June 2021

  • UC Santa Cruz names Peter F. Biehl as new vice provost, dean of the Graduate Division

    UC Santa Cruz names Peter F. Biehl as new vice provost, dean of the Graduate Division

    UC Santa Cruz has appointed Peter F. Biehl, professor of anthropology at the University of Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY), as vice provost and dean of the Graduate Division.

  • Claire Max to retire as director of UC Observatories

    Claire Max to retire as director of UC Observatories

    Claire Max, director of the University of California Observatories (UCO) and the Bachmann professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, will retire at the end of June.

  • First days of instruction, fall ’21

    With the recent University of California announcement of the proposed vaccine mandate for students, staff, faculty and academic appointees, the widespread availability of vaccines, and steadily improving local conditions, we have made the decision to begin in-person instruction at the start of the fall quarter.

  • Research partnership will highlight STEM learning in local community garden

    Research partnership will highlight STEM learning in local community garden

    A grant from the Spencer Foundation will help UC Santa Cruz researchers document the many types of STEM learning taking place in a Latinx immigrant-led community garden in Watsonville.

  • Doctoral student wins Ford Foundation fellowship for work on gender, race, and policing

    Doctoral student wins Ford Foundation fellowship for work on gender, race, and policing

    Uriel Serrano recently won a Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship to support his research on how gender ideologies are formed in relation to carceral violence.

  • Adrian Brasoveanu appointed associate campus provost

    In this half-time role, Adrian will work with campus leadership on critical projects including institutional research and assessment, interdisciplinary research initiatives, space and resource management, strategic enrollment planning, and other campus initiatives.

  • Registration open for the 40th annual Virtual Dickens Universe featuring ‘A Christmas Carol’

    Registration open for the 40th annual Virtual Dickens Universe featuring ‘A Christmas Carol’

    The Dickens Universe is an annual gathering of scholars, teachers, and members of the general public who share a love of Dickens’s writings and his era. This summer, the Universe features A Christmas Carol and will take place online.

  • Desiderio Ascencio

    Desiderio Ascencio

    Halfway through Desi Ascencio’s undergraduate years, he got work at a research lab, then was accepted as a summer research assistant for the STEM Diversity Programs. Both of these environments were pivotal to his finding the confidence to explore his interests as a student and as a scientist.

  • Vaishnavi Dornadula

    Vaishnavi Dornadula

    Vaishnavi Dornadula was a leader in creating the first-ever Baskin Day celebration, which launched in February 2020. Since then, it has turned into a popular campus tradition, with students from across the disciplines, as well as off-campus visitors.

  • Simayijiang Xirenayi

    Simayijiang Xirenayi

    When Simayijiang “Sherin” Xirenayi left home at age 19, she knew she wanted to study biology. She attended community college and then transferred to UC Santa Cruz, but it wasn’t an easy move. Her life turned a corner when she was asked to meet with a campus adviser.

  • Sharon Valle Rodriguez

    Sharon Valle Rodriguez

    When she started at UCSC, Sharon Valle Rodriguez was unsure about everything. But she learned to be independent and emotionally intelligent. “Now I believe in myself and know I can achieve my goals,” she said.

  • Norberto Garcia

    Norberto Garcia

    As Norberto (Norbit) Garcia interviewed 18 families about their experiences for his senior thesis, he was reminded of why he chose sociology as a major—the realization that he wanted to help communities that are underrepresented and motivate students like him to go to college.

Last modified: Mar 18, 2025