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 travels and engagements that underscore UC Merced’s growing impact locally, nationally, and globally.
Celebrating the Class of 2026
We capped off the academic year... Read More
Remarks and Writings
May 14, 2026
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, athletics, philanthropy, and community engagement.
In athletics, UC Merced completed its first full year competing in NCAA Division II, and the excitement surrounding our... Read More
March 20, 2026
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 hope. The stories unfolding across our labs, gymnasiums, classrooms, and community spaces speak to the extraordinary possibilities present at UC Merced.
For example, in ... Read More
March 4, 2026
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 on Education (ACE), on whose Board of Directors I am honored to serve. The ACE 2026 Experience (ACEx2026) brought together higher education leaders and policy experts from... Read More
February 5, 2026
Dear Campus Community,
In November, Provost Dumont and Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Schnier shared our Financial Stabilization Plan, a multi-year effort designed to address a persistent deficit while ensuring UC Merced remains a thriving, student-centered R1 research university. That plan reflects our shared... Read More
January 20, 2026
Dear Campus Community,
Welcome back, and happy new year. As we begin 2026 together, I have found myself returning repeatedly to one word that feels especially resonant for this moment: community — both the communities we serve and the community we create.
Yesterday, Bobcats came together for the Community Engagement Center... Read More
December 19, 2025
Dear Campus Community,
As we approach the end of the year and look ahead to the holidays and a new chapter, I want to take a moment to reflect on what we have accomplished together and why it matters far beyond our campus... Read More
December 8, 2025
Friends,
I am profoundly excited to share that UC Merced has received a second major gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, an extraordinary reaffirmation of confidence in our mission and momentum as we continue to grow as one of the nation’s preeminent research universities. This new commitment builds on Ms. Scott’s earlier... Read More
October 14, 2025
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... Read More
