Remarks and Writings

Research, Recognition, and the Power of Community at UC Merced

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

National Conversations, Local Impact: An Update from Washington

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

Sustaining Our Momentum: Strategic Investments in Research, Student Success, and Our Campus Community

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

A New Year of Collective Strength and Shared Purpose

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

Thank You for a Year of Impact, Partnership, and Promise

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

A Historic Gift

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

UC Merced at 20: The Dream is Real

October 24, 2025
Dear Bobcat Community... Read More

Celebrating the Many Cultures That Make Us Bobcats

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

Campus Response to the Federal Shutdown and Other Updates

October 1, 2025
Dear UC Merced Community, As you may know, the federal government has largely shutdown due to an impasse in Washington DC. UC Merced has been preparing for this possibility. While the duration and impacts are uncertain, I want to share a brief update on what this means for our campus. UC Merced remains open and operating normally. Federal... Read More

Celebrating 20 Years of UC Merced

September 5, 2025
Dear Bobcat Community, Twenty years ago today, the first UC Merced students walked across Scholars Bridge, stepping into history and beginning their journey as Bobcats. Our founding Chancellor, Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, captured the spirit of that moment with a bold proclamation... Read More

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