Dear UC Merced Fellows,
What a year it’s been — a year of tremendous successes and unprecedented challenges, setting records and resetting expectations, welcoming our largest number of freshmen to campus amidst joy and laughter last fall and asking them to continue their learning remotely amidst uncertainty this spring.
Yet, UC Merced endures, and we are, I believe, on a path to prevail, thanks in no small part to the support of people like you. Despite obstacles, this year we set fundraising records, celebrated our first faculty member to earn membership in a national academy, began the formal process to open the new Ernest & Julio Gallo School of Management, and completed the Merced 2020 Project, expanding campus by 1.2 million square feet on time and under budget.
I have been honored to serve as interim chancellor for the past year, learning so much from faculty, staff and students and from our amazing group of dedicated supporters, including this group — learning more not only about what we do but why it is so important to so many. I will treasure, and I hope nurture, the great friendships I’ve made — and I will always keep UC Merced and its future at the center of my thinking as I return to the Office of the President.
This university will be very well positioned for its next great leaps when Juan Sánchez Muñoz arrives as permanent chancellor in July. I am confident that UC Merced's growth will continue to advance and that you will keep building the future right here, in the heart of California.
Best,
Nathan
Nathan Brostrom
Interim Chancellor
|
|
As you know, the university moved to remote work and instruction in March, and students that could go home safely were asked to do so. A limited number of students and essential staff remained on campus while most operations went remote. This will continue through both summer sessions, and campus leaders are carefully considering and determining plans for the fall semester with the guiding objective being to minimize risk to our campus community.
The shift gave light to increased challenges many of our students are facing during this difficult time. Many of you have contributed to the
Student Emergency Fund
, providing direct emergency financial support to UC Merced students in need. Thank you for supporting the wellbeing and continued success of our incredible and resilient students.
|
|
Introducing Chancellor-Designate Juan Sánchez Muñoz
|
|
The UC Merced community is excited to welcome Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz in July, when he will commence his appointment as our university's fourth chancellor. Links to pieces introducing Chancellor-Designate Muñoz are included below.
|
|
UC MERCED FOUNDATION UPDATES
|
|
We hope that you all have remained safe and healthy during this time, and we thank you for your continued support of UC Merced as members of the Fellows program. While we won't have any in-person events for a while due to the current environment, we are excited to offer virtual opportunities to connect with the campus through the "Conversations with Campus Leaders" introduced below.
If you have any feedback or questions about the UC Merced Fellows program, please do not hesitate to reach out to UC Merced Foundation staff at
ucmfoundation@ucmerced.edu
or (209) 382-4142.
|
|
Conversations with Campus Leaders
|
|
“Conversations with Campus Leaders” is a virtual series of sessions with key campus partners on university topics, created with the intent to provide opportunities for our closest supporters to remain updated and engaged with the campus through the summer and into fall.
Kicking off the series is Paul Maglio, Professor of Management in the School of Engineering and Director of the Division of Management and Information. He will be presenting on UC Merced’s plans for establishing the Ernest & Julio Gallo School of Management.
Click here
to register, and be on the lookout for information on future sessions.
|
|
UC Merced Mobile Maker Lab
|
|
We are pleased to introduce you to “Mobi,” the UC Merced Mobile Maker Lab. After years of hard work, this important project has come to fruition and will be ready to serve local students once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
As many of you know and participated in, the mobile maker lab was made possible with significant support from Mike and Lori Gallo and our UC Merced Foundation Board through the two-year Chairman’s Challenge initiative. Trustee Lesley Slaton Brown recently secured in-kind donations of devices to equip the space from her company, HP Inc. We are immensely grateful for the support from all of our sponsors to complete this project.
We look forward to showing you Mobi in person in the future. Until then, we hope you enjoy this
video introduction
.
|
|
2020 Trustees' Impact Fund
|
|
This year's Trustees' Impact Fund is supporting the
Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve
, for which we can receive a funding match from the State of California through Proposition 68. This allocation will provide critical funding towards building a field research station on the site. In order to ensure we can leverage the full match funding available,
we must complete the initiative by
July 2020
to submit our project plans by fall. If you are interested in contributing, gifts can be made online using the link below. If you have any questions about the project, please contact Lisa Pollard Carlson at
lpollard@ucmerced.edu
or (209) 291-8169.
|
|
Whether you are missing the campus or would like to virtually introduce someone to our university, we hope you find this extensive
interactive tour
useful.
|
|
The Chancellor's Medal is the highest honor for extraordinary accomplishment that may be bestowed upon an individual by UC Merced. The distinction is certainly well-deserved by UC Merced Foundation trustee Dr. Hanimireddy Lakireddy and Merced Mayor Mike Murphy for their tremendous support of our university.
|
|
|
Peruse the
Commencement Chronicle
publication, featuring our Spring 2020 graduates and highlights from the first-ever virtual ceremony.
|
|
 |
UC Merced's Graduate Division wrapped up its annual Grad Slam competition, announcing physics doctoral candidate Boe Mendewala as its campus champion.
|
|
|
|
Despite the challenges of making an in-person event into a remote one, students in this year's Innovate to Grow spring showcase displayed the determination, passion and innovation Bobcats are known for.
|
|
|
|
|
Two UC Merced graduate students, a recent undergraduate and an alumna have each been awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
|
|
|
|
Read about the numerous online services made available to students by the Office of Leadership, Service and Career, including workshops and career fairs.
|
|
|
|
|
UC Merced professors are leading or participating in four technology projects designed to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis.
|
|
|
|
“We’ve been eagerly awaiting this weekend’s SpaceX launch with NASA with pride for the small part the school has played in making it a reality.” - Dean Mark Matsumoto, School of Engineering
|
|
|
|
Find information regarding the pandemic and its impact on our campus updated regularly on this website.
|
|
Tour the virtual gallery of art submitted by UC Merced students, faculty, and staff on
Facebook here
. Vote for your favorite student piece with a "heart" to determine the People's Choice Award winner!
|
|
|
|
UC Merced Arts: Shelter-in-Place Virtual Art Show
Participate in and peruse the virtual art show posted on
UC Merced Arts' Instagram
. Check out UC Merced Foundation Chair Denise Watkins' beautiful contribution to the show on the left!
If you would like to submit a piece, send to
arts@ucmerced.edu
and include the following:
- JPEG or PNG file of your piece
- Your Instagram account name
- Title of your piece
- Medium used, i.e. oil paint, collage, etc.
|
|
|
Choose from a wide selection of virtual backgrounds to download and use during your Zoom meetings. There are various campus locations, branded backdrops, as well as options to celebrate our Spring 2020 graduates!
|
|
|
|
|
FREE K-5 Student Sessions
|
|
$20-40 participant fee, spots limited
|
|
|
|
Activities for Young Bobcats
|
|
|
Future Bobcat Coloring Book
|
|
|
Choral Class
UC Merced faculty Jenni Samuelson serves as director for the Merced Children's Holiday Choir. She has taken her rehearsals to
YouTube
and invites other children to "crash" her weekly course!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
