Skip to content

Remarks and Writings

With Deepest Appreciation

February 18, 2025
  Dear Colleagues,   I am writing to you upon my return from Washington, D.C., where I had the privilege of advocating for the University of California and our Merced campus on Capitol Hill directly with members of the Senate and House and their staff. During my trip, I attended the annual meeting of the American Council on... Read More

Achieving Research Excellence as an R1 University

February 13, 2025
  Dear Campus Community,   It is with immense pride and excitement that I share a historic achievement. Earlier today UC Merced was officially designated an R1 University by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This prestigious distinction places UC Merced among the nation’s top-tier research... Read More

Celebrating Black Excellence

February 3, 2025
Dear Campus Community,   February marks Black History Month, a time to reflect on the profound contributions of Black individuals throughout history and to recognize the struggles and triumphs that have shaped our society. At UC Merced, this month is also an opportunity to celebrate a rich heritage and a vibrant community—one that... Read More

Staying Informed and Focused Amid Uncertainty

January 31, 2025
Dear Campus Community,   The past few weeks have been busy, bringing both the normal start-of-semester activity and uncertainty associated with changing federal guidance coming from Washington, D.C.   Earlier this week, the University of California distributed a letter from President Drake addressing concerns triggered by an... Read More

Welcome to Spring Semester 2025

January 21, 2025
  Dear Campus Community, I wanted to take a moment to once more say happy new year and welcome you all back to the spring semester of 2025. Let me start by extending our thoughts to those affected by the recent Los Angeles fires, including members of our Bobcat community who lost homes or workplaces. Having grown up in Los Angeles,... Read More

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Engagement

December 20, 2024
To: All campus   Dear Campus Community, After a competitive national search administered by Isaacson, Miller, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Tonantzín Oseguera as UC Merced’s new Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Engagement. Dr. Oseguera comes to UC Merced with over 20 years of experience in higher... Read More

Becoming a Hub for Innovation, Diversity, and Advancement

March 6, 2024
  To the campus community,   UC Merced has become a destination of choice.   When Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory began its national rollout of a study on mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide, titled Roads to Removal, our campus was the first stop. A conference of scientists, government... Read More

Celebrating Black Excellence

February 1, 2024
  To the campus community:   In February the nation formally recognizes Black History Month, during which we look both backward — at the historic and often overlooked contributions of the African-American community to our country — and forward, to better days yet to come.   UC Merced’s rise owes a... Read More

Welcome Back

January 16, 2024
    To the UC Merced community,   Welcome back to UC Merced. The year 2024 promises exciting new opportunities for continued growth, including some significant news for our campus. We welcome new campus leadership, including Chief Campus Counsel Cesar Alvarado-Gil, interim Dean of the School of Social Sciences,... Read More

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Education

January 15, 2024
  To the Campus Community:   As we reflect on the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, we find prescient his thoughts on the purpose of education.   In 1947, Rev. King authored an article for the student newspaper at Morehouse College in which he asserted that education should seek to... Read More

Pages