Friends,
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 the amazing, dedicated people on our UC Merced Foundation board — 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 your wonderful work will continue to advance UC Merced’s growth and success, and together, you will keep building the future right here, in the heart of California.
Best,
Nathan
Nathan Brostrom
Interim Chancellor
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Introducing Chancellor-Designate Juan Sánchez Muñoz
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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.
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UC Merced Mobile Maker Lab
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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
.
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2020 Trustees' Impact Fund
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Thank you to the many trustees that have already made their contribution to the 2020 Trustees’ Impact Fund in support of the
Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve
.
We are currently at 40% participation and have reached 50% of our total fundraising goal for this fund. For those that have not yet done so, please make your annual gift by the end of June.
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
. Should you have any questions on your annual contribution, please contact Lisa Pollard Carlson at
lpollard@ucmerced.edu
or (209) 291-8169.
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June 2020 Meeting Schedule
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Work Group Meetings
Tuesday, June 9, 10:30 a.m.
Philanthropy WG Meeting (
Zoom link here
)
Tuesday, June 9, 3:30 p.m.
Advocacy & Awareness WG Meeting (
Zoom link here
)
Wednesday, June 10, 11:00 a.m.
Nominations WG Meeting (
Zoom link here
)
Thursday, June 11, 11:00 a.m.
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem WG Meeting (
Zoom link here
)
Full Board
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Conversations with Campus Leaders
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“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.
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Save the Date: 2020 - 2021 BOT Meetings
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Please mark the following dates on your calendar for the 2020-2021 full board meetings:
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
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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.
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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 trustee Dr. Hanimireddy Lakireddy and Merced Mayor Mike Murphy for their tremendous support and contributions to the university.
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Peruse the
Commencement Chronicle
publication, featuring our Spring 2020 graduates and highlights from the first-ever virtual ceremony.
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UC Merced's Graduate Division wrapped up its annual Grad Slam competition, announcing physics doctoral candidate Boe Mendewala as its campus champion.
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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.
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Two UC Merced graduate students, a recent undergraduate and an alumna have each been awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
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“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
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UC Merced professors are leading or participating in four technology projects designed to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis.
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Professor Matthew Zawadzki's research examines social psychological processes as applied to health.
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Find information regarding the pandemic and its impact on our campus updated regularly on this website.
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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!
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UC Merced Arts: Shelter-in-Place Art Show
Participate in and peruse the shelter-in-place art show on
UC Merced Arts' Instagram
. Check out 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.
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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!
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FREE K-5 Student Sessions
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$20-40 participant fee, spots limited
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Early Childhood Education Center: Activities for Young Bobcats
UC Merced's ECEC continues to share at-home activity ideas for children! Feel free to share the links below with friends and family seeking inspiration.
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