Social Justice & Community
UC Santa Cruz Alumni Association honors 2025 Alumni Award recipients
Barry J. Bowman, Terri McCullough, Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, Daniel Nane Alejandrez, and Aviv Elor were honored on Oct. 17 at the UCSC Alumni Awards Celebration Event.
From left to right: Terri McCullough, Barry J. Bowman, Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive, Daniel Nane Alejandrez, Aviv Elor.
The UC Santa Cruz Alumni Association is proud to honor the 2025 honorees of the UCSC Alumni Awards: Barry J. Bowman, Terri McCullough, Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, Daniel Nane Alejandrez, and Aviv Elor.
These awards consist of five categories— Fiat Lux, Alumni Achievement, Distinguished Graduate Alumni, UCSC Ethos, and Outstanding Recent Alumni— that recognize and celebrate alumni and supporters who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievements, made distinct contributions to society, provided impactful contributions to UC Santa Cruz, and who have embodied the values and spirit of the university.
“This year’s alumni award recipients exemplify the very best of UC Santa Cruz,” said Assistant Vice Chancellor of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving John D. Pine. “From advancing scientific research and accessibility, to breaking new ground in health care, public service, and social justice, they embody the values and vision that define our community. Their achievements remind us of the power of a UC Santa Cruz education. It was an honor to celebrate them.”
The five award recipients were honored on Oct. 17 at the Alumni Awards Celebration Event. Learn more about each recipient.
Professor Emeritus Barry J. Bowman receives the Fiat Lux Award
The Fiat Lux Award honors UC Santa Cruz alumni and friends who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and distinguished service in support of the university’s programs and goals.
Barry Bowman (Professor Emeritus, molecular, cell, and developmental biology) joined the UC Santa Cruz faculty in 1979. During his 37-year career at UC Santa Cruz, he served twice as a departmental chair, first for the Biology Department and later for the Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology. Bowman received the UCSC Alumni Association’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1999 and the Division of Natural Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award in 2000.
Bowman is recognized as a national and international leader in his field. He is an avid supporter of the university, serving as a leader in both the Emeriti Association and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC Santa Cruz, while also establishing two endowments to further university research.
Terri McCullough receives the Alumni Achievement Award
The Alumni Achievement Award is presented to UC Santa Cruz alumni who are renowned for their distinguished professional achievement, leadership, and service to the community.
Terri McCullough (Oakes ’90, politics) is chief of staff to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. She was the first woman appointed in a paid capacity as chief of staff to the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. McCullough has spent much of her career advancing equity of opportunity and the participation of women & girls as CEO of the Clinton Foundation’s No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project, and as executive director of the Tory Burch Foundation.
Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein receives the Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award
The Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award recognizes UC Santa Cruz graduate alumni for notable achievement in a career directly related to their degree program. The recipient’s graduate degree from UC Santa Cruz played a significant part in their career success.
Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (M.S. ’05, astronomy and astrophysics) is an associate professor of physics and astronomy and core faculty in women’s and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire. Her research in theoretical physics focuses on cosmology, dark matter, and neutron stars. She is a researcher of Black feminist science, technology, and society studies. She is the creator of the Cite Black Women+ in Physics and Astronomy Bibliography. Nature recognized Prescod-Weinstein as one of 10 people who shaped science in 2020, and Essence Magazine recognized her as one of “15 Black Women Who Are Paving the Way in STEM and Breaking Barriers.” Her first book, The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred, received multiple awards, including the 2021 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the science and technology category.
Daniel Nane Alejandrez receives the UCSC Ethos Award
The UCSC Ethos Award recognizes alumni whose work and contribution to their community embodies and reflects the ethos of UC Santa Cruz.
Daniel Nane Alejandrez (Merrill ’81, community studies), the executive director of Barrios Unidos Santa Cruz, has dedicated his life to uplifting communities through advocacy, cultural healing, and community based programs. Alejandrez launched Barrios Unidos in 1977, while a student at UC Santa Cruz. Today, it is a nationally respected grassroots organization addressing youth violence, incarceration, and systemic inequality. His commitment to social justice is grounded in his personal journey from a Vietnam War veteran navigating addiction and street violence to finding his purpose at UC Santa Cruz. He is a respected voice in the field of community healing and restorative justice, and a visionary leader.
Aviv Elor receives the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award
The Outstanding Recent Alumni Award recognizes UC Santa Cruz alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years who reflect the values and mission of UC Santa Cruz.
Aviv Elor (Crown ’19, robotics engineering; Ph.D. ’21, computational media) is the co-founder, president, and chief research officer of Immergo Labs, which is revolutionizing physical rehabilitation through immersive virtual reality (VR) telehealth platforms. Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2025, Elor is redefining physical rehabilitation through immersive technologies that enable synchronous full-body avatar interactions and AI-powered biomechanical analysis for remote patient care. He has over 25 peer-reviewed publications and more than $1.5M in research funding. Elor has been recognized with the Santa Cruz Titan of Tech Award, ACM VRST Best Paper Award, Barry Goldwater Scholarship, and ARCS Foundation Fellowship.
Nominations for the 2026 UCSC Alumni Awards will open in February.
Save the date: Next year’s UCSC Alumni Awards Celebration Event will be Oct. 16, 2026.