Major gift supports diversity in the sciences

I am excited to share the news that Julie Packard (Crown, BA Biology ’74, MA Biology ’78) has given the Division of Physical & Biological Sciences a gift of $1 million to establish the Dean’s Fund for Diversity in the Sciences. Julie’s gift will be used to expand successful programs that support excellence in the sciences among underrepresented and first-in-family students, and to offer new opportunities for all students to learn outside the classroom.

Over the next five years, Julie’s generous gift will: establish new sections for the ACE program (including summer sections); open the Summer Research Institute to all science majors; create a new field course offering, Arctic Ecology, as well as new sections for existing field courses in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; and support more community college students in transferring to and doing research at UCSC through the Lamat program.

Julie’s gift reflects her deep commitment to UCSC’s mission of recruiting a student body that reflects the state of California, providing students with every resource to realize their highest potential, and celebrating the excellence they achieve.

This gift is a major contribution to the Student Experience initiative of The Campaign for UC Santa Cruz and an important step toward cultivating the private support we need to meet our ambitions.