May 2022 News Archive

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

Amanda Quirk

Amanda Quirk's research on galaxy mergers showed evidence that the Andromeda galaxy had some kind of major galactic collision in the past 4 billion years, and survived—which has

Benny Mosqueira

Benny Mosqueira felt driven to make something of himself, and he arrived on campus intending to become a medical doctor. Instead, the first-generation college student was captivated by

Brittany Caldwell

Brittany Caldwell, a scholar focused on the impact of early-grade math instruction, has pulled off an impressive feat: earning her Ph.D. in math education and teaching hundreds of

Candy Martinez

The daughter of Oaxacan migrants, Candy Martinez has found a meaningful way to reconnect with her roots, investigating the ways in which Indigenous communities process and heal grief

Chailen August

Chailen August’s time at UC Santa Cruz put him on a path he never expected. Not only did he embark on a study of drill rap and its

Maxwell Ward

Maxwell Ward always wanted to be an archeologist, following tales of adventure like the search for the tomb of Genghis Khan. But he realizes now that treasure hunting

Nicole Rudolph-Vallerga

Being half Latinx and half white, Nicole Rudolph-Vallerga always felt like she didn’t quite fit into either group. So she created her own community with her fall senior

Sean Lawrence

With his work studying the relationship between Germany’s Deutsche Bank and the Ottoman Empire, Sean Lawrence shows that many things we think of as unique to our modern

Teresa Faasolo

Teresa Faasolo decided to study computer engineering because she was good at math and highly interested in computers. The major proved more difficult than she had expected, but

Tiffany-Ellen Vo

Tiffany-Ellen Vo encountered some initial difficulties in college, but with support from the Multicultural Engineering Program she regained her footing. She went on to take advantage of every

Indoor masking strongly encouraged for campus community members

UC Santa Cruz strongly recommends that students, faculty, and staff wear masks indoors, especially in high-density spaces.

COVID-19 Treatment Options

People with certain medical conditions who test positive for COVID-19 may be eligible for COVID-19 antiviral treatments.

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

Submit feedback on Staff Appreciation Picnic

If you were able to attend the staff picnic, please fill out this form so we can gather your feedback and use it to inform future events

Biologist Bruce Lyon honored by American Ornithological Society

Bruce Lyon, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, has been chosen to receive the 2022 Elliott Coues Award from the American Ornithological

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

2022-2023 Annual Overtime Compensation Election for Represented Non-Exempt Employees

During the month of June, for the departments/units that continue to offer the option of compensatory time, employees in the bargaining units listed above can make a change to their current overtime compensation election.

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

SAB’s Spring Chancellor Forum

Our upcoming spring forum will be with Chancellor Cynthia Larive on 5/31/22.

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

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.

Sign-up to participate in the Santa Cruz Pride parade on June 5

Members of the UC Santa Cruz community are invited to join in this year's Santa Cruz Pride parade, which starts at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 5. 

Student Union Assembly to host budget forum for campus community on Thursday, May 26

Student Union Assembly (SUA) will host a university budget forum Thursday, May 26. Campus leaders will answer questions about the budget, resource allocation, and the fiscal decision making

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

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

Upcoming closure for Student Health Center, SHOP, and CAPS

The Student Health Center, SHOP, and CAPS announces upcoming closures.

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

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

Indoor masking is strongly encouraged

Even though masks are no longer required from the State of California and in most UC Santa Cruz facilities, their use indoors, especially in high-density spaces, is strongly recommended.

Stories of UCSC rugby: Leslie Riehl and Pam Krone, the first women on the team

Alumni Leslie Riehl (Cowell ’78, Mathematics) and Pam Krone (Cowell ’75) were the only women on UCSC’s rugby club in 1974, making their stand as women in the

Sloan Foundation funds two-year pilot open source program office at UC Santa Cruz

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded Professor Carlos Maltzahn a $695,000 two-year grant aimed at establishing an open source program office (OSPO) that will serve the entire campus

New findings enable monitoring for harmful toxin in freshwater environments

Researchers have identified the genes involved in biosynthesis of guanitoxin, a potent neurotoxin produced by some freshwater harmful algal

Instrumentation grant will establish UCSC hybrid robotic systems experimental testbed

A $275K instrumentation funding award from the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program will support a multi-university project to create a hybrid robotics system test environment to run verification

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

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

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.

Sad news regarding former Chancellor Karl S. Pister

Karl S. Pister, who devoted a remarkable 70 years to the University of California and to expanding educational opportunities for students, died Saturday, May 14, at his home in Walnut Creek. He was 96

Large Hadron Collider restarts after major upgrades

UC Santa Cruz physicists have been at the forefront of U.S. participation in the LHC and contributed to a major upgrade of the ATLAS detector during the

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

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

Former UCSC Chancellor Karl S. Pister dies at age 96

Former UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Karl S. Pister, who devoted more than 70 years to the University of California, to higher education, and to expanding educational opportunities for

Motorcyclists to ride through campus on Sunday to raise money for cancer research

The ride will begin at Porter and Kresge colleges and make its way through campus before ending in downtown Santa Cruz.

Talk by NASA astronauts canceled

Due to unforeseen circumstances and mission priorities at NASA, the astronauts will not be able to travel to Santa Cruz next week. The planned events on campus have

Rejecting hate, violence, and intolerance

Our hearts go out to the Buffalo community, to the victims and their families, and to our campus community who mourn this weekend’s senseless tragedy.

Slug Crossing Faculty & Staff Cheering Section

Please join us at Slug Crossing to cheer on the graduates!

Vote in California's primary election

Tuesday, June 7 is Election Day in California for the primary elections.

Increased patrols while investigation continues into possible threats of violence this weekend

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department has increased patrols this weekend in an abundance of care and caution while officers continue to investigate threats of violence made on social media postings and by someone loudly shouting at 1:52 a.m. Thursday in the lower quad at Stevenson College. 

Nominations for UC Santa Cruz's Outstanding Staff Award

Please help us honor UC Santa Cruz's outstanding staff and make your nomination for the Outstanding Staff Award today. The submission deadline is Friday, May 27, 2022.

Investigating possible threats of violence this weekend

UC Santa Cruz community members are urged to immediately share any information related to threats of violence made on social media postings and by someone loudly shouting at 1:52 a.m. Thursday in the lower quad at Stevenson College. The threats referenced possible violence this weekend.

Applications open for UC Santa Cruz 2022-2023 Global Food Initiative student fellowship

UCSC student wins second place at UC systemwide Grad Slam 

Astronomy and astrophysics Ph.D. candidate Amanda Quirk came in second place in an elite group of ten competitors at the UC systemwide Grad Slam finale on May 6.

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

New Department of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies invites students to think critically about race during a time of global reckoning with racism

CRES was first introduced as a degree program in 2014 and, thanks to its rapid growth and strong faculty and student advocacy, gained departmental status in

Campus comment period for the Advanced Payment to Suppliers Policy

UC invites comments on proposed policy on abusive conduct in the workplace

The University of California Office of the President proposed a new policy on Abusive Conduct in the Workplace. Several comments were taken into consideration and a revised version of the policy is now open for comment.

Launchpad 2022 Pitch Competition applications due May 11

Santa Cruz Launchpad is UCSC's annual pitch contest combined with Santa Cruz Works' job fair. This year's event will be held on June 1 at the Cowell Hay Barn. Student teams are invited to apply and will receive two weeks of coaching on their pitches prior to the event. Qualifying teams will be eligible for over $40,000 in prizes!

In support of reproductive rights

We are deeply troubled by the long-term ramifications for reproductive rights if the leaked draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion in "Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization" becomes law.

Submissions open for 2022 CITRIS UC Santa Cruz Campus Seed Funding Program

CITRIS and the Banatao Institute at UC Santa Cruz invites all UCSC principal investigators to apply for project support through its Campus Seed Funding program.

Research video brings attention to an inspiring way of learning

“Learning by Observing and Pitching In” is featured in a National Science Foundation video contest May 10-17; viewers can vote for their favorite video

Enter to win a $75 gift card! Complete the annual transportation survey today

Please take about 15-20 minutes to complete the annual transportation survey to help us help you by improving our programs and services.

The Newton you don't know

Caltech professor Jed Buchwald will lecture on Isaac Newton’s attempt to change the history of civilization at inaugural Nauenberg Lecture on May

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

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

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

Temporary change to vacation accrual maximum ends June 30, 2022

As a reminder, the vacation accrual maximum in UC’s Absence from Work policy (PPSM-2.210), was temporarily lifted effective June 1, 2020, to allow policy-covered staff more time to use their accrued vacation leave to bring their accrual below the maximum.

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,

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

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.

Survey for Senate faculty on information technology priorities

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

Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz chosen for prestigious Julio Cortázar Latin American Chair

Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, has been selected to hold the Julio Cortázar Latin American Chair at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico,

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

Puzzling it out

Linguistics student David Tuffs started making crossword puzzles to stave off boredom during COVID-19 restrictions. Now he's had his third puzzle published in the New York

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

As climate shifts, species will need to relocate, and people may have to help them

A new survey summarizes scientific recommendations for conservationists and land managers tasked with managing biodiversity in a changing

UCSC joins multi-institutional effort to advance equity and inclusion in science

The HHMI Inclusive Excellence Learning Community initiative is supporting efforts to redesign the introductory science

Women's water polo team wins Division III championship

The UC Santa Cruz women's water polo club won the Collegiate Water Polo Association Women’s Division III Club Championship in Middlebury, Vermont, on