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

June 15, 2026

In Motion: Updates from the Chancellor - May/June 2026

Dear Faculty and Staff, As we move into summer, I want to take a moment to reflect on a remarkable few weeks for our campus and to share a few highlights from recent... Read More

May 14, 2026

A Transformative Year for UC Merced

To the Campus Community, As we conclude another successful academic year, I want to reflect on the excellence our campus has demonstrated across academics, research,... Read More

News

Teddy Adams, Olivia Gawel, Adrianna Seiden, Bridget Sprecher and Taylor Whitney
September 3, 2026

Five UC Merced doctoral students have earned prestigious awards from the Northern California Chapter of ARCS Foundation, joining a select group of scholars recognized for outstanding research. “...

Students wearing blue shirts emblazoned with the COSMOS logo sit in the stands at a Fresno Grizzlies game.
September 3, 2026

Dozens of California high school students recently finished four weeks on the UC Merced campus, where they delved into topics including nanoparticles, digital twins, bioluminescent squids, and...

New students walking across Scholars Bridge
August 26, 2026

UC Merced is welcoming the largest class in university history this fall, as record numbers of first-year and transfer students propel total enrollment to an all-time high of 9,647 students.  The...

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