Social Justice & Community
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A path shaped by passion: Alumnus David Gleason’s lifelong dedication to Russian studies and supporting the Humanities
UC Santa Cruz alumnus David Gleason supports the university through charitable gift annuities. His philanthropic support of UC Santa Cruz is rooted in a deep gratitude for how his time there shaped the path that followed—working for Apple in the Soviet Union at one of the most pivotal moments in modern history.
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‘The Public’s Science’ initiative seeks to reimagine the science research ecosystem
The new effort will bring together a broad range of voices to create scholarship and policy recommendations for reorienting science research toward excellence, justice, transparency, and democratic participation.
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Alumna and Anthropic co-founder Daniela Amodei and civil-rights activist Dolores Huerta named in Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2026
Daniela Amodei graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2009 with a B.A. in literature and a minor in politics. In 2022, UCSC’s Research Center for the Americas was renamed in honor of social justice icon Dolores Huerta; the university continues to collaborate with the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
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UCSC alumna Quressa Robinson expands representation in publishing
As a literary agent, Quressa Robinson (Oakes ‘03, literature) uses her influence to bring diverse, nuanced stories to young adult readers.
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Making ethics accessible
Alumnus Tim Shannon (Cowell ’71, history) has philanthropically supported the Humanities at UC Santa Cruz for 15 years. His support of the Norcal Regional Highschool Ethics Bowl, hosted annually at UC Santa Cruz, has opened doors for public schools across the region.
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Two UC Santa Cruz faculty members named 2025 AAAS fellows
Katharyne Mitchell and Adina Paytan were awarded the lifetime honor.
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Exploring the impacts of California’s minimum wage for fast food workers
Workers at franchised fast food restaurants got a big pay bump about two years ago. A UC Santa Cruz economics researcher suggests that may have come with a side of unintended consequences.
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UCSC’s Right Livelihood Center empowers the next generation of activists
The Right Livelihood Center at UC Santa Cruz offers students a range of opportunities to connect with global visionaries. Students Natalie Capobres (Kresge ’26, environmental studies) and Kevin Lin (Kresge ’26, community studies) share their experiences.
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‘Dignity in the Fields’: report documents conditions and outlines recommendations for Salinas farmworkers
The report provides practical, equity-centered solutions for the challenges that limit both worker well-being and long-term regional prosperity.
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‘Dignidad en los campos’: un reporte documenta las condiciones y presenta recomendaciones para los trabajadores agrícolas de Salinas.
El reporte ofrece soluciones prácticas y centradas en la equidad para las dificultades que limitan tanto el bienestar de los trabajadores como la prosperidad regional a largo plazo.
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Maria Rocha-Ruiz named UC Santa Cruz’s Sea Dubs Wavemaker
Maria Rocha-Ruiz has been named UC Santa Cruz’s Sea Dubs Wavemaker, honoring her leadership expanding educational opportunity and mentoring generations of students across the Central Coast.
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In Memoriam – Teresa de Lauretis (1938-2026)
A pioneering thinker who brought semiotics and psychoanalytic theory to bear upon cinematic representations of desire, de Lauretis taught at the University of California, Santa Cruz, from the mid-1980s until her retirement in 2008 as Distinguished Professor Emerita.