Our past has been remarkable, and we know our future is brighter still.

 

UC Merced Chancellor, Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz

Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz assumed his role as UC Merced’s fourth chancellor on July 1, 2020, coming to UC from the University of Houston-Downtown, where he served as president since 2017. Having achieved his Bachelor's in Psychology at UC Santa Barbara and his doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction at UCLA, Muñoz’s move to UC Merced is a return to his California upbringing and academic roots. 

During his first year as chancellor, Muñoz has set the university's course for the next decade with an ambitious strategic plan that focuses on growth, impact and equity and justice. Muñoz was named the recipient of the 2020 Cesar Estrada Chavez Award from the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity for leadership on workers' rights and humanitarian issues, and in December 2020, Muñoz was appointed to the California Strategic Growth Council and currently serves with his wife, Dr. Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz, as a council member for the Yosemite Conservancy.

chancellor munoz headshot

Chancellor's Priorities

Writing and Remarks

March 20, 2026

Research, Recognition, and the Power of Community at UC Merced

To the Campus Community, As I reflect on the vibrant activity taking place on our campus this month and in the weeks to come, I am filled with a deep sense of pride and... Read More

March 4, 2026

National Conversations, Local Impact: An Update from Washington

Dear Campus Community, Last week, I was in our nation’s capital with two important objectives. First, I participated in the annual convening of the American Council... Read More

News

Depicted are UC Merced and CITRIS representatives around a cake commemorating the organization's 25th anniversary.
May 18, 2026

A recent celebration marked important anniversaries for two partners in research and innovation, but both emphasized that the most exciting events still lie ahead. The commemoration at UC Merced on...

Blue and gold streamers fly over the heads of graduates at UC Merced's Graduate Division commencement ceremony.
May 17, 2026

Smiling even as she cried, Nancy Rodas De Leon stood in UC Merced's University Plaza, accepting hugs, flowers, stuffed animals and cards from extended family. "These are happy tears," said Rodas...

Professor YangQuan Chen is pictured standing behind a table with flowers at UC Merced on Main.
May 15, 2026

Services are set Sunday afternoon for Professor YangQuan Chen, whose contibutions to UC Merced's School of Engineering and to the university as a whole will endure through programs he helped build,...

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