MERCED, Calif. — Chancellor Dorothy Leland of the University of California, Merced, has issued the following statement on the retirement announcement by Congressman Dennis Cardoza:
"Congressman Dennis Cardoza has been a strong and valued supporter of the University of California, Merced, since the earliest days of his career in public service, dating back to his tenures on the Atwater and Merced city councils and in the California Assembly.
"His efforts throughout the 1990s were instrumental in the selection of Merced as the home for the newest campus in the renowned UC system and in securing funding for the campus' construction — support that was critical in bringing world-class research, education and public service to a long underserved region of the state.
"At the federal level, Congressman Cardoza has been a tireless advocate for higher education and has always understood the value it brings to the San Joaquin Valley. He has been an ardent supporter of UC Merced’s efforts to bring a medical school to the Valley, a region in dire need of trained physicians and access to quality health care.
"I wish Congressman Cardoza well as he enters the next chapter of his life and career, and I look forward to continuing our campus’ strong relationship with him in the years to come."
