October 30, 2020
Re: President Drake's Visit to Campus
To: All campus
Oct. 30, 2020
To the Campus Community,
When Dr. Michael Drake chose UC Merced in October as the very first campus to visit in his new UC presidency, he was touring a campus he had helped to conceptualize as a UC administrator and one he had evaluated early in our history, as a visiting accreditor.
He departed Merced not only more familiar with but more energized by our great work and even greater vision.
His discussions on campus with so many UC Merced groups touched on our COVID-19 response and the financial implications of the pandemic; on our teaching, research and public service; and on our recognized leadership in building student success.
President Drake heard from undergraduate and graduate students about what drew them to Merced and what a great spirit of learning and of community they have found here. Similarly, he met with staff who shared with him their passion for UC Merced’s mission and their pride in the success of our students.
He talked with faculty, particularly research faculty, and learned about advances we have made in many fields. He explored and encouraged our priority to build a robust medical education program for the San Joaquin Valley, in partnership with UCSF and UCSF-Fresno. And he learned how we intend to grow the Gallo Management Program into what will be the management school of the future.
But it was during my online conversation with him about a wide array of topics that President Drake offered UC Merced the highest praise for the work we have done in building social mobility — for which, he said, “UC Merced stands alone as the national leader.”
I have been broadly optimistic about the future of this university and of the UC system, and President Drake’s visit only redoubled my optimism. This campus has an admirer at the highest level who is now armed with a deep understanding of our successes, our priorities and our dreams. I know he will be a firm ally as we seek to accelerate the growth of UC Merced.
Go Bobcats,
Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D.
Chancellor
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