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Alumni Profiles

November 14, 2024
Redefining philanthropy: Alumna Carmen Rojas drives change
Alumna Carmen Rojas is the president and CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation and is a leader in the fight for racial, economic, and social justice.
November 08, 2024
Championing Veteran Students: Bruce Lane Memorial Scholarship helps veterans succeed at UC Santa Cruz
Veteran students Nick Kuipers and Sammy Tesfai find community and opportunity at UCSC with tailored support and scholarships
October 29, 2024
Three UCSC alumnae named in SF Business Times Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business of 2024
Three alumnae, Judith Bell, Katherine Evans, and Ruby Bolaria Shifrin have been named in SF Business Times Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business of 2024.
October 29, 2024
Rooted in resilience: Alumna Natalie Nguyen reflects on her journey
Recent UC Santa Cruz graduate Natalie Nguyen (Kresge ’23, economics) reflects on her UC Santa Cruz journey and post-graduation endeavors.
September 26, 2024
UCSC alumnus Kauchani Bratt stars in Netflix film Rez Ball
UCSC alumnus Kauchani Bratt (Cowell ’23, philosophy) makes his acting debut in the Netflix movie Rez Ball, streaming Sept. 27. The movie, directed by Sydney Freeland, is inspired by Michael Powell’s nonfiction book Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation.
September 12, 2024
Celebrating the 2024 UCSC Alumni Awards recipients
The UC Santa Cruz Alumni Association is proud to present this year’s UCSC Alumni Awards honorees: George M. Kraw, Keith Curry, Jacob Martinez, Kamari Maxine Clarke, Paul Fielder, and Neroli Devaney.
September 10, 2024
Creating community and change: Sharhonda Bossier’s path from UCSC to education leadership
Sharhonda Bossier, a UCSC undergraduate and graduate alumna and current CEO of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC), credits the support and community she found at UCSC for shaping her career in education leadership.
September 10, 2024
Estimated $20 million gift to UC Santa Cruz for undergraduate scholarships to support educational excellence, access
The late Richard “Rick” Sabatte (Kresge ’75, psychology) established a scholarship fund that will provide full four-year scholarships and living expenses to hundreds of student-scholars with demonstrated financial need over the next three decades.
September 10, 2024
Return to the Redwoods 2024: Reconnecting with UCSC and each other
Alumni and their friends and families gathered at UC Santa Cruz from August 16-18 for the second annual Return to the Redwoods.
September 09, 2024
A car-free future? A Banana Slug alum is targeting one obscure regulation to get there
Alumnus Tony Jordan is a 2024 Grist 50 honoree, a list of climate leaders and innovators.
August 23, 2024
Smith Society celebrates 25 years
Founded in 1999, the Smith Society is a vital community that provides scholarships, mentorship, and a familial support network for students from disadvantaged or non-traditional homes. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Smith Society has supported about 600 students in its history.
August 21, 2024
Humanizing every client
One year after graduation, Guneet Hora (College Nine ’23, intensive psychology, legal studies) works as a paralegal at the Office of the Federal Public Defender in the Western District of Virginia.
August 21, 2024
Launching success
Miguel Tamayo (College Nine ’23, computer engineering) interned with the Aerospace Corporation during all of his college years. Now, he works with the renowned company full-time as a flight controls engineer.
August 21, 2024
A passion for change
One year after graduation, Nailah Smith (Stevenson ’23, cognitive science) works in the African American Studies and Chicana and Chicano Studies Departments at San José State University and is pursuing a Masters in Science.
August 21, 2024
From Santa Cruz to Johns Hopkins
A year after graduating UCSC, Ozzy Bagno (Cowell ’23, molecular, cellular and developmental biology) is pursuing his Ph.D. at one of the top medical schools in the country, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
August 21, 2024
Breaking barriers and breaking news
One year after graduating from UCSC, Ryan Loyola (Stevenson ’23, politics) is a news assistant and fill-in assignment editor at ABC7 Los Angeles where he reports on breaking news.
August 21, 2024
Genomics at heart
Sarah Xia (College Nine ’23, biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics) found her passion for genomics at UC Santa Cruz. Now, a year after earning her B.S. in biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics, Xia is a research associate at Stanford.
August 21, 2024
Stepping onto the global stage
One year after graduating from UCSC, Samantha Moore (Merrill ’23, politics) recently completed an M.A. in International Relations at the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations.
August 21, 2024
Accounting ambitions
One year after graduation, Yehan Weerasuriya works at PwC as a consultant and associate in the Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory group.
August 21, 2024
Fighting for rights through education and advocacy
One year after graduation, Vann Jones (Merrill ’23, feminist studies and the history of art and visual culture) works as a freelancer and activist.
August 19, 2024
Guiding generosity
Lora Hollingsworth, Executive Director of Gift Planning , helps donors craft their philanthropic legacies
July 26, 2024
The countdown to Return to the Redwoods
All UCSC alumni, friends and family are invited back to campus for a three day, two night immersive Banana Slug experience, Return to the Redwoods, August 16-18, 2024.
July 17, 2024
UCSC alumna crowned Miss New York USA
UCSC alumna Marizza Delgado (Rachel Carson ’21, technology and information management) was crowned Miss New York USA out of 170 contestants and will reign through July 2025.
July 17, 2024
Gaining professional experience and helping fellow Slugs through Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program
In her last year at UC Santa Cruz, Jane Grantham tackled numerous challenges, but one project stands out: developing a resource to assist fellow students in preparing for their careers.
July 09, 2024
UC Santa Cruz Foundation celebrates 50 years
Julie Packard, Narinder Kapany awarded Foundation Medals during gala event, while Packard also recognized with the University of California’s top honor, the Presidential Medal
July 08, 2024
Philanthropy in action: Alumna Roberta Gordon invests in students for Earth's future
Roberta Gordon bridges science, law, and philanthropy for environmental progress
May 31, 2024
Humanities Distinguished Undergraduate Alumni Award recipient John Rickford is a world-renowned scholar of Black Talk and social justice advocate
John Rickford (Stevenson, ‘71, sociolinguistics), this year’s Humanities Distinguished Undergraduate Alumni Award recipient, is a world-renowned scholar and champion of African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), also known as Black Talk.
May 16, 2024
Compassion in action: Alumna Diane N. Nguyen leads with love through her philanthropic firm
From a young age, UCSC alumna and alumni councilor Diane Nguyen felt the desire to help others. Now as the founder of her own philanthropic firm, Lead with Love Consulting (LwL Consulting), Nguyen is at the forefront of impactful change.
May 14, 2024
Championing Native American DNA
Kimberly TallBear, this year’s recipient of the University of California, Santa Cruz Distinguished Humanities Graduate Student Alumni Award, is being honored for her work in championing indigenous rights and protecting Native American DNA from exploitation.
April 02, 2024
The Science Division announces recipients of Distinguished Alumni Awards
Dr. José de Jesús González, Dr. Maximiliano Mateo Cuevas, and Dr. Charles A. Lawson are this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipients for the Science Division.
March 27, 2024
Championing inclusion: Nancy Kim’s leadership in UCSC’s resource centers
Nancy Kim graduated from UCSC in 1994, became the university’s founding Director of the Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center, and currently serves as the Executive Director of Resource Centers.
March 25, 2024
50+ years of memories: UC Santa Cruz Alumni Reunion Weekend
Alumni classes 1965-74 are invited to return to UCSC for a weekend filled with events, gatherings, and reconnecting. The class of 1974 will be celebrating their 50th anniversary milestone.
March 13, 2024
UCSC Alumna Carolina Ixta debuts first novel
UCSC alumna Carolina Ixta debuts her powerful novel, Shut Up, This Is Serious: a coming-of-age story following two Latina teens in East Oakland.
March 11, 2024
From start to finish: Alumni Association Scholarship paves the way for students in financial need
The UCSC Alumni Association Scholarship Fund stands as a steadfast pillar of support, offering comprehensive financial assistance to students in need from their first year through graduation, ensuring every student's journey at UCSC is marked by opportunity.
February 26, 2024
Alumnus James Dawes thrives in sustainable contracting and remodeling business with focus on reclaimed materials
UCSC alum James Dawes, founder of the successful contracting, demolition, and remodeling business PlaceMakers, takes pride in utilizing reclaimed materials and minimizing waste. Dawes credits his environmentally conscious business approach to the mindset cultivated during his college years.
February 14, 2024
Alumna and award-winning author empowers the next generation
Renowned author and UCSC alumna Reyna Grande, recipient of multiple literary awards, traces her extraordinary journey to becoming a bestseller. Grande, now giving back to her alma mater through the Reyna Grande Scholarship, hopes to inspire Latinx students to pursue creative projects and amplify their cultural heritage.
February 14, 2024
Slugs in love: Celebrating love stories from UCSC alumni
Fourteen alumni share how they found love as students at UC Santa Cruz.
February 12, 2024
Innovation at the intersection: An alum’s trailblazing ventures in tech, film, and social change
Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler is an award-winning tech entrepreneur, a filmmaker and producer, a social justice advocate, and a scholar.
January 31, 2024
Crafting smiles and setting records on the track: An alumnus’s unique dual-pursuit
Alumnus Leo Merle is juggling two major life goals: graduate from the University of Michigan with a doctorate in dentistry, and be the first American with cerebral palsy to run the 1,500 meter race in less than four minutes at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
January 25, 2024
Coastal Science & Policy Program celebrates five years at UC Santa Cruz
Coastal Science and Policy Program Director Anne Kapuscinski reflects on the last five years and looks ahead to the future.
January 16, 2024
On the frontlines of change
David B. Goldberg solidified his passion for organizing at UC Santa Cruz. Now, he is the president of the California Teachers Association, the largest teacher’s union in the state.
January 16, 2024
Alumni and professor authors return to UCSC
Ten alumni authors and two former professors will be featured in the Creative Writing Program’s Living Writers Reading Series in Jan. through March.
January 04, 2024
Pioneering perspectives
UCSC alumnus Bob Dodge belonged to the inaugural graduating class of UC Santa Cruz. He attests that the time he spent at UCSC was among the most transformative periods of his life.