, the Orfalea Family Children’s Center assistant director and preschool program coordinator, has been appointed acting director of the center with the retirement last month of Mary Ray, long-time center director.

Jennifer Ybarra, formerly assistant to the chair of the English Department, has been selected program coordinator for the new International Center for Materials Research. A 2002 graduate of UCSB, she has been on staff since 2000.

John L. ”Mac” MacPherson Jr., former campus police chief, on Jan. 14 succumbed at his home in Lompoc to lung cancer. The California native was 57. A former Salinas police officer, he worked for the University of California for 33 years. At UCSB he rose from police officer in 1970 to chief by 1987, coordinating security for the 1984 Summer Olympics on the way, and retired in 2004. He is survived by Cindy, his wife of 27 years, his sons, Matthew and Brian, and a sister-in-law, Carol. Donations to a scholarship in Mac’s name can be made out to UC Regents, for MacPherson Fund, and sent care of Development Office, attn. CFO, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2013.