2022  Alumni News

New traditions

UC Santa Cruz alumni Florence Nelson, Stephen Klein, and Nadene Thorne are at the forefront of volunteering at Cowell College.

UC Santa Cruz earns a top three spot at national codebreaker challenge

More than 440 universities competed in the 2022 National Security Agency (NSA) Codebreaker Challenge, where students are challenged to expand their reverse engineering and other skills necessary for careers in cybersecurity.

UCSC researcher explores drug use, harm reduction in San Francisco’s Latino/x community

It’s no secret that the opioid epidemic has devastated our country, especially within communities of color. Latino/xs have seen some of the highest drug addiction rates, which have only increased due to the rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl and the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, San Francisco was the county with the third-highest opioid-related death rate among Latinos in California.

New study presents vision of machine learning leveraged for precision medicine

In a new perspective published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics Marcella Gomez details a vision for how the field can move beyond static data to create systems that measure and monitor the real-time responses of the body to a variety of factors and use a machine learning algorithm to produce, and even in some instances carry out, a treatment plan.

UCSC Genome Browser selected to first-ever Global Core Biodata Resource List

The UCSC Genome Browser is now part of the first list of Global Core Biodata Resources—a collection of 37 resources whose long-term funding and sustainability is critical to life science and biomedical research worldwide.

UC Santa Cruz scholar receives major new grant to support inclusive community development throughout California

As state and federal agencies are investing increasing funding in pandemic recovery, infrastructure development and initiatives to address climate change, a collaboration of renowned scholars led by UC Santa Cruz are working with community groups to ensure equity and inclusion are at the heart of these efforts.

Decarbonization & Electrification Planning and Town Hall

UC Santa Cruz is embarking on the next phase toward the full decarbonization and electrification of the campus. To reach this goal, Chancellor Cynthia Larive has charged the UCSC Decarbonization & Electrification (D&E) Task Force with developing a long-term plan to end the use of fossil fuels by the university.

Social Sciences dean wins prestigious research award, visiting fellowship in Germany

Social Sciences dean Katharyne Mitchell will be busy packing her bags for the holidays, but not for the reason you may think. She’s heading to Göttingen, Germany, as a visiting scholar for the next six months at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Economic Diversity.

J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves elected to the 2022 National Academy of Inventors

J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves, distinguished professor and chair of the computer science and engineering department, has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.

Colombia, a global biodiversity hotspot, faces rising threats to bird species from expanding human footprint

A new study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters used satellite mapping data to analyze how changes in human footprint on the landscape between 1970 and 2018 overlapped with distributions of 1,469 Colombian bird species. The study is the first of its kind to expand focus from forested regions, like the Amazon and Chocó, to all of Colombia’s terrestrial habitats.

UC Santa Cruz innovators among Santa Cruz Works 2022 Titans of Tech

Aviv Elor, alumnus and co-founder of Immergo Labs, and Nada Miljkovic, alumna, entrepreneur, and UCSC educator, are among the 11 Santa Cruz Works Titans of Tech finalists.

Computer engineer embarks on bold project for a new vision of distributed shared memory

With the support of a new NSF grant, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Peter Alvaro is embarking on a project, called Memory at Scale On Networks (MaSON), to achieve a bold vision for a novel operating system and network that support a new overall model for programming big data systems.

Undergraduates in UC Santa Cruz’s Human Rights Investigations Lab fight for migrant rights

UC Santa Cruz’s Human Rights Investigations Lab, housed in the Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas, has been assisting those seeking asylum in the United States and fighting back against the controversial Title 42 immigration policy.

Central Coast K-16 Education Collaborative secures planning grant for six-county region

Spurred by California’s Regional K-16 Education Collaborative Grant Program, educational leaders from Santa Cruz to Ventura formed the Central Coast K-16 Education Collaborative to address the urgent, systemic educational inequities and economic needs in the region.

New online orientation strengthens sense of belonging among new students

The survey reported significant increases in self-efficacy in students in areas of academic literacy including abilities to find campus resources, selecting courses, time management, and ability to interact with peers, instructors, and staff.

Long-standing genomic mystery about the origins of introns explained in new study

A new study led by scientists at UC Santa Cruz and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) points to introners, one of several proposed mechanisms for the creation of introns, as an explanation for the origins of most introns across species.

Braingeneers develop novel method to automate the growth of brain tissue organoids on a chip

A team of engineers and scientists at UC Santa Cruz has developed a new method for remote automation of the growth of cerebral organoids – miniature, three-dimensional models of brain tissue grown from stem cells.

Restoration and preservation: Alumna fights for inclusive science and tribal knowledge

UCSC alumna Irene Vasquez works towards a restoration of Yosemite’s cultural and ecological heritage.

Film by Arts Division Dean continues to gain recognition and spark conversation

Since its premiere in May, 80 YEARS LATER, a feature film by Dr. Celine Parreñas Shimizu, UC Santa Cruz’s Dean of the Division of the Arts, continues to garner praise during the 80th anniversary year of the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans in World War II.

Search begins for Chief Campus Counsel

UC Santa Cruz has launched the first phase of a national search for Chief Campus Counsel, with stakeholder meetings held last week.

Growing Our Own - From research opportunities to the professoriate

Solidifying its commitment to increasing the diversity of its faculty, both underrepresented minorities and female faculty, last year, the University of California launched the Growing Our Own initiative.

Batalha testifies at Congressional hearing on the initial scientific findings of the JWST

The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest and most powerful telescope humans have sent to space and, Batalha asserts, it is ushering in a new era of exoplanet science.

Kresge College renewal to nearly triple amount of student housing

With a mix of new construction and renovation, UC Santa Cruz is building more housing, constructing new classroom space, and ultimately strengthening the student experience.

UCSC's 2022 iGEM team brings home gold medal, earns nomination for best therapeutics project

This year's UCSC iGEM team engineered a yeast-based Type 2 diabetes therapeutic.

Science & Engineering Library renovation honors leaders, aims to build community among students in STEM

With newly remodeled floors named in dedication to two trailblazing women in STEM and a new makerspace, the Science & Engineering Library is positioned to build and support community among STEM students at UC Santa Cruz.

Remote-controlled microscopes bring complex biology education to students worldwide

As detailed in new research, UC Santa Cruz researchers have developed a method for using remote-controlled, internet-connected microscopes to enable students anywhere in the world to participate in designing and carrying out biology experiments.

UC Santa Cruz earns Agricultural Experiment Station designation

The designation marks more than 50 years of industry-leading research in organic agriculture and sustainable farming practices at the campus and opens doors to expand community impact.

List of most highly cited researchers features 19 UCSC scientists and engineers

A new list of the world's most highly cited researchers includes 19 scientists and engineers at UC Santa Cruz.

UCSC marine sciences professor to lead new Center for Coastal Climate Resilience

Longtime UC Santa Cruz marine sciences professor Michael W. Beck is adding a new role to his resume: director of the campus’ recently announced Center for Coastal Climate Resilience.

Engineer deploys research on 'mud batteries' for powering sustainable agriculture

UC Santa Cruz Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Colleen Josephson published new research on the current state and future potential of microbial fuel cells for powering sustainable agriculture systems.

Susana Ruiz receives Hewlett 50 Arts Commission for a new media work focused on Santa Cruz's lost Chinatowns

Susana Ruiz, UC Santa Cruz Assistant Professor of Film and Digital Media, together with Emmy Award nominated director of photography and media artist Huy Truong have been selected as one of ten recipients of this year's Hewlett 50 Arts Commissions in Media Arts.

Scholars, students, and community working together for transformation at UCSC's All-In Conference

More than 400 university scholars, students, community organizers, foundation representatives, artists, and activists came together in late October for a one-of-a-kind event to build collaborative partnerships for community-engaged research and meaningful social change at the UC Santa Cruz conference: All-In: Co-creating Knowledge for Justice.

Scholarship offers transformative support to UCSC military veteran students

The UCSC Retirees Association Bruce Lane Memorial Scholarship for military veteran students was established in memory of World War II Veteran Bruce Lane, who worked at UC Santa Cruz for 27 years.

UCSC researchers win NOAA grants to study climate change patterns in California's marine sanctuaries

Two UC Santa Cruz researchers will be delving deeper into coastal and climate resiliency efforts within California's marine sanctuaries as part of two recent grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

New astronomy network catalyzes scientific excellence

A new STEM mentoring network seeks to maximize scientific excellence and output within the astronomy and astrophysics community by cultivating inclusive environments where people with marginalized identities can thrive.

UC researchers use grant funding to investigate environmental crimes in Latin America

Thanks to a $180,000 grant from the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN), UC Santa Cruz will be able to further its focus on “using tech for social good” in collaboration with two other University of California institutions.

Closing cell—and academic—gaps

UCSC’s Genomics Institute opens up the world of bioinformatics and programming to students

Federal grant to advance transfer student success at UC Santa Cruz

Advancing campus-wide efforts to achieve educational equity, UC Santa Cruz has earned a $3 million grant that will support Latinx community college students in transferring to campus and, while they’re here, contributing to research projects and preparing for graduate school.

Coha/Gunderson Prize in Speculative Futures seeks 2022-2023 cohort

This year, the Coha/Gunderson Prize in Speculative Futures aims to expand its reach by offering five 2022-2023 prize winners, along with past awardees, the opportunity to participate in The Coha-Gunderson Creativity Workshop, a quarter-long winter workshop followed by a springtime exhibition.

Domhoff’s new book discusses developmental dimension of dreaming

UC Santa Cruz professor emeritus Bill Domhoff's new book, The Neurocognitive Theory of Dreaming: The Where, How, When, What, and Why of Dreams, takes a comprehensive look at the full use of neuroimaging findings in relation to spontaneous thought and dream content.

Transforming Support into Success: Jodi Lee

Thanks to many scholarships and awards, support from UC Santa Cruz resources and faculty members, and support and love from her family, Jodi Lee is now in her first year of graduate school at UCSF —and the first in her family to pursue a Ph.D. 

Visits set for Vice Chancellor for Finance, Operations and Administration finalists

Beginning Nov. 2 and continuing until Nov. 15, campus will conduct final in-person interviews in the search for the Vice Chancellor for Finance, Operations and Administration.

Social Documentation MFAs to share thesis documentaries at live screening event November 9

UC Santa Cruz’s annual Social Documentation (SocDoc) exhibition returns live and in person for the first time since 2019, free to the public this November 9th from 7-10pm at the Del Mar Theatre in downtown Santa Cruz.

On the intersection of machines and media: Silver Slug Award helps career staff pursue life-long passion

Silver Slug Award recipient and UCSC staff Jeffrey Weekley re-ignites his passion with computational media and pursues his Ph.D. debt-free.

The Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas celebrates legacy, community at 30th anniversary naming event

UC Santa Cruz’s Research Center for the Americas celebrated 30 years of groundbreaking work with an official renaming for social justice icon Dolores Huerta on Thursday evening.

Food system researcher unpacks the narratives driving a race for new protein sources

UC Santa Cruz professor and food system expert Julie Guthman's latest paper explores the cultural mythologies around protein that are being spread through marketing and fundraising efforts for novel protein products.

Electrical engineer will develop next-generation x-ray technology for accessible preventative healthcare

Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Shiva Abbaszadeh will develop advanced x-ray technology for coronary artery calcification.

UCSC faculty, staff, and students support Salton Sea restoration planning

An independent review panel supported by UC Santa Cruz recently completed its work evaluating restoration options to address environmental, public health, and economic issues in the Salton Sea region.

Empowering agency: AARCC's Autumn Johnson

Autumn Johnson graduated from UCSC in 2015. Now as the African American Resource and Cultural Center's Director, Johnson provides essential programs and services to current students.

Nurturing a ‘home away from home:’ El Centro’s Xiomara Lopez

Eight years after graduating from UC Santa Cruz, Xiomara Lopez is the Director of Chicanx/Latinx resource center, El Centro, coming full circle to the center that transformed her undergraduate experience.

Building Community: AAPIRC’s Caz Salamanca

As the Director of UCSC’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Resource Center (AAPIRC), Caz Salamanca strives to provide meaningful space and community for students.

UC Santa Cruz Foundation awards $75K to help address student food insecurity

The UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board of Trustees has affirmed its commitment to reducing food and housing insecurity for students.

STARS celebrates National Transfer Week; shines the spotlight on nine Transfer Excellence Leaders

National Transfer Week is October 17 - 21. To help celebrate, STARS is shinig the spotlight on nine transfer excellence leaders. Read their stories!

Big changes are coming to Bay Tree Building; campus community invited to help in the building's redesign

It's full speed ahead for renovating Bay Tree Building into a bustling hub of student services. Designers will be on campus this Thursday to solicit input and feedback about what the space could and should be.

Seguimos zapateando

Celebrating its 50th anniversary at UC Santa Cruz, Los Mejicas fosters an appreciation for the beauty and diversity of Mexican culture by teaching and performing the music, dances, and traditions of Mexico.

micha cárdenas wins prestigious Gloria E. Anzaldúa Book Prize from National Women's Studies Association

UC Santa Cruz Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Performance, Play and Design, and Associate Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Dr. micha cárdenas has been awarded the National Women's Studies Association’s Gloria E. Anzaldúa Book Prize for her book Poetic Operations: Trans of Color Art in Digital Media.

National Science Foundation grant will help establish ethics and equity best practices for emerging forms of science and technology

Sociology Professor Jenny Reardon, founding director of the Science & Justice Research Center at UC Santa Cruz, won a nearly $400,000 grant to study ethics and equity in the design of science and engineering projects.

Giving Day 2022: Amplifying opportunities for UCSC students

Focusing on student success, the campus’s largest fundraising event is November 2

Investigating bias in technology through Baskin Engineering’s anti-racism research fellowship

The UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering Fellowship for Anti-Racism Research funds engineering students challenging bias and racism in the fields of engineering and technology.

2022 CITRIS Tech for Social Good program invites student proposals

The 2022 CITRIS Tech for Social Good program at UC Santa Cruz is now open for proposals from student teams, with an application deadline of November 30, 2020.

Biomolecular engineering professor wins American Cancer Society award to develop technology for cancer early detection

Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Daniel Kim won a four-year, $792,000 Research Scholar award from the American Cancer Society to support his work in developing RNA liquid biopsy technology to diagnose cancer early on.

Marking 23 years of service at UCSC - Meet Olivia Silva

For the first time in almost two years the residence halls are full of students and that means work has gone back to normal for Olivia Silva. Along with up to 140 Custodial Services staff and some Dining staff, Silva was one of many on-site workers who played a critical role in the campus response to COVID-19.

Arts convocation celebrates the courage to create and the audacity to imagine new worlds

UC Santa Cruz alumnus Rick Carter, a two-time Academy Award winning film production designer and art director, returned to his alma mater on September 28th to receive the Distinguished Banana Slug Award at the second annual Arts Convocation.

Supporting our undocumented and DACAmented community members

In response to a recent court decision about DACA, Vice Chancellors Akirah Bradley-Armstrong and Anju Reejhsinghani share an important message with the campus community: UC Santa Cruz is fully committed to supporting undocumented and DACAmented community members.

UC Santa Cruz named 2022 Fulbright HSI Leader

UC Santa Cruz has been named a Fulbright HSI Leader for the second year in a row by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

UCSC engineer played crucial role in 2022 Nobel Prize-winning research

UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering Professor Richard (Ed) Green was a major contributor to the Neanderthal Genome Project , the leader of which, Svante Pääbo, received the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Organizing for lasting impact: Alumni work to support Crown College

Lisa Rose, Jim Lapsley, and Susan Nerton banded together to organize Crown’s 50th reunion during Alumni Week. Now, the trio is organizing to raise money to support Crown College.

Applications now available for the 2023 UCSC CIDER Pilot Training Program

The UCSC CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research has opened applications for the 2023 Drone Pilot Training and Mentoring Program.

NSF report led by UCSC computer engineer offers guidance for the future of chip design and manufacturing

A new report from a National Science Foundation (NSF) steering committee led by UC Santa Cruz Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Matthew Guthaus offers guidance on revitalizing the hardware workforce by increasing access to education.

Transforming Futures: Amanda Safi

Transforming Futures— a pilot program launched by UC Santa Cruz’s Institute for Social Transformation—awarded seven first generation, underrepresented, and/or low-income UCSC students scholarships to pursue unpaid internships over the summer. Amanda Safi interned with the Office of Congressman Jimmy Panetta.

UCSC welcomes 41 outstanding new faculty members

With the start of the 2022-23 academic year, UC Santa Cruz welcomes 41 new senate faculty members. The research and creative scholarship and expertise brought to our campus by these new faculty colleagues will strengthen existing areas of work and open discovery opportunities.

UC Santa Cruz launches campuswide conversation that will chart university’s next decade

Seeking to develop an intentional and impactful course for the future, the UC Santa Cruz community will work together this academic year to develop a shared vision that will culminate in Leading the Change: The UC Santa Cruz Strategic Plan, the university’s top leaders announced Monday.

UCSC’s Center for South Asian Studies positioned for exponential growth

Anuradha Luther Maitra and Thomas Kailath, longtime supporters and champions of the Center for South Asian Studies (CSAS) and the broader UCSC campus, have established the Anuradha Luther Maitra and Thomas Kailath Endowed Professorship in South Asian Studies.

Expanding opportunity and Transforming Futures

Transforming Futures— a pilot program launched by UC Santa Cruz’s Institute for Social Transformation—awarded seven first generation, underrepresented, and/or low-income UCSC students scholarships to pursue unpaid internships over the summer.

Why do you donate to UC Santa Cruz?

UCSC supporters MR Macgill and Ho Nam made a gift to the Institute for Social Transformation in Spring 2022. Their generosity fully funded Transforming Futures— a pilot program which awarded seven first generation, underrepresented, and/or low-income UCSC students scholarships to pursue unpaid internships over the summer.

Collaboration between engineering and astrophysics will develop cutting-edge spectrometers-on-a-chip

Two researchers have won an NSF grant that will allow them to pursue the emerging technology of spectrometers on a chip – tiny devices for separating and measuring light at ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths which can enable advances in astronomy when used as part of telescope instrumentation.

Preserving Earth’s future: Frontier Fellows program funds undergraduate research

The Earth Futures Institute’s Frontier Fellows program offers undergraduate research opportunities and funding at UC Santa Cruz. The 2022-2023 academic year fellows include fourth years Peter Nguyen, Hayley Coyle, and Aja Bond, each working on their own project to sustain Earth’s future.

Frontier Fellows: Peter Nguyen

The Earth Futures Institute’s Frontier Fellows program offers undergraduate research opportunities and funding at UC Santa Cruz. UCSC student Peter Nguyen studies a federally listed endangered flowering plant—Lupinus nipomensis.

Downtown Day to welcome UCSC students back to downtown

UC Santa Cruz, the Downtown Association, the City of Santa Cruz, and the Museum of Arts & History (MAH) are partnering to bring students to see the vibrant downtown area Friday, October 7th from 4-7pm.

Campus comes to life as a new academic year begins

After more than two years of virtual and hybrid learning, the beginning of the fall quarter last Thursday marked the welcome return to in-person instruction at UC Santa Cruz. The energy and enthusiasm for the year ahead are evident in the many happenings already occurring across campus.

Three UC Santa Cruz alums are revolutionizing telehealth with their virtual reality physical therapy platform

Immergo Labs, founded in 2020, provides an affordable, accessible, and immersive telehealth physical therapy care platform.

Partnership across UC campuses will prepare the next generation of leaders in organic agriculture

A USDA grant of more than $700,000 will support a collaboration led by UC Santa Cruz to improve and expand undergraduate education in organic agriculture, with an emphasis on supporting underrepresented students.

NSF funding will strengthen infrastructure for open source ecosystems at UCSC

Co-principal investigator Stephanie Lieggi and PI Carlos Maltzahn will develop a plan to recruit research software engineering staff who can establish and maintain the support infrastructure necessary for open source projects to thrive within the university context.

In Memoriam: Susanne Jonas (1941-2022)

UC Santa Cruz’s Latin American and Latino Studies Department celebrates the life and legacy of Susanne Jonas, a founding member of our department who began working as a lecturer at UCSC in 1986.

UC Santa Cruz’s Research Center for the Americas to be named in honor of Dolores Huerta

UC Santa Cruz will rename the Research Center for the Americas, which is celebrating 30 years of groundbreaking research, in honor of social justice icon Dolores Huerta, whose legacy has influenced the center’s work and values.

Karen Miga discusses the future of equitable genomics research with Clinton, Bono

UC Santa Cruz Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering and Associate Director for Human Pangenomics at the UCSC Genomics Institute Karen Miga joined former President Bill Clinton, U2 lead singer Bono, and Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Ghebreyesus to talk about the greatest health challenges and opportunities the world is currently facing. 

Adrienne Harrell to serve as executive director for the UC Santa Cruz Foundation

In this re-envisioned role, Harrell will lead the administrative and operational structure of the UC Santa Cruz Foundation and its Board of Trustees and advance divisional diversity, equity, and inclusion aspirations both in its work environment and its engagement with stakeholders.

Karen Miga to speak with former president and other visionaries at the Clinton Global Initiative Meeting

This Tuesday, September 20 at 1:30 PST, Karen Miga will speak during the conference’s closing plenary session, joining Bill Clinton, Lin Manuel Miranda, Dolores Huerta, and more.

New program will mentor and train students underrepresented in genomics research

The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute will partner with California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus to mentor and provide genomics research experience for students from these two hispanic-serving institutions.

Welcoming our new Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

I am happy to announce that Anju Reejhsinghani, our first-ever Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer, has officially joined us in Santa Cruz. Her first day was Monday.

Creating a more just world is driving force for 2022 Outstanding Staff Awardee

Sarah Woodside Bury is the 2022 recipient of the UC Santa Cruz Outstanding Staff Award. The award recognizes staff members who provide distinguished service each day to the students, staff, and faculty of our campus.

UCSC celebrates National Hispanic-Serving Institutions week

In celebration of National Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) week, the HSI Initiatives and El Centro teams invite the campus community to participate in a number of special events. These events will highlight what it means to be an HSI and the many resources available to students because UC Santa Cruz is an HSI.

UC Santa Cruz recognized for longstanding commitment to undergraduate teaching in latest rankings

UC Santa Cruz is ranked among the top 10 public universities for excellence in undergraduate teaching, according to the latest rankings from U.S. News and World Report. UCSC also ranked as a leading university for social mobility and among top public universities.

Innovative climate resilience projects supported by 2022 CITRIS Campus Seed Funding awards

Four winning projects have been funded through the The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute at UC Santa Cruz’s Campus Seed Funding program to pursue research relating to climate resilience.

UCSC researchers win big at American Sociological Association annual meeting

Professor emeritus Craig Reinarman was honored with the 2022 Senior Scholar Award by the ASA’s Drugs and Society Section, and Ph.D. student Michelle Gomez Parra received the Sociology of Sexualities Section's Martin P. Levine Memorial Dissertation Fellowship. Politics Professors Eleonora Pasotti and Mark Massoud were celebrated for book awards.

Move-in volunteers needed

UCSC’s fall move-in will take place over four days, September 15 through 18, to welcome new residents to our campus. The move-in organizers are looking for volunteers to assist at East Remote Lot 104, Performing Arts Lot 126, West Remote Lot 127, and Yellow Cart Check-in/out at the Colleges over the four move-in days.

HSI Team invites campus community to celebrate Hispanic-Serving Institution Week

Next week, UC Santa Cruz will join universities across the country in celebrating Hispanic-Serving Institution week. Read this letter from the HSI team about all the ways you can join the celebration!

Remembering Frank Drake, Professor Emeritus of astronomy and astrophysics - pioneer in search for extraterrestrial intelligence

I write today with sadness to share news of the passing of Frank Drake, UC Santa Cruz professor emeritus of astronomy and astrophysics and an eminent radio astronomer. Drake was known for pioneering work in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). He died at his home in Aptos on Sept. 2. He was 92.

Giving basic needs a needed solution

The Redwood Free Market provides free food and basic needs to UC Santa Cruz students to combat food insecurity.

Applied mathematician wins DOE grant to improve the safety of particle accelerators

UCSC Professor of Applied Mathematics Dongwook Lee has won a three-year, $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, which will fund his research on improving computer models for safety mechanisms within particle accelerators.

New book explores citizenship rights and Black anti-racist politics in Italy

Associate Professor of Sociology Camilla Hawthorne’s latest book, Contesting Race and Citizenship, explores how Black Italians are fighting for change against the country’s restrictive citizenship laws.

UCSC selects Anju Reejhsinghani as Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Anju Reejhsinghani has deep professional experience in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work, both in the college classroom as an educator and as a senior administrator.

NSF award will support project to promote reproducibility in computer science

With the support of a three-year, $900,000 grant from the NSF, Carlos Maltzahn will participate in collaborative research to increase the reproducibility of computer science research.

Full circle community

As an Alumni Association Scholarship recipient now in her fourth year studying computer engineering, Katia Avila Pinedo (Merrill ’24, computer engineering) has not only benefited from UCSC’s strong community—she’s helped build and sustain it.

Political parties use gerrymandering to counteract shifting voter preferences in key battleground states

Research that focused on battleground states suggests that whichever party controls the redistricting process in the state legislature engineers an 11 percentage point increase in its probability of winning a U.S. House race in the next election. And these advantages often run counter to the will of voters.

UCSC’s Ricardo Sanfelice appointed inaugural director of CITRIS Aviation

Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Ricardo Sanfelice was appointed the as the inaugural director of the CITRIS Aviation initiative.

From concept to commercialization: how UCSC researchers revolutionized DNA sequencing

More than a quarter century since the first patents were filed, the UCSC researchers who pioneered nanopore sequencing reflect on the impact of their invention

A lifetime of connection starts today

Incoming students and alumni share in the thrill of being Banana Slugs with new summer send-off series

Economics Professor Robert Fairlie takes home the Bradford-Osborne Research Award for the second year in a row

The annual award recognizes the best peer-reviewed paper on diversity and entrepreneurship, and Fairlie was honored for his years-long research on the lack of access to capital for Black-owned startups compared to white-owned startups.

Biomolecular engineering professor awarded $1.9M grant to understand and engineer pluripotent stem cells

UC Santa Cruz Assistant Professor Ali Shariati and his lab will investigate the molecular feedback mechanisms responsible for the coordination of embryonic stem cell division and differentiation to develop novel strategies for their use in regenerative medicine.

New study shows COVID-19 genomic recombination is uncommon but disproportionately occurs in spike protein region

An analysis of millions of SARS-CoV-2 genomes finds that recombination of the virus is uncommon, but when it occurs, it is most often in the spike protein region, the area which allows the virus to attach to and infect host cells.

Mythologizing for a purpose

After years working across industries from filmmaking to horse-wrangling, alumnus Justin DiPego channels both his vast career experience and his UCSC creative education into his latest novel—"Wrong Side of a Workingman."

Turning awareness into action

After years of working to bring feminist history and thought to a young audience through her popular Rad Women series, author Kate Schatz (Stevenson ’03, literature and creative writing) moves to turn teaching history into teaching practice and show adults what they can do to combat racism.

Envisioning food systems change with new Center for Agroecology Executive Director Darryl Wong

The UC Santa Cruz news team interviewed the Center for Agroecology's new executive director, Darryl Wong, to learn more about the center’s goals for the future and the perspective he’ll bring to the role.

Incoming UC Santa Cruz class exemplifies academic excellence and diversity

UC Santa Cruz anticipates welcoming approximately 5,100 new Banana Slugs this fall, concluding an admissions cycle that reflected increased interest in the campus. Campus leaders are carefully managing student enrollment and working to provide more on-campus housing for students because of a statewide housing crisis that is particularly difficult in Santa Cruz.

Locally supportive climates may do little to aid mental health for LGBTQ+ youth amidst broader societal stigma

New research shows little difference in mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth between some of California's most and least supportive communities for sexual and gender diversity. The findings also indicate factors that may contribute to this trend.

Application period opens for Vice Chancellor for Finance, Operations and Administration

The application period for Vice Chancellor for Finance, Operations and Administration is now open.

Celebration of Life for Audrey Stanley, 1927-2022

A memorial celebration will be held at 2p on August 19, 2022, at Audrey Stanley Grove, 501 Upper Park Rd., Santa Cruz.

With a focus on student success and research impact, UC President Michael V. Drake visits UC Santa Cruz

The daylong visit included meetings with faculty, staff, and students to learn more about research, teaching, and learning at UC Santa Cruz—and the important work that supports the university’s mission as a Hispanic-Serving research university centered on student success.

UCSC student named one of 50 top hackers of 2022

Rising second-year computer science: computer game design student Mansi Saini has been recognized by Major League Hacking for outstanding contributions to the hackathon community.

As alumni regent, Art Torres advocated for access, diversity in higher education

Art Torres (Stevenson, ’68, government) worked to support the University of California in advancing the diversity of its student body while serving a two-year term as the alumni representative on the UC Board of Regents.

New book traces the scientific and technological development of militarized border

In her new book, Professor of Feminist Studies and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Felicity Amaya Schaeffer draws stunning connections between indigenous ways of life and relationships to the land with modern-day, militaristic border surveillance technologies.

UC Santa Cruz teams with TiE Global to help entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life

UC Santa Cruz and TiE Global are establishing the Destination Silicon Valley program to leverage the Silicon Valley presence of both organizations and create new learning opportunities for university-based entrepreneurs from across the world, including University of California students and innovators, and others from TiE’s 59 chapters.

Center for Reimagining Leadership

Center for Reimagining Leadership has been established, effective July 1, 2022. Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, professor of astronomy and astrophysics, will be the faculty director of the center.

Steve Kang celebrates a career of seizing challenges

As the first in his family to graduate college and in taking on positions as the second dean of the Baskin School of Engineering and chancellor of UC Merced, Sung-Mo “Steve” Kang has always been someone ready and willing to take on challenges. 

Chancellor earns CUCSA award for staff-supportive leadership

The 2021-22 Outstanding Senior Leadership Award recognizes high-level leaders throughout the system who are supportive and inclusive of UC staff, and encourage equity, diversity and community.

Meet UC Santa Cruz's 2023 alumni council

Dedicating over two decades of service as an alumni volunteer, John Madrid (Oakes ’98, language studies) will now step into the role of alumni council president. The UCSC alumni council will also be welcoming seven new councilors to join the current board totalling a 25 person volunteer board.

UCSC alum creates transformational opportunities in the Arts

Best known for producing the U.S.'s longest running daytime soap opera, “Days of Our Lives,” UCSC alumnus Ken Corday is a nine-time daytime Emmy nominated producer. Corday has ushered in new opportunities for the film department at UCSC, and has now expanded his generosity to the music department.

Hallmark cancer gene regulates RNA ‘dark matter’

A new study finds that a key genetic mutation that occurs early on in cancer alters RNA “dark matter” and causes the release of previously unknown RNA biomarkers for cancer early detection.

UCSC iGEM developing yeast-based type 2 diabetes medication for 2022 international competition

14 UCSC undergraduates are addressing access and cost of Type 2 diabetes medications by creating an alternative, yeast-based treatment that will be presented at the 2022 iGEM Jamboree in Paris.

UC Santa Cruz’s new Department of Performance, Play & Design redefines the art of storytelling for the modern era

Earlier this year, the Department of Theater Arts and the Art & Design: Games + Playable Media Program (AGPM) within UC Santa Cruz's Division of the Arts fused to become the the Department of Performance, Play & Design (PPD). It is the only university department in the world to break the traditional silos of theater, dance, and games.

Leaders in health, banking elected to join UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board of Trustees

The UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board of Trustees has elected as new members pharmaceutical and biotherapeutic entrepreneur Greg Reyes, of San Diego, (Kresge ’76, biology) and business banking leader Janet Buck, of Laguna Niguel.

ASPIRE program launches to aid conservation in a changing climate

A new program out of the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute involves students in an effort to measure changes in biodiversity and ultimately prevent them.

Alternate reality game launching Fall ‘22 will measure resilience of first-year students

“LUX,” a non-traditional research project to measure the resilience of its players, will officially launch this fall, recruiting participants from the incoming first-year class..

California budget supports UCSC in building additional housing for hundreds of students

California lawmakers have awarded $89 million to UC Santa Cruz in the 2022-23 state budget, funding that will help to significantly increase student housing at Kresge College.

State budget passage good news for our campus

The 2022-23 state budget that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law just two weeks ago is a boon for the University of California system as a whole and for our campus specifically.

New study dives deep into the sustainability of an alternative aquaculture feed ingredient

Researchers at UC Santa Cruz developed a new life cycle sustainability assessment documenting the environmental benefits and impacts of using the marine microalga Schizochytrium sp. to replace fish oil as an ingredient in aquaculture feed.

The Humanities Division honors faculty, alumni, and students at the 2021-22 Spring Awards

UC Santa Cruz’s Humanities Division marked the end of the school year with their Spring Awards, a ceremony that celebrates the achievements of students, instructors, and alumni.

UCSC scholars join researchers statewide on a massive genomic study of California’s biodiversity

The California Conservation Genomics Project (CCGP) is a state-funded initiative with a single goal: to produce the most comprehensive, multispecies genomic dataset ever assembled to help manage regional biodiversity.

Two from UC Santa Cruz awarded Fulbright grants

Two PhD candidates at UC Santa Cruz have been offered prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Adapted machine learning models will allow for better understanding of federal surveys

With the support of a three-year, $337,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, Assistant Professor of Statistics Paul Parker will develop statistical and machine learning methods to best suit the analysis of complex surveys produced by federal statistics agencies.

~$6M NSF grant for cyber-physical systems project will enable engineers to explore the next generation of transportation systems

With the support of a nearly $6 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), researchers at UC Santa Cruz will lead a five year, multi-institutional project to explore a new vision of engineering cyber-physical systems.

Autistic adults have become increasingly visible in media, books, television, and more in the past decade, but challenges with representation persist

Researchers documented a shift toward more numerical representation for adults in popular portrayals of autism, which have historically focused on children.

UC Santa Cruz celebrates innovative and dedicated teachers

The Academic Senate’s Committee on Teaching (COT) in collaboration with Chancellor Larive and CP/EVC Kletzer, Cruz celebrated UCSC’s innovative and dedicated teachers with a gathering at the Cowell Provost House in early June.

These red flags can let you know when you’re in an online echo chamber

Researchers at UC Santa Cruz have identified specific elements of tone and style in online speech that are linked to hyperpartisan echo chambers. These language markers could also prove useful for flagging spaces where disinformation may be likely to emerge.

Campus recognizes innovative, dedicated teachers

The Academic Senate’s Committee on Teaching (COT) in collaboration with Chancellor Larive and CP/EVC Kletzer, Cruz celebrated UCSC’s innovative and dedicated teachers with a gathering at the Cowell Provost House in early June.

Allied for exponential impact

The Black Men’s Alliance, established in 1994 as an organization to create community for Black students at UC Santa Cruz, now boasts a population of 60 engaged and active alumni—and wants to expand further.

The team behind a tree of 10 million Covid sequences

10 million sequences of COVID-19’s genomic code have now been organized into a phylogenetic tree in the UC Santa Cruz SARS-CoV-2 Browser, which is the largest tree of genomic sequences of a single species ever assembled.

Grant funding will support university-community partnership on inclusive economic development in neighboring city of Salinas

UCSC's Institute for Social Transformation will partner with the Salinas Inclusive Economic Development Initiative in an effort to reduce economic inequality and improve financial stability and quality of life for local families.

Ingenious, tech-based solutions pitched at Santa Cruz Launchpad 2022

The annual UC Santa Cruz business pitch competition and job fair drew in 19 student teams, 25 local companies, and nearly 500 attendees.

Stories of UCSC rugby: The Women’s Rugby Football Club, 1979–2022

Dating back to 1979, the Women’s Rugby Football Club at UCSC has a history of tenacity and dedication to their sport and peers.

New executive leadership position for the Arts Division

UC Santa Cruz Dean of the Division of Arts Dr. Celine Parreñas Shimizu has appointed Art Professor Dee Hibbert-Jones to serve as Associate Dean of Research, Exhibition and Engagement.

Zimmer to develop Responsible AI course

Zimmer will join colleagues from around the U.S. to plan classes that better explore the impact of artificial intelligence on our world.

UCSC joins new alliance aimed at boosting Latinx doctoral students, professors

The group, officially launching today and comprising all 20 of the nation’s top research universities that are also classified as Hispanic-Serving Institutions, aims to increase opportunity for those historically underserved by higher education.

Prestigious $3.8M NIH grant awarded to biomolecular engineering professor to develop an RSV vaccine

Associate Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Rebecca DuBois will use the five-year grant to develop a vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, a common and potentially dangerous virus.

Graduate student’s research helps environmental organizations better serve coastal communities of color

Coastal Science and Policy Program graduate student Kalina Browne led development of a new research report on behalf of Green 2.0, a national watchdog organization focused on diversity and equity in the environmental sector.

Proposal for new program, Pathways to the Professoriate in the Arts and Humanities, selected for funding by UC President’s Office

A new cross-divisional initiative to prepare graduate students in the Arts and Humanities at UC Santa Cruz from historically underrepresented groups to go on to the professoriate has been selected for funding.

UC Santa Cruz Distinguished Professor of the Arts Isaac Julien knighted by Queen Elizabeth

UC Santa Cruz Distinguished Professor of the Arts Isaac Julien was granted knighthood by Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee

CIDER Pilot Training Program helps students reach new heights in drone research and industry

18 students participated in the CIDER’s first-ever Pilot Training Program, which prepared them for success in research and industry opportunities.

UC Santa Cruz named No. 2 public university for ‘making an impact’

Princeton Review has named UC Santa Cruz the No. 2 public university in the nation for students focused on making an impact on the world. The honor underscores the university’s commitment to encouraging positive social impact and is an increase from last year’s No. 3 spot.

Construction well underway on new student housing at UC Santa Cruz

Committed to advancing student success, UC Santa Cruz leaders are confronting the ongoing housing crisis by providing immediate support programs for students while building new residential buildings to significantly increase the number of students who can live on campus.

‘Crossing Latinidades’ program selects UC Santa Cruz faculty and graduate students for national research and mentoring collaboration

Two UC Santa Cruz faculty were awarded $310,000 grants to lead national research working groups, and two doctoral students have been selected for one-year research fellowships and a summer institute focused on interdisciplinary research methods.

Seeking Okinawan rights

UC Santa Cruz doctoral candidate Lex McClellan-Ufugusuku appeared before the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, exploring whether the people of Okinawa could be recognized as Indigenous—meaning they might have the right to block or stop new military bases under guidelines about Indigenous people set up by the U.N.

Capstone to console: UC Santa Cruz student-developed game releasing to Nintendo Switch

The soon to be released, interactive, fast-paced game Squish was developed by UCSC engineering and arts, games, & playable media students.

Year-end exhibition highlights the work of UC Santa Cruz’s 2022 Irwin Scholars

Throughout the month of June, visitors to the Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery at UC Santa Cruz will have the chance to see the work of twelve undergraduate artists selected as this year’s Irwin Scholars.

Marcella Gomez appointed as the Baskin School of Engineering’s inaugural Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Marcella Gomez has been appointed as the Baskin School of Engineering’s inaugural Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and will focus on student success and recruitment and retention of historically underrepresented groups in STEM.

Sociology doctoral candidate wins national fellowship for research on travel programs that teach youth about the African diaspora

Theresa Hice-Fromille was one of five top scholars selected nationwide for the American Sociological Association’s 2022-2023 Minority Fellowship program. Funding from this and other recent awards will support her dissertation research on travel abroad programs led by Black women that teach youth about the African diaspora.

Fellowships support graduate students studying queer movies, Mau Mau Uprising

Raed El Rafaei is examining queer movies made by artists from Lebanon and the diaspora, and Christian David Alvarado is investigating how the Mau Mau Uprising, which ran through the 1950s in Kenya, fits in with the larger processes of decolonization in Africa.

Sad news regarding Audrey Stanley, Professor Emerita of Theater Arts

It is with deep sadness that we write to share the news that Audrey Stanley, Professor Emerita of Theater Arts and the Founding Artistic Director of Shakespeare Santa Cruz, died May 15, at her home in Santa Cruz. She was 94.

Karen Miga named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022

Karen Miga, assistant professor of biomolecular engineering at UC Santa Cruz, was named one of the 100 most influential people of 2022 by TIME. The honor was announced on May 23.

A special outdoor production of The Fairy Queen celebrates the return of fully-staged, live opera at UC Santa Cruz

The UC Santa Cruz Music Department presents Henry Purcell’s The Fairy Queen in a very special outdoor production to celebrate the return of fully-staged, live opera at UCSC on May 27 and 28, 2022.

Invaluable connections through alumni networks: How three slugs came together to help one another

With the help of UCSC alumni Marcia Wall (Stevenson ‘92, English and American literature) and Frank Marquardt (Stevenson ’92, American studies), alumna Morgan Jones (Stevenson ’04, linguistics and cognitive science) was able to land her dream job in UX design.

Politics doctoral candidate wins Newcombe Fellowship for research on women’s testimony against sexual violence

Natali Levin-Schwartz is one of 22 winners of a national fellowship award for scholars working on ethical or religious issues. Her dissertation research focuses on how women resist and organize against sexual violence and the role that testimony plays in that process.

DSAS welcomes Ebonée Williams as new associate vice chancellor for student success and equity

Ebonée Williams joins the Division of Student Affairs and Success as the new associate vice chancellor for student success and equity.

Father of Modern Entrepreneurship to speak during inaugural Entrepreneurial Day at UCSC

The first annual Entrepreneurial Day at UC Santa Cruz will take place Saturday, May 21. The two-part event will feature a fireside chat with Steve Blank, the Father of Modern Entrepreneurship, followed by a resource fair and networking event with clubs from around campus.

Welcoming our new Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success

I am happy to announce that Akirah J. Bradley-Armstrong, our new Vice Chancellor for the Division of Student Affairs and Success, has officially joined us.

A new class in the Arts Division aims to broaden students’ understanding of careers in the creative economy

Careers in the Creative Economy, a first-time course in the UC Santa Cruz Division of the Arts, has been introducing students to a wide array of professionals in creative fields to help them explore and prepare for arts careers.

Grant funding will augment calculus courses to support engineering students’ success

A seed grant from the state-funded California Learning Lab will be used to help address the equity gap in calculus courses and increase retention for engineering students at UC Santa Cruz.

A public dedication in the name of civil rights 

Hundreds of campus and regional community members gathered beneath the redwoods encircling Quarry Amphitheater to watch the former College Ten make history, rededicating itself as John R. Lewis College in memory of the legendary civil rights leader.

May concerts of new work by UC Santa Cruz composers the result of residencies with leading new music artists

UC Santa Cruz doctoral students in composition will premiere several new works this May developed during two unprecedented residencies with top names in the experimental music world.

UC Santa Cruz Dean of the Arts Division Celine Parreñas Shimizu will debut her latest film at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival on May 12

Filmmaker and film scholar Celine Parreñas Shimizu, UCSC’s Dean of the Division of Arts, debuts her new documentary at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival on May 12. The feature film 80 YEARS LATER explores the racial inheritance of Japanese American family incarceration during World War II through multigenerational conversations with survivors and their descendants.

UC Santa Cruz alumna and thought leader Roshawnna Novellus to deliver Baskin Engineering 2022 commencement address

Roshawnna Novellus—Baskin Engineering computer engineering undergraduate alumna, entrepreneur, and nationally recognized financial inclusion advocate—will deliver the UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering 2022 commencement address.

John Brown Childs earns UC’s highest system-wide award for emeriti

UC Santa Cruz Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Sociology John Brown Childs is a 2021-2022 recipient of the Constantine Panunzio Distinguished Emeriti Award, which recognizes exceptional legacies of research, teaching, and service.

Nearly 30 years of conservation in Santa Cruz, alumna stays connected to the university and invests in students

UCSC alumna Jodi McGraw (Rachel Carson ’94, Environmental Studies and Biology) founded her conservation consulting firm in 2001 and has since hired upwards of 15 UCSC graduates and has sponsored almost 50 UCSC interns.

Alumnus covers breaking news in Ukraine

UCSC alumni and New York Times reporter Andrew Kramer (Cowell ’94, history) is on the ground in Ukraine, breaking news for the New York Times.

Team of researchers win the public benchmark phase of new Alexa Prize competition

UC Santa Cruz’s team of computer science and engineering (CSE) Ph.D. students came out victorious by a generous margin during the public benchmark phase of the first-ever Amazon Alexa Prize SimBot Challenge, far surpassing other teams in the university competition focused on advancing virtual assistant technology.

Deep Read welcomes author Yaa Gyasi to UC Santa Cruz

The annual program of The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz has brought together students, faculty, alumni, and other curious minds from across the globe to unpack and discuss Transcendent Kingdom, the most recent novel by Ghanaian-American author Yaa Gyasi.

International stages to the Quarry, alumna Terisa Siagatonu returns for dedication ceremony

UCSC alumna and award-winning poet, Terisa Siagatonu (John R. Lewis ’11, community studies), will be a keynote speaker at the John R. Lewis College dedication ceremony on May 6.

Wisdom Cole: Paving the way for a new generation of Black leaders

National Director of the NAACP Youth & College Division and UCSC alumnus Wisdom Cole (Oakes ’15, chemistry) will be a keynote speaker at the John R. Lewis College dedication ceremony on May 6.

New global and community health majors available this fall

UC Santa Cruz students who want to build a future with better, more equitable health outcomes will have the option to declare one of two new global and community health majors, starting in fall 2022.

New Google-funded research project applies computer science to aid bird conservation

Two faculty members have begun a new collaboration to use machine learning models to create continent-wide maps of bird habitat connectivity for conservation purposes, and they have recently received a $60,000 Google Research Scholar award to fund this work

Afrofuturism takes center stage in the Institute of the Arts and Sciences’ Surge series

UC Santa Cruz’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences offers a month-long series of performances and discussions on Afrofuturism, a global artistic and social movement, utilizing the arts, science, and technology to imagine—and create— a world where African-descended peoples and cultures can live and flourish.

Unlocking a cure for carbon monoxide poisoning

UCSC researcher Tim Johnstone has designed small molecules that can bind CO, sequester CO that is already bonded to hemoglobin, and rescue red blood cells exposed to CO, all promising signs for a future antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Linguist Sandra Chung elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Sandra Chung, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Linguistics, has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies.

Hybrid Alumni Week festivities highlight Slug ingenuity, camaraderie, and social consciousness

Drones soared in the sky, familiar places and faces were rediscovered, cocktail glasses clinked, and old friendships were renewed during the hybrid Alumni Week festivities, which blended analog fun with virtual symposiums.

CITRIS drone program lands $1 million grant from James Irvine Foundation

The UC Santa Cruz CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research (CIDER) along with several partners has received a $1 million, 15-month planning grant to support regional drone education and workforce development from The James Irvine Foundation.

10 questions all funders should ask before supporting tree-planting campaigns

Environmental Studies Professor Karen Holl is concerned that widespread enthusiasm for tree-planting may be leaving restoration best-practices by the wayside. But a new set of research-based questions can help potential funders determine which reforestation campaigns are poised for success.

Alumna’s foreign service success earns her a new post as U.S. Ambassador

Claire Pierangelo (Kresge College, History ’82) will be sworn in as Ambassador to the Republic of Madagascar and the Union of the Comoros on May 2.

Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells awarded $1M training grant for postdoctoral researchers

The directors of the Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells brought in a new $1M training grant for postdoctoral researchers, and have been awarded over $12M in grants in just two years.

New study examines ethics of community-engaged research from the perspective of community partners

Even the most collaborative research models come with ethical challenges, a new study shows. This highlights the importance of equity-centered approaches. 

Cruz Foam teams up with DiCaprio, Kutcher as advisors and adds a major industry partner

Cruz Foam, a company that started as a Ph.D. student’s project at the UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering and makes a compostable alternative to styrofoam packaging, has added actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Ashton Kutcher as advisors and investors.

Thought-provoking new works of media art in exhibition by Digital Arts and New Media MFAs

The UC Santa Cruz Digital Arts and New Media (DANM) MFA program presents unforgetting, the culminating exhibition of its 2022 MFA cohort, on view free to the public at the Digital Arts Research Center April 22-May 1 with a special performance May 20-29 at the Experimental Theater.

Superheroes, spaceships, and social wearables: An immersive, social STEM camp for middle school girls sparks interest, builds confidence in STEM

The UCSC-developed STEM camp combines the crafting of wearable technology with social experience to pique interest in computation and technology for middle school girls.

Coming together to heal

UCSC Arts dean and her family establish scholarship in son’s memory

Honoring UC Santa Cruz’s 2022 Distinguished Graduate Student Alumni

Each year, UC Santa Cruz’s five academic divisions select one graduate student alumnus/a/i as their Distinguished Graduate Student Alumni honoree. The awards ceremony for the 2022 cohort will take place on April 23 of Alumni Weekend.

Statistics professor wins Hellman fellowship to rethink verbal autopsy survey design

Assistant professor of statistics Richard Li will use his Hellman award to rethink survey design for verbal autopsy, the process of determining cause of death outside of the hospital which is routinely implemented in many low- and middle-income countries throughout the world.

Politics professor’s book challenging Western notions of Sharia wins global acclaim

In the past year, Politics and Legal Studies Professor Mark Fathi Massoud's latest book has earned him a series of award recognitions, speaking engagements around the globe, and an invitation to a closed session with resident representatives of the United Nations Development Program.

Rock on: summer concert series coming to Quarry Amphitheater

In partnership with Noise Pop Industries, UC Santa Cruz announces summer concert series to be hosted in the Quarry Amphitheater.

Watsonville Filipino history digital archive now available for public viewing

The Watsonville is in the Heart Digital Archive is now viewable online and features oral history recordings, original documents, photos, and family artifacts highlighting Filipino history in the Pajaro Valley.

Paid fellowship opens doors and opportunities for Humanities students

Unique partnership between The Humanities Institute, a leading national media outlet, and a generous UC Santa Cruz donor amplifies opportunities for UC Santa Cruz students

Risa Wechsler named 2022 Physical and Biological Sciences Distinguished Graduate Student Alumna

UC Santa Cruz alumna Risa Wechsler (Ph.D. Physics ’01) has played an instrumental role in groundbreaking research in the cosmology field, with pioneering galaxy structure and cosmic structure surveys, and more than 300 widely cited publications. Wechsler has also been committed to ensuring the growth of diversity and inclusion within the physics and astronomy community.

UCSC and Amazon Web Services work to accelerate genomics research

The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to allow researchers to quickly and efficiently execute bioinformatics pipelines on AWS’s global cloud infrastructure.

Alumni Week to highlight three decades of alumni-sponsored student support

The founders of the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund are using the occasion of its 30th anniversary to increase philanthropic support in the scholarship, setting a goal of raising $100,000 from alumni.

Sarah Peelo named 2022 Social Sciences Division Distinguished Graduate Student Alumna

Sarah Peelo (Ph.D. Anthropology ’09) looked to UC Santa Cruz as an institution beaming with women in leadership. Now company president and co-owner of cultural resource management firm, Albion, Peelo is at the forefront of cultural preservation in the Bay Area.

William Long named 2022 Arts Division Distinguished Graduate Student Alumnus

William Long’s (B.A. Music ’11, M.A. Music ’13) passion for music began when he was six years old. After receiving his B.A. and M.A. from UC Santa Cruz, Long went on to conduct for San Francisco Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis/St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Harryette Mullen named 2022 Humanities Division Distinguished Graduate Student Alumna

The Humanities Division’s 2022 Distinguished Graduate Student Alumna, Harryette Mullen (M.A. Literature ’86, Ph.D. Literature ’90), published her first poetry book Tree Tall Women in 1981 and has since published dozens of poems, stories, books, and essays that have been published worldwide and reprinted in over one hundred anthologies.

Title IX graduate interns shine a light on sexual violence and sexual harassment research

Two UC Santa Cruz graduate students are working to showcase campus research focused on preventing, responding to, and addressing gender-based violence, harassment, and discrimination with a new online spotlight series.

Works by some of the country’s most influential contemporary artists on view in Strange Weather

A new group exhibition presented by UC Santa Cruz Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS) and the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH), features contemporary artworks by some of today’s leading artists. On view April 14-August 14, 2022 at the MAH, Strange Weather: From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation is co-organized by IAS director Dr. Rachel Nelson and UCSC History of Art and Visual Culture Professor Jennifer González.

UCSC selects Aisha Jackson as Vice Chancellor for Information Technology

Aisha Jackson comes to UC Santa Cruz from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she is that university’s first Assistant Vice Provost and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Technology and Student Success.

Genomics Institute tool becomes primary method to identify lineages of COVID-19 worldwide

As COVID-19 continues to mutate, software developed and maintained at the University of California, Santa Cruz’s Genomics Institute will now be at the core of the primary tool used by health officials worldwide to track the spread of variants in their community. It is now the default software behind the ubiquitously used tool Pangolin, replacing previous software to more accurately assign genomic samples of COVID-19 to a known branch on the virus’s family tree.  

Ricky Bluthenthal announced as 2022 social sciences distinguished alumni award recipient

The Social Sciences division is proud to announce trailblazing health equity researcher and advocate Ricky Bluthenthal (Merrill ’86, History and Sociology) as the recipient of the 2022 Social Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award.

Physical and Biological Sciences Division honors three prominent alumni

The PBSci Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize contributions to society by graduate and undergraduate alums.

UCSC helps produce first truly complete sequence of a human genome

The first truly complete sequence of a human genome — covering each chromosome from end to end with no gaps and unprecedented accuracy — is now available for the whole world to access.

UCSC Ph.D. students dive deep into engineering open-domain dialogue AI with the support of industry partners

LivePerson, which builds conversational AI, is funding two students' study of the models that drive chatbots, digital assistants, and more

Cassandra Mar: Bringing the power to the people

Discovery in McHenry Library Inspires First-Generation Alumnus to Become a Champion of Social Change

Babak Farahmand: Navigating complex systems

UCSC leadership shares bold vision for campus’s future with Regents

Chancellor Cynthia Larive on Thursday presented the University of California Regents with a bold vision for UC Santa Cruz’s future — leading at the intersection of innovation and social justice — and detailed how the campus’ strengths, challenges, opportunities, and planning processes are advancing this vision.

Seed funding grants for early-stage research, creative projects given to 19 awardees

The UCSC Office of Research has awarded funds this month to 19 projects through its inaugural Seed Funding for Early Stage Initiatives program

Local pumas don’t sense danger in places where they’re most often killed by humans

A new study led by UC Santa Cruz researchers suggests that pumas in the Santa Cruz Mountains don’t make accurate assessments of where they are most likely to be killed by humans, especially when it comes to the threat of being killed in retaliation for loss of livestock.

Celebrating 50 years of immersive natural history education at UC Santa Cruz

In June, an event will gather UC Santa Cruz alumni, faculty, staff, current students, and community members to honor the legacy of Ken Norris and natural history at UCSC, including the 50th anniversary of Natural History Field Quarter.

Rekindling friendships through volunteering: Pioneer alumni organize Crown’s 50th

UC Santa Cruz pioneer alumni Lisa Rose, Jim Lapsley and Susan Nerton have spent three years planning Crown College’s first-ever 50th reunion. With the COVID-19 pandemic pushing the reunion back multiple years, Rose, Lapsley and Nerton are excited to invite a five-year range of pioneer Crown alumni back to the campus they love.

A remarkable, first-time film course tackles the criminal justice system

UC Santa Cruz Film Professor Sharon Daniel’s two-quarter undergrad course, FILM 171S-02, is not your typical film school fare. This course, titled Reasonable Doubts: Making an Exoneree, aims for nothing less than to free wrongfully convicted persons currently incarcerated in American prisons.

Pioneer Alumna Marion Howard Hoekenga announced 2021 Alumni Survey giveaway winner

All participants of the 2021 Alumni Survey were automatically entered into a drawing. Marion Howard Hoekenga is the winner of the giveaway.

UCSC alumna Kira Gaber announced 2021 alumni survey getaway winner

All participants of the 2021 Alumni Survey were automatically entered into a drawing. Kira Gaber is the winner of the getaway trip to Santa Cruz with hotel accommodations at the Dream Inn.

Recruitment for Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Now Active

The leadership recruitment for campus’ first Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is now live.

Economics Professor Rob Fairlie testifies before committee in U.S. House of Representatives to share research on Paycheck Protection Program

Fairlie testified on his latest research, which showed that changes to the Paycheck Protection Program in 2021 helped to improve racial equity in loan distribution.

UC Santa Cruz lecturer and alumna contributes to IPCC’s 2022 report on global climate change

Pam Rittelmeyer, a lecturer in the Department of Environmental Studies and College Nine, is a contributing author on the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Keeping the stoke fresh

Alumnus David Schulkin, who has taught surfing to UC Santa Cruz students for more than two decades, is 'all about joy and about passing on the joy of surfing.'

New study confirms bioengineered RSV protein vaccine evokes protective immune response

Two UC Santa Cruz researchers just marked a major milestone in their effort to create an effective vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can cause severe respiratory disease in children and the elderly.

UC Santa Cruz to implement strategic plan for internationalization

UC Santa Cruz is advancing comprehensive internationalization to ensure that the members of the campus community are prepared and encouraged to study, teach, conduct research, and work in a global context, and that institutional policies, programs, and initiatives are aligned to achieve this shared goal.

New responsible data sharing technique will enable better understanding of disease-causing genetic variants

Scientists may better understand and test for the genetic variations that cause cancer and other heritable diseases through the application of a novel strategy for securely sharing and analyzing genomic data developed at the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute.

UC Santa Cruz invites alumni, community to Alumni Week

Alumni Week 2022 will have a unique “hybrid” format—combining virtual and in-person gatherings, with activities ranging from a virtual elephant seal tour to an in-person wildflower walk in the Campus Reserve, a drone-flying demonstration, and a “Merrill Moat Day” extravaganza, an interactive art project that goes back to the college’s early times.

Counting the decades at Alumni Week

UCSC's annual alumni gathering will feature several 50th anniversary celebrations, with Crown and Cowell grads remembering the past. There will also be gatherings for younger alumni, including a virtual "Weird Science" event.

Sareil Brookins: The path to fearlessness

UC Santa Cruz Alumna Sareil Brookins (Stevenson ’19, Intensive Psychology and Critical Race & Ethnic Studies) grasped every opportunity that came her way during her time at UCSC. She says that being a Black and Queer womxn at UCSC pushed her to go above and beyond in everything she accomplished and encouraged her to become fearless.

Mario Galdamez: Determination. Hard-Work. Perseverance.

UC Santa Cruz alumni Mario Galdamez (Merrill ’06, Politics and Latin American & Latino Studies) was born in a rural, impoverished town in El Salvador. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1993, Galdamez worked part-time jobs while in high school and was determined to pursue higher education. His time at UCSC changed his life.

Computer scientist Yang Liu wins NSF CAREER award

Yang Liu, assistant professor of computer science as the Baskin School of Engineering, won a prestigious NSF CAREER award for his study of human-centered machine learning.

Danielle Dadiego named recipient of 2022 Society for American Archaeology Dissertation Award

UC Santa Cruz alumna Danielle Dadiego (M.A. Anthropology, ’17; Ph.D. Anthropology, ’20) has worked in the archeology field for nearly two decades. Her dissertation, Beads, Bullets, and Brokerage: Exploring Economic Agency in Eighteenth-Century West Florida, has been nationally recognized by the 2022 Society for American Archaeology Dissertation Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the archeology field.

Marizza Delgado Leads in the Era of Multipotentialite Women

UC Santa Cruz Alumna Marizza Delgado (Rachel Carson ’21, Technology and Information Management) is a data scientist at Etsy in New York City, fashion model, and Miss Earth New York 2021. Her experiences at UCSC helped inspire Delgado to pursue all of her passions in life.

Russian invasion of Ukraine - Supporting our community

Over the past week, we have closely followed the news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and we join the international community in condemning this unprovoked attack.

UC Santa Cruz joins Social Science Research Council

The campus is now a member of the Social Science Research Council's College and University Fund for the Social Sciences, which will offer new opportunities for UC Santa Cruz to help shape research priorities across the field.

Family-friendly opera returns to Mainstage Theater this March with My Head is Full of Colors

On March 12, Family Opera returns live to the Mainstage Theater with My Head is Full of Colors, a joyful tale of imagination composed by UCSC Lecturer Chris Pratorius Gómez, with a libretto by Nicole Paiement, and directed by Lecturer Sheila Willey.

Record applications enable UC Santa Cruz to build strong, diverse fall class

With record-breaking applications from undergraduate students, UC Santa Cruz is looking to admit students who will be ready to contribute to and benefit from a high-impact research university.

UCSC selected to join US CYBERCOM Academic Engagement Network

UCSC will join the inaugural class of the U.S. Cyber Command’s (CYBERCOM) Academic Engagement Network (AEN), a group of 84 colleges and universities selected to help strengthen the country’s cybersecurity operations.

First nationwide study of scams targeting immigrants shows local social context may help or hinder reporting

Assistant Professor of Sociology Juan Manuel Pedroza's latest research offers insights that may help improve access to justice for vulnerable communities.

UC Santa Cruz announces ambitious investment to hire 100 additional faculty over decade, part of broader effort to advance student success and research excellence

To advance its place as an international leader at the intersection of innovation and social justice, UC Santa Cruz announced today its intention to prioritize faculty hiring by adding 100 additional faculty over the next decade.

UC Santa Cruz Foundation votes to provide additional one-time endowment payout to support student scholarships, fellowships 

Hundreds of continuing and incoming UC Santa Cruz students will benefit from additional financial support from scholarships and fellowships after the UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board approved an additional, one-time payout from the university’s endowment.

'From the Margins: Dante 701 Years Later' to provide critical perspectives on author's work

Funded through the Siegfried B. and Elisabeth Mignon Puknat Literary Studies Endowment and presented by The Humanities Institute, the series will include events taking place throughout 2022 to engage with Dante’s work through a much different lens than the usual discussions of his life and work.

UC Santa Cruz tops ranking of women in leadership at R1 universities

UC Santa Cruz is first in the nation for racial and gender diversity in leadership, according to a new report by the Women’s Power Gap Initiative at the Eos Foundation, in partnership with the American Association of University Women.

An advocate for menstrual equity

Student Amanda Safi helped get a new California law passed that requires public schools to stock restrooms with free menstrual products—a move activists say is a first step toward rectifying the discrimination, stigma, and financial, educational, and health consequences faced by those who menstruate.

Stories of Black women take center stage in upcoming performance of ''da Kink in My Hair'

The award-winning play "‘da Kink in My Hair" will be presented February 18-27 by the Department of Performance, Play & Design and the African American Theater Arts Troupe.

Bridging the educational divide on a global scale

Alumnus Fred Mednick, founder of two-time Peace Prize–winning NGO Teachers Without Borders, has worked to expand worldwide educational access for over two decades.

Equity gaps in COVID-19 deaths closed for some racial and ethnic groups, widened for others during vaccine rollout in California

New research from UC Santa Cruz, Stanford University, and UC San Francisco shows how racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 deaths across California changed as the rollout process for vaccines began.

Hitting a high note

Music Professor Karlton Hester, named the first associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts for the Arts Division, believes all ethnicities benefit from inclusion and an increased focus on Black history, Indigenous history, and traditional knowledge.

Climate action planning misses equity opportunities in many California cities

A new study led by UC Santa Cruz analyzed 170 climate action plans across California to find out how cities are incorporating equity into their efforts to curb emissions and address climate change impacts.

Ten new picnic tables customed designed, handcrafted, and installed on campus

It was a rush order, no question about it. In early September, Chancellor Cynthia Larive asked Physical Plant, Development and Operations to install 10 picnic tables on the main residential campus by the opening of fall quarter. Campus carpenters decided to do-it-themselves.

The struggle to protect voting rights must go on. Lessons from the Civil Rights Movement can help

Distinguished professor emeritus John Brown Childs shares his opinion on the U.S. Senate's recent blockage of voting rights legislation and reflects on lessons he learned during the Civil Rights Movement that may help voting rights activists today.

UC Santa Cruz receives National Endowment for the Humanities grant to connect studies of humanities, engineering

UC Santa Cruz will create a new Certificate in the Humanities introducing students enrolled in the Baskin School of Engineering to humanities disciplines aimed to help them better understand the social and cultural impacts of technological change.

Rebecca Hernandez to serve as campus's first community archivist

Rebecca Hernandez, who previous served as the director of the American Indian Resource Center, will seek out partnerships with community organizations and leaders to support the preservation of community history, with a particular focus on reaching out to traditionally underrepresented communities.

National Endowment for the Arts award to support 'Surge,' an afrofuturism festival

Events will take place throughout the academic year, culminating in a month-long festival in May 2022 with live music concerts and dance performances.

Appetite for entrepreneurship leads alum to launch successful meal-prep business

Economics alumnus Andy Sartori, a Sacramento Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree, helps people eat with purpose.

Merrill College courses offer opportunity to learn about Africa, develop global connections

Merrill is offering two Global Classrooms, courses developed with the support of the Global Engagement Division that involve online collaboration between students from UCSC and the Co-Operative University of Kenya.

UCSC selects Akirah J. Bradley-Armstrong as vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Success

Akirah Bradley-Armstrong, who comes to campus from the University of Colorado Boulder, is a dedicated student affairs professional with 17 years of experience in the field.

Undergraduate Pearl Ibeanusi wins national scholarship in honor of late U.S. Rep. Patsy Takemoto Mink

UCSC student Pearl Ibeanusi was one of five women selected among nationwide applicants to receive a scholarship award recognizing her outstanding record of community service and educational and career goals.

Legal studies major Aissata Ba looks back on the “whirlwind” of meeting Michelle Obama at recent event

Aissata Ba, a 20-year-old Black Muslim first-generation American, was among a group of students brought together to be part of a conversation with Michelle Obama on some of the themes addressed in her best-selling memoir.