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2018 Alumni News

December 13, 2018
Two new books published by UC Santa Cruz poet, lecturer, and alumnus Gary Young
UC Santa Cruz literature lecturer Gary Young has just released "That's What I Thought," a new poetry collection which has been honored with the Lexi Rudnitsky Editor's Choice Award from Persea Books in New York City.
December 10, 2018
Ocean fertilization by unusual microbes extends to frigid waters of Arctic Ocean
Researchers have documented nitrogen fixation by an unusual type of cyanobacteria in the cold waters of the Bering and Chukchi Seas.
December 05, 2018
Alumna Irma Eréndira Sandoval leads Mexico's anti-corruption efforts
Mexico's new president tapped UC Santa Cruz alumna Irma Sandoval to lead the government's anti-corruption efforts.
December 04, 2018
DVD box set curated by Shelley Stamp wins 2018 New York Film Critics Circle Award
"Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers"--a Kino Classics box set curated by UC Santa Cruz film and digital media professor Shelley Stamp and executive produced by actress, director, and screenwriter Illeana Douglas--has received a 2018 Special Award from the New York Film Critics Circle.
December 04, 2018
Art exhibit highlights the ubiquity of motors
“Motors Surround Us”—a collaboration between a physics lecturer, her students, and community artists—will be on display through Dec. 31 in the atrium of the Physical Sciences Building.
November 30, 2018
Summer abroad programs offer hands-on learning opportunities
UC Santa Cruz has significantly expanded its faculty-led summer abroad programs, now offering seven different opportunities for students to further their education in other countries.
November 27, 2018
UC Santa Cruz receives significant Hunter S. Thompson collection
An 800-volume collection of works by famed author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson has been donated to Special Collections & Archives at UC Santa Cruz.
November 26, 2018
Alumni listening session on Dec. 4
The UC Santa Cruz Chancellor’s Search Advisory Committee invites and encourages alumni to join a listening session from 4–5 p.m. on Dec. 4 via video conference.
November 16, 2018
Last chance to see 'Forest Law' by Ursula Biemann and Paulo Tavares at UC Santa Cruz
Forest Law 2014, a 38-minute multi-channel video installation and photo text assemblage based on research carried out by Ursula Biemann and Paulo Tavares in the Ecuadorian Amazon, is currently on display at the Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery through December 1.
November 14, 2018
Entrepreneur and UC Santa Cruz benefactor Will Webster dies at 90
Webster, a major donor who invented revolutionary cardiac devices, established a foundation that spearheaded significant campus changes.
November 13, 2018
2018 photo contest winners
There were over 100 entries this year in the chancellor's holiday photo contest. Here are the winners.
November 08, 2018
Lit prof offers true love and dreams of miraculous escape
The latest book by UC Santa Cruz literature professor Micah Perks, is a unique anthology of her short stories that sometimes reads like a novel. Written over the past 15 years, it’s a linked collection of engaging tales about the same people--all set in Santa Cruz, California.
November 07, 2018
SocDoc alumna’s film about Syrian women refugees to have world premiere at DOC NYC
We Are Not Princesses, the first feature film by UC Santa Cruz alumna Bridgette Auger (SocDoc ’11) will have its world premiere on November 14 at DOC NYC, the largest documentary film festival in the United States.
November 07, 2018
Beyond campaign rhetoric: What's really needed to secure California's economic future
With the world's fifth-largest economy, California has legitimate bragging rights as it proudly leads the "resistance" to federal attacks on immigrant rights, environmental policy, and progressive values in general. But that's not the whole story.
November 01, 2018
Legendary poet Gary Snyder to read at UC Santa Cruz for annual Morton Marcus event
Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet, essayist, and environmental activist Gary Snyder will be the featured guest at the ninth annual Morton Marcus Memorial Poetry Reading on Thursday, November 15, at the Music Center Recital Hall on the UC Santa Cruz campus.
October 23, 2018
Founders Celebration a night of powerful stories
Journalists Martha Mendoza, Mike McPhate, and Carrie Kahn regaled the audience with stories of hard work, staffing cutbacks, investigative reporting and on-the-ground journalism during Founders Celebration.
October 19, 2018
Visionary tech pioneer Jaron Lanier to deliver Peggy Downes Baskin Ethics Lecture
Computer scientist, composer, visual artist, and acclaimed author Jaron Lanier will deliver the 2018 Peggy Downes Baskin Ethics Lecture on Monday, October 29, at the Music Center Recital Hall. He will speak on the topic, "How the Internet Failed and How to Recreate It."
October 17, 2018
UC Santa Cruz receives Mellon Foundation humanities grant to explore Earth Futures
Catastrophic environmental breakdown, mass species extinction, financial collapse, racist separatism, global nuclear war…there is much speculation these days that we are living at the end of democracy, liberalism, capitalism, a cool planet, and civilization as we know it...
October 11, 2018
Getty Research Institute and PBS feature work by alumna book artist Felicia Rice
On October 20, The Getty Research Institute will present the world premiere screening of Visionaries, the newest episode from PBS's award-winning documentary series, Craft in America. UC Santa Cruz arts alumna Felicia Rice is featured in that episode.
October 10, 2018
Arts professor to participate in Television Academy Foundation’s 2018 Faculty Seminar Program
UC Santa Cruz associate professor of film and digital media L.S. Kim is one of 25 professors from colleges and universities across the country selected for the Television Academy Foundation’s 2018 Faculty Seminar Program.
October 10, 2018
UCSC hosts free public forum Oct. 22 on the Santa Cruz housing crisis
Six UC Santa Cruz scholars will discuss rent control and other proposals to address the Santa Cruz housing crisis during a free public forum on Monday, October 22, in the Kresge Town Hall.
October 10, 2018
Astronomer Natalie Batalha to receive Alumni Achievement Award
After serving as science lead for NASA’s Kepler Mission from 2011 to 2017, Batalha is returning to UC Santa Cruz as a professor of astronomy and astrophysics.
October 04, 2018
New twist on 'The Turn of the Screw' to have West Coast premiere at UC Santa Cruz
The West Coast premiere of a new interpretation of the Henry James Gothic classic, 'Strange Window: The Turn of the Screw'--directed by acclaimed stage director and UC Santa Cruz theater arts professor Marianne Weems--will take place October 12-14 on campus at the Experimental Theater in the Theater Arts Center.
October 04, 2018
Alumni Profile: Author-naturalist Christian Schwarz crusades on behalf of the planet
With his smart phone in hand, Christian Schwarz is empowering "citizen scientists" to document today's biodiversity in hopes of inspiring action before it's too late.
October 03, 2018
Oakes College Provost House name change honors visionary
The Oakes Provost House will be renamed to honor Emeritus Professor and founding Oakes College Provost J. Herman Blake at a ceremony this month.
October 03, 2018
Housing crisis impacting city and county employees, survey reveals
Those who work for and serve the city and county of Santa Cruz are being impacted by the housing crisis, according to researchers who surveyed nearly 500 people.
October 02, 2018
Central Valley Freedom Summer registers voters, changes lives
For most kids who grow up in the Central Valley, the goal is to get out. But this summer, 25 UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced students turned that narrative on its head and returned home, eager to give back to their communities.
October 01, 2018
19 UCSC film students collaborate on documentary about Santa Cruz housing crisis
"At Capacity"—a collectively-made documentary feature film by 19 students in a UC Santa Cruz film class--will screen twice at the 2018 Santa Cruz Film Festival, which takes place downtown October 3-7.
October 01, 2018
Voices from move-in 2018
Nervous new students arrived with their parents to settle in to their new campus housing during move-in, about a week before the start of the fall quarter. Our podcast captures the emotion of the moment.
September 28, 2018
LA County's new public defender is guided by 'presumption of innocence'
This fall, UCSC alum Ricardo Garcia will take the helm of the LA County Public Defender's Office—the largest and oldest public defender's unit in the country.
September 18, 2018
Chancellor Blumenthal announces plan to retire
In a message to campus, Chancellor George Blumenthal announced his plan to retire at the end of the 2018-19 academic year.
September 17, 2018
Student Housing West environmental study
Student Housing West is crucial to the future of our university. It will give us more than 3,000 new on-campus beds, which we believe will pull upper-division students now in the local housing market back to campus, helping them while also easing pressure on the greater local housing market.
September 13, 2018
Emeritus UCSC philosophy professor honored at Oxford University as All Souls College’s first African Prize scholar
In 1959, UC Santa Cruz emeritus professor of philosophy William Abraham won a Prize Fellowship at Oxford University’s All Souls College, an award recognized by many as the ultimate post graduate achievement at the renowned institution. In doing so, the Ghanaian academic became the first African to receive this honor, and in fact remains the only African Prize Fellow to date.
September 10, 2018
Library digitizes over 6,000 photos from Pirkle Jones/Ruth-Marion Baruch collection
Thousands of previously unseen photographs from The Pirkle Jones and Ruth-Marion Baruch Collection at UC Santa Cruz are now available online to the general public, thanks to a collaboration between the campus library and the California Digital Library.
September 07, 2018
Sounding it out
Alumnus Alexis Harte’s long career as a singer/songwriter has included original albums and songs for TV and film, and his company has become a pioneer in scoring and sound design.
August 29, 2018
Bay Area’s 'Soundwave' festival to feature work by UC Santa Cruz arts faculty and alumnae
"Soundwave ((8)) Infrastructure" runs September through October with six curated performances throughout San Francisco and Oakland. It kicks off on Sept. 8, at Counter Plus in San Francisco with "HVAC: Thermal Comfort," a new work by art lecturer and alumna Dana Hemenway and San Francisco media artist and composer Surabhi Saraf.
August 29, 2018
Gifts to UC Santa Cruz fund new presidential chair for diversity in astronomy
UCSC astronomer Sandra Faber and her husband made the lead gift to establish an endowed chair named in honor of Faber's mentor, distinguished astronomer Vera Rubin.
August 29, 2018
UC Santa Cruz researchers contribute to new assessment of Central Coast climate impacts
Nearly a dozen UC Santa Cruz researchers contributed to a new state-issued report that assesses the dire impacts of climate change throughout California.
August 27, 2018
Film professor Jennifer Taylor wins grant from the SFFILM 2018 Documentary Film Fund
UC Santa Cruz associate professor of film and digital media Jennifer Maytorena Taylor has received a grant from the SFFILM Documentary Film Fund to support her latest project, "The Gut."
August 27, 2018
Fire in the belly
Alumna Caroline Carpenter was the first woman to graduate at the top of the Los Angeles Fire Department Academy—a testament to determination and grit.
August 17, 2018
Alumna Reyna Grande pens NY Times op-ed on immigration
Earlier this week, the New York Times published an op-ed by UC Santa Cruz alumna Reyna Grande titled "The Impossible Choice My Father Had to Make." The piece was a response to a statement by Ivanka Trump that appeared to blame immigrant parents for the separation of families this summer at the U.S.-Mexico border.
August 16, 2018
Voices from the Dickens Universe
Here's your chance to get an audio immersion in UC Santa Cruz's famed Dickens Universe—you'll feel like you're right there, uncovering new meanings in the text, drinking tea, and getting ready for the Victorian dance.
August 13, 2018
New book by UC Santa Cruz arts professor examines cultural impact of video games
In her new book, 'On Video Games: The Visual Politics of Race, Gender and Space,' UC Santa Cruz professor Soraya Murray goes beyond the technical discussions of games and instead offers a deep dive into their cultural dimensions.
August 09, 2018
UC Santa Cruz awarded two NEH grants for Humanities projects
UC Santa Cruz has received two grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support humanities projects in the Literature Department.
August 02, 2018
Moral decision making is rife with internal conflict, say developmental psychologists
A new in-depth study of moral reasoning challenges the popular notion that people are unable to think through difficult moral problems and rely primarily on automatic "gut" reactions to make tough decisions.
August 01, 2018
Deportation and family separation impact entire communities, researchers say
The deportation and forced separation of immigrants has negative effects that extend beyond individuals and families to entire communities in the United States, according to the Society for Community Research and Action, which has issued a policy statement calling for changes to U.S. policy.
August 01, 2018
In Memoriam: Ben Doniach
Ben Doniach, a former UC Santa Cruz employee, died on July 10, 2018 from injuries suffered in a collision with a car while riding his bike. He was 61.
July 25, 2018
Alumna author Kate Schatz spotlights ‘rad girls’ under age 20
'Rad Girls Can': Stories of Bold, Brave, and Brilliant Young Women is the title of the latest book by UC Santa Cruz alumna Kate Schatz, the New York Times best-selling author of 'Rad Women Worldwide' and 'Rad American Women A-Z.'
July 24, 2018
Campus, Silicon Valley leaders celebrate Lick Observatory’s 130th anniversary
The University of California owns and operates the observatory, which was founded by a bequest from James Lick. It opened in 1888.
July 20, 2018
Professor’s new film 'Redneck Muslim' now streaming on PBS
Redneck Muslim, a new short film by associate professor of film and digital media Jennifer Maytorena Taylor, is one of 25 films currently screening in the 2018 PBS Online Film Festival as a presentation of the PBS series POV.
July 19, 2018
UC Santa Cruz receives grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has awarded a $57,000 grant to the UC Santa Cruz Arts Division’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences.
July 18, 2018
Equity, inclusion, diversity are priorities for new dean of students
Garrett Naiman, incoming dean of students and associate vice chancellor for student development and engagement, comes to campus with a strong focus on diversity and a long history of working for inclusion.
July 11, 2018
Dickens Universe to offer public talk by alumnus on new novel ‘The Spirit Photographer’
2018 marks the 38th year of the Dickens Universe at UC Santa Cruz, and the event is nearly sold out. But fear not. A special feature of this year's program is a free day, Tuesday, July 17, when the conference will be open without charge to members of the local community.
July 11, 2018
Campus marks new record for transfer admissions offers
Faced with the largest applicant pool in campus history—67,000 applications—and a smaller enrollment target than the previous year, UC Santa Cruz increased its admission selectivity. UC Santa Cruz anticipates welcoming about 5,600 new undergraduates for fall 2018.
July 10, 2018
Alumna and film producer Stephanie Allain champions diversity
Stephanie Allain is a rare gem in the film industry. Not only is she brilliant and successful, but as an African-American woman who got her start over 25 years ago in a notoriously and overwhelmingly white and male-dominated business, she has charged ahead to break open established perceptions.
July 10, 2018
From Math Major to Renowned Hollywood Music Editor, Alumnus Bill Bernstein Knows All the Right Notes
Having been the music editor on over 60 outstanding films during the course of his career, Bill Bernstein’s musical talent is epic. From working on such movies as The Shawshank Redemption, American Beauty (for which he won a Grammy), The Help and Skyfall to many Pixar hits including Finding Nemo, Wall-E, and Finding Dory…it seems like every project he touches is a resounding success.
July 06, 2018
Gallery between North and South Korea features exhibition by art professor Jimin Lee
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea is an unlikely setting for an art gallery. Established in 1953 as part of an armistice agreement that ended three years of brutal war, the DMZ is a 2.5-mile-wide band that runs 155 miles across the Korean peninsula, serving as a buffer zone between the two countries...
June 26, 2018
B. Ruby Rich invited to join Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
UC Santa Cruz arts dean's eminent professor of film and digital media B. Ruby Rich has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year. The world's preeminent film organization, it is best known for presenting the annual Academy Awards.
June 21, 2018
Five UC Santa Cruz students present futuristic game at IndieCade Showcase
A group of five students from UC Santa Cruz presented their game, "Meet Me in the Garden," at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles last week as part of the annual IndieCade Showcase.
June 21, 2018
Alumnus Dency Nelson's Brilliant Hollywood Career
With an amazing career in Hollywood spanning nearly 40 years, Dency Nelson has been the stage manager for almost every major award and event show for the past 25 years, including the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, and Kennedy Center Honors.
June 19, 2018
Linguistics professor Jim McCloskey receives Dizikes Award for teaching in Humanities
Linguistics professor Jim McCloskey was presented with the John Dizikes Teaching Award in Humanities at the Humanities Division’s 2018 Spring Awards celebration held at the Cowell Provost House.
June 19, 2018
An advocate for instructors and staff
Outstanding Staff Award winner Judy Scarborough ensures quality teaching at UC Santa Cruz by keeping human resources seamless.
June 18, 2018
Graduates mark new era, seek to improve world for all
More than 3,200 students participated in commencement ceremonies in the colleges, Graduate Division, and Baskin School of Engineering.
June 15, 2018
Commencement stories: Benjamin Smithers
Benjamin Smithers is a double major in mathematics and physics who is now working on his Ph.D.: an expedition into the world of neutrino physics.
June 14, 2018
Commencement stories: Vincent Williams
Vincent Williams uses graphic design, sculptural installations, collage, and photography to comment on the history of black identity both in the United States and in Western art.
June 14, 2018
Steck Award recipient aims to study disease, help society
Josh Gu is this year’s winner of the Steck Family Award, which honors the best senior thesis completed during the academic year, with the winner chosen from the Chancellor's Award candidates. He earned a degree in bioengineering with a biomolecular concentration.
June 12, 2018
Instruments of good
Introductory physics students test their knowledge and get exposure to the wider world in a class project in which they create musical instruments to be donated to kids in need.
June 12, 2018
Standing tall and giving back
For graduating senior Asante Nkosi, a double major in sociology and history allowed him to connect his experiences with his interest in black U.S. history, the Civil Rights Movement, and the contemporary moment.
June 11, 2018
SocDoc graduate documentary films to be screened June 13 at Del Mar Theater
UC Santa Cruz will present the premiere of thesis films by three graduating students in the field of social documentation on Wednesday, June 13, at the Del Mar Theater in downtown Santa Cruz.
June 11, 2018
Commencement stories: Rachel Doran
Rachel Doran is a Ph.D. candidate in the graduate program in biomedical sciences and engineering, working on HIV immunogens. She has won a Graduate Research Symposium award for her presentation on “From armor to Achilles heel: Targeting the glycan shield of HIV in novel vaccine strategies".
June 11, 2018
New Grateful Dead Archive exhibit opens at McHenry Library
"Put Your Gold Money Where Your Love Is, Baby: Counterculture, Capitalism, and the Grateful Dead" is the title of a new exhibition now open to the public at UC Santa Cruz.
June 11, 2018
Help from the wizarding world
A gift from a Harry Potter–themed virtual running club enables a UC Santa Cruz professor to observe whales in Antarctica
June 08, 2018
Commencement stories: Isabell Retamoza
Isabell Retamoza is a literature and feminist studies major and THI undergraduate fellow, with plans to study law at Northwestern University.
June 06, 2018
Commencement stories: Henry Hinton
Henry Hinton, graduating with a bioengineering degree from the Jack Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz, will be attending Harvard University for his electrical engineering Ph.D. in the fall.
June 05, 2018
Master's degree approved for Science Communication Program
The UC Santa Cruz Science Communication Program will award students a M.S. degree in science communication starting in fall 2018.
June 05, 2018
Chancellor’s awards recognize achievement in diversity, inclusion
Underscoring the commitment by UC Santa Cruz to promote diversity, inclusion, and excellence, Chancellor George Blumenthal recognized the people and programs making contributions to these goals through their work.
May 25, 2018
Diverse campus landscapes are ideal outdoor laboratories—and classrooms
UC Santa Cruz is known for its beautiful landscapes, but its meadows, forests, farm fields, and coastal bluffs also support a range of scientific research and hands-on learning opportunities for students.
May 24, 2018
Sammy Showcase features VR and video games from UCSC game design students
The public is invited to a fun, family-friendly game festival on Saturday, June 9, at the UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Campus in Santa Clara.
May 22, 2018
Bettina Aptheker to lead 'Women In the Arts' panel at Kuumbwa
The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation Presidential Chair for Feminist Studies and The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz will present "Always Moving Uphill: Women in the Arts," on Tuesday, May 29, at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in downtown Santa Cruz.
May 16, 2018
'Future Garden' environmental art installation opens at Arboretum
The Institute of the Arts and Sciences presents the opening of "Future Garden for the Central Coast of California"--a site-specific environmental art installation by emeritus arts research professors Newton Harrison and his late wife Helen Mayer Harrison at the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
May 15, 2018
Cowell coffee shop to transform into a basic needs cafe
We are pleased to share that Cowell College and Dining Services are moving forward in partnership with the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) to transform the Cowell Coffee Shop into a multi-service basic needs cafe with extended weekend hours, that will maintain a study space for students coupled with free coffee and tea and a food pantry.
May 15, 2018
Extending comment on the Student Housing West EIR
We have decided to extend the comment period to June 27, 2018. We will hold additional information sessions in May, as well as two more public hearings, on June 6 and 7.
May 11, 2018
UC Santa Cruz collaborates with SF Academy of Arts for spring production of 'The Magic Flute'
The UC Santa Cruz Music Department will present a fully-staged production of Mozart’s comic fantasy: Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), May 31 through June 3, on campus at the Music Center Recital Hall.
May 10, 2018
Sue Carter named provost for Rachel Carson College
Professor Sue Carter said her vision for Rachel Carson College is to strengthen its role in supporting students as they seek to create a more sustainable future and make it a place for them to gain skills needed for green careers in which they can develop sustainable innovations to preserve the environment.
May 08, 2018
UCSC Night at the Museum to explore global impact of 1968 protest movements
The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz will present "UCSC Night at the Museum: Global 1968—Race and Revolution around the World," a free public event at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, on Wednesday, May 16.
May 04, 2018
The bone whisperer
Forensic anthropologist Alison Galloway will retire from teaching this year, but her wisdom will live on through new online course that teaches both technical skills and the things you don’t find in textbooks.
April 30, 2018
The Slugs came home
Returning Banana Slugs ran a road race, took to the airwaves, attended thought-provoking presentations and honored a beloved professor during the 2018 Alumni Weekend celebration.
April 27, 2018
Dancing into a community
The Pagkakaisa Dance Troupe, which promotes Pilipino cultural history and performs traditional folk dances from the Philippines, helps students build both camaraderie and stronger ties to their heritage.
April 25, 2018
Film professor Jennifer Taylor wins fellowship for summer residency at MacDowell Colony
Assistant professor of film and digital media Jennifer Maytorena Taylor has received a fellowship for a summer residency at one of the nation’s leading contemporary arts organizations.
April 23, 2018
Leaving their mark, inspiring others
This year's Distinguished Graduate Student Alumni honorees are making their mark on the world. During Alumni Weekend, they will be back on campus to inspire a new generation of scholars at a career panel.
April 23, 2018
Making airwaves
Celebrating 50 years of broadcasting, KZSC continues to offer homegrown programming to the greater Monterey Bay region. The station will have a number of Alumni Weekend events to celebrate the milestone.
April 19, 2018
UC Santa Cruz honors alumni Thomas Webb and Susanne Hering
The Physical and Biological Sciences Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize contributions to society by graduate and undergraduate alums.
April 19, 2018
Bill McKibben, Daniel Ellsberg headline Right Livelihood Laureates' Conference at UC Santa Cruz
Climate change activist Bill McKibben and whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg are two of the crusading global leaders gathering May 15-17 at UC Santa Cruz for the Right Livelihood Conference, a three-day series of public events focused on advancing social and environmental justice.
April 17, 2018
DANM 2018 MFA student exhibition culminates two years of intensive study and creative work
Nine graduate students from the Digital Arts and New Media M.F.A. program (DANM) will conclude two years of artistic study at UC Santa Cruz with "Interstices"--an exhibition of their work running April 27-29, at the UCSC Digital Arts Research Center.
April 16, 2018
Teaching on the edge
Four of UC Santa Cruz’s most innovative educators will offer insights and advice about fostering lively, dynamic, and relevant classrooms during a special edition of the Alumni Weekend Teach-Ins.
April 11, 2018
Building a feminist psychology of resistance
On a fateful trip to Nicaragua in 2005, Shelly Grabe, now an associate professor of psychology, met women who were organizing to fight domestic violence, and she saw what real and lasting social change looked like.
April 10, 2018
Hip-Hop Hesteria heading to Music Center Recital Hall on April 20
The UC Santa Cruz Music Department will present an evening of new hip-hop with live experimental jazz featuring music professor Karlton Hester and his band, Hesterian Musicism, on Friday, April 20, at the Music Center Recital Hall. The concert will include performances by winners of the 2018 Hip-Hop Hesteria Contest.
April 10, 2018
Engineering undergraduate wins prestigious Goldwater Scholarship
Aviv Elor, a junior studying robotics engineering in the Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz, has been named a 2017 Goldwater Scholar.
April 05, 2018
Sesnon Gallery exhibition to celebrate family’s influence on the arts in Santa Cruz County
In 1968, a gift from Barbara Sesnon Cartan established the Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery at UC Santa Cruz, in memory of her mother. Beginning April 12, the gallery will present a special exhibition celebrating the life of Mary Porter Sesnon (1868-1930) and her influence on the arts in Santa Cruz County.
April 03, 2018
UC’s secret energy source: retirees
For University of California staff and faculty, retirement does not mean retreat
April 03, 2018
UC Santa Cruz honors alumni: bestselling author Hector Tobar and historian Virginia Espino
Award-winning journalist and author Héctor Tobar and filmmaker Virginia Espino are the 2018 recipients of the Social Sciences Division's Distinguished Alumni Award.
April 02, 2018
Community Studies class showcases public health leaders in 'Year of Alumni'
Eight alumni are returning to campus this spring as guest lecturers in a special-edition public health class offered by Community Studies.
March 27, 2018
Student Housing West environmental study now available for review and comment
By Sarah Latham, Vice Chancellor, Business and Administrative Services — Student Housing West—our effort to further increase on-campus housing for our existing students—is entering the next stage of project review.
March 20, 2018
UC Santa Cruz graduate programs rank among best in nation in U.S. News survey
The U.S. News and World Report's 2019 Best Graduate Schools guide evaluates graduate schools in business, education, engineering, law, medicine, nursing, social work, criminology, public affairs, and the sciences.
March 19, 2018
Understanding shari’a
Mark Fathi Massoud, associate professor of politics and legal studies at UC Santa Cruz, will delve into the realities, subtleties, and richness of Islamic law and ethics at this year's Noel Q. King Memorial Lecture during Alumni Weekend.
March 16, 2018
What does a forest hear? Canadian artists bring epic sound art project to Arboretum
"FOREST (for a thousand years...)", a 28-minute sound installation by renowned Canadian artists Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, will open April 7, outdoors in the redwood grove of UC Santa Cruz's Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
March 13, 2018
Act of love
Chancellor George Blumenthal presented accomplished actress Adilah Barnes with the the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award for her many artistic contributions to UC Santa Cruz. Barnes was back on campus performing in a revival of "A Raisin In The Sun."
March 13, 2018
Influential historian Hayden White dies at 89
Hayden V. White, professor emeritus in the History of Consciousness Department at UC Santa Cruz, died at his Santa Cruz home on March 5, 2018, at age 89. He was a 40-year resident of Santa Cruz who traveled the world.
March 13, 2018
Come home, Banana Slugs
Returning Banana Slugs are in for three days of fun, relaxation, nostalgia, thought-provoking discussions, sunsets, wine tasting, al fresco picnicking, and a pulse-raising 'fun run' through the redwoods at Alumni Weekend 2018.
March 13, 2018
Alumna and Renowned Actress Adilah Barnes Returns to Campus for A Raisin In The Sun
Being very successful for over 50 years in the entertainment industry is no small feat. But actress Adilah Barnes takes it all in her stride.
March 08, 2018
'And Then They Came for Us' brings history into the present
The Humanities Institute and Cowell College will present a special screening of "And Then They Came for Us," winner of the Accolade Global Film 2017 Humanitarian Award, on March 14 at the Del Mar Theater in downtown Santa Cruz.
March 08, 2018
Grant to transform upper floor of Science and Engineering Library
A $5 million grant will kick-start the Science and Engineering Library’s transformation and name floor to honor legendary astrophysicist Sandra Faber
March 06, 2018
Student Housing West—What is happening now?
By Sue Matthews, Associate Vice Chancellor, Colleges, Housing, and Educational Services — The campus is invited to attend open forums to learn more about Student Housing West.
March 05, 2018
Campus receives Mellon Foundation grant to help create new forms of digital publication
UC Santa Cruz is the lead institution on a $100,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission to help build a sustainable system for the digital publication and discovery of historical records.
March 05, 2018
Giving Day 2018 shatters records
Giving Day 2018, a 24-hour online festival of giving, set a new high bar last week, yielding more than $600,00 with more than 6,300 gifts for 160 projects, according to preliminary tallies.
March 02, 2018
From Student Artist to Hollywood Producer, Alumnus Brian Kavanaugh-Jones Has Always Been Passionate About the Arts
From his passion for the arts and accompanying his father on travels around the globe, to his keen enthusiasm for collaboration and bringing outstanding creative projects to fruition, it’s no wonder that Brian was destined to become such a successful Hollywood film producer.
March 02, 2018
Gun control advocate Gabby Giffords joins fundraiser for Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship
Former Arizona Congresswoman and gun control advocate Gabby Giffords attended a fundraising event to support the Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.
February 28, 2018
Robin Hunicke to host Game Developers Choice Awards
Associate arts professor Robin Hunicke is set to host this year’s Game Developers Choice Awards, which will take place on March 21 during the 2018 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.
February 27, 2018
Online, in-person opportunities to provide insight on Long-Range Development Plan
Members of the campus and local community have online and in-person opportunities to provide input and feedback as UC Santa Cruz works on a new Long-Range Development Plan that will guide the campus from 2020–2040.
February 23, 2018
USDA funds efforts to bring underrepresented students into agriculture
A unique collaboration between UC Santa Cruz and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is supporting underrepresented students who are interested in agriculture-related fields.
February 21, 2018
At the nexus of food, energy, and water: Elliot Campbell bridges the research gap
Elliott Campbell is an environmental engineer who is drawn to research at the nexus of food, water, and energy.
February 20, 2018
Alumna Adilah Barnes joins cast of 'A Raisin in the Sun' at UC Santa Cruz
The Theater Arts Department and the African American Theatre Arts Troupe at UC Santa Cruz will present Lorraine Hansberry’s groundbreaking play, A Raisin in the Sun, on campus, March 2-11, at the Theater Arts Second Stage.
February 20, 2018
UC Santa Cruz tech incubator offers convenient access to Silicon Valley
A new program from the University of California, Santa Cruz, offers campus and other UC entrepreneurs the opportunity to launch their startup companies from its Silicon Valley Campus.
February 16, 2018
Alley-oops for the OLLI Hoops
For this basketball team made up of women in their 60s and 70s, getting exercise, enjoying camaraderie, and learning a new skill has been a slam dunk.
February 14, 2018
UC Santa Cruz named one of best colleges to study 'Film, Video & Photographic Arts'
UC Santa Cruz has been ranked No. 6 in the country by College Factual for the best colleges and universities in the U.S. to study for a Film, Video & Photographic Arts degree.
February 13, 2018
The Cowell College Love Bank
When Rich Vicenti and Alesa Lightbourne were students at Cowell College in the 1970s, he courted her, but she was not available. They took separate paths after graduation. Nearly four decades later, finding themselves both single they finally began the romance that was not possible in their youth.
February 12, 2018
Women leaders inspire undergrad during UCDC internship in Nancy Pelosi's office
For Courtney Zuniga, the sight of powerful women like Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi made a lasting impression during her Fall Quarter UCDC internship in Washington, D.C.
February 09, 2018
Surfing into the history books
If the right conditions arrive this winter, alumna Sarah Gerhardt could be among the first women to compete in the Mavericks big-wave surf contest.
February 09, 2018
MLK Convocation: For racial equality, we must hear women
Kimberlé Crenshaw, a law professor known for the development of intersectional theory, praised the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. but noted that the civil rights movement and the Obama era left out the perspectives and voices of women.
February 08, 2018
Arts professor to premiere film at 2018 Berlin International Film Festival
UC Santa Cruz film and digital media professor Irene Lusztig will premiere her new film, 'Yours in Sisterhood,' at the 2018 Berlinale, running February 15-25 in Berlin, Germany.
February 01, 2018
'Spoken/Unspoken: Forms of Resistance' to open Feb. 8 at Mary Porter Sesnon Gallery
The Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery will present Spoken/Unspoken: Forms of Resistance, a new public exhibition running February 8 through March 17 at UC Santa Cruz.
January 30, 2018
Alumnus Michael Shipley's Creative Brilliance Continues to Shine
Santa Cruz native and UC Santa Cruz alumnus, Michael Shipley, found Santa Cruz to be an idyllic place to grow up during the 1970s and ‘80s. It was the place where he discovered his creative passion, eventually leading him to become not only a very talented photographer and musician, but also an award-winning television writer and producer for highly successful television shows, including Family Guy and American Dad!.
January 30, 2018
As tax time approaches, UCSC students volunteer to help low-income filers
As April 15 looms, a team of UC Santa Cruz undergraduate volunteers is getting ready to provide free tax-preparation assistance to low- and moderate-income residents of Santa Cruz County.
January 30, 2018
CruzHacks keeps growing
In its fifth year, CruzHacks drew hundreds of collegiate coders from across the country.
January 25, 2018
McHenry Library to celebrate new visualization spaces that enhance digital scholarship
An opening celebration to formally launch the VizWall, a large scale visualization installation, and the VizLab, a Virtual Reality and 360 Lab, will take place on Feb. 7 at the Digital Scholarship Commons on the ground floor of McHenry Library.
January 25, 2018
Field trip of a lifetime
When he transferred to UC Santa Cruz, Ray Gutierrez didn’t foresee he’d soon be in India making a documentary about youths with disabilities at a crossroads between globalization and tradition.
January 24, 2018
Karen Yamashita's memoir explores Japanese-American internment
Award-winning author and UC Santa Cruz literature professor Karen Tei Yamashita will read from her new memoir on Thursday, February 1, as part of the 2018 winter installment of the Living Writers Series.
January 18, 2018
Elliott Campbell appointed to chair in water resources and food system sustainability
Elliott Campbell, associate professor of environmental studies, was honored as the inaugural holder of the Stephen R. Gliessman Presidential Chair in Water Resources and Food System Sustainability.
January 18, 2018
Pell Grant, campus resources key in transforming student lives
Roughly 40 percent of UC Santa Cruz students receive Pell Grants, which help to give every student an opportunity for a higher education, regardless of their economic background.
January 10, 2018
Questions That Matter public humanities series to explore 'Freedom and Race'
The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz will present "Freedom & Race"--the fourth installment of its signature "Questions That Matter" series--on January 30, at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in downtown Santa Cruz. The evening will feature a conversation with humanities dean Tyler Stovall and history of art and visual culture professor Jennifer González.
January 10, 2018
Trump environmental watchdog group issues third report
The Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI), a grassroots watchdog group monitoring the Trump administration's performance on the environment, today (January 10, 2018) issued its third report.
January 08, 2018
The 'Year of Alumni'
Keith Brant, Vice Chancellor, University Relations — As a way to honor all their achievements and the 50th anniversary of the UC Santa Cruz Alumni Association, the campus is marking 2018 as the "Year of Alumni."
January 04, 2018
David Dunn awarded Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship
UC Santa Cruz assistant professor of music David Dunn has been selected for a Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship for 2019. He is one of four local artists who will receive $20,000 grants from the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County in 2018-19.