Dear Bobcat Community,
As we close out Hispanic Heritage Month this week, celebrate Diwali beginning Oct. 20 with our South Asian community, and begin Native American Heritage Month in November, I’m reminded of what makes UC Merced so special: our people, our history, and the vibrant blend of cultures, traditions, and experiences that shape who we are.
For fifteen years, UC Merced has proudly served as an Hispanic-Serving Institution, one of only five in the UC system. As Vice Chancellor Tonantzín Oseguera has said, being an HSI isn’t about serving one group alone; it’s about ensuring that a rising tide lifts all boats. That spirit is reflected in how we honor, learn from, and uplift every community that calls this campus home.
Rooted in the rich cultural tapestry of the Central Valley and California, UC Merced’s student body brings together a broad range of experiences and perspectives. This diversity is not just part of who we are; it’s what empowers our students to become empathetic, globally engaged leaders and sustains a campus where every voice and tradition is valued.
I hope you’ll join us in honoring and learning from one another at one of the many upcoming cultural events happening on campus and in the Merced community:
- Merced County's Indian Chamber of Commerce Diwali Night – Oct. 23 | 6–9 p.m. | Downtown N Street to W. 18th Street
- Merced Symphony: Side-by-Side Spectacular – Oct. 29 | 6 p.m. | Wallace Dutra Amphitheater
- Cultural Food Festival: Spirits of the World – Oct. 31 | 12–3 p.m. | Pavilion Lawn
- EJIE Collective Ofrenda & Reception – Nov. 7 | 9 a.m.–2 p.m. | Granite Pass 169
With pride and appreciation,
Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D.
Chancellor
