Dear UC Merced Fellows,
I hope this message finds you safe and well and enjoying the holiday season. This weekend, UC Merced will have the privilege of honoring nearly 400 graduates and their families during our first in-person commencement ceremonies in two years. As we close the fall semester and another unconventional year, we must acknowledge the support you all have provided to enable our campus and students to continue to thrive and rise. We thank the members of this group for your longstanding support and partnership in carrying out our mission of teaching, research, and public service.
I would especially like to acknowledge this group's support of the annual year-end "Give to UC Merced" initiative, which has already raised more than $125K toward projects across campus. If you are interested in giving towards scholarships, fellowships, academics & research, student success, and many others, you may contribute from giveto.ucmerced.edu.
One fund to consider is the UC Merced Foundation Board's 2021 Trustees' Impact Fund, which supports student success. Check out this brief video featuring students who participated in the FACTS summer bridge program, which received financial support from the Impact Fund.
Thank you for all that you've done as valued members of our campus community. We appreciate your participation as a UC Merced Fellow and welcome your thoughts and questions to inform programming - please don't hesitate to reach out to Stephanie Sia anytime, by phone (209-382-4142) or email (ucmfoundation@ucmerced.edu) . We hope for and look forward to opportunities to connect in the new year. Take care and Happy Holidays!
Warmest regards,
Ed
E. Edward Klotzbier, J.D.
Vice Chancellor
President, UC Merced Foundation
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Following 20 years on the UC Merced Foundation Board of Trustees, Josh Becker has made the decision to step down from active service and join the UC Merced Fellows program. We are so grateful for his support throughout the years and look forward to his continued participation as a close partner and strong advocate of our campus. |
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Welcome: Trustee Jeff Watts |
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Jeff Watts is the Chief of Staff at Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS). He reports directly to the President and CEO. His primary areas of responsibility include executive level direction, communication, planning and special projects. In addition, he handles all community relations in the surrounding areas of TPS headquarters in Livermore, CA. Globally, Topcon has a strong culture of social corporate responsibility and Jeff leads its philanthropic efforts in the US. His goal is to grow their presence wherever they can benefit the communities of TPS employees and customers. Jeff and his wife, Connie, reside in Pacific Grove, CA where he is an avid runner.
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UC Merced Foundation Intern: Introducing Hannah Meskienyar |
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Thanks to the continued generosity of Advocacy & Awareness Co-Chair Jack Oswald, we are excited to welcome student intern, Hannah Meskienyar, to our team to support the work of the board.
Hello! My name is Hannah Meskienyar and I am a fourth-year student majoring in Management and Business Economics. I was born and raised in the Bay Area and I am currently based in Merced for the remainder of the school year. Throughout my journey at UC Merced, I have been involved with the Women's Cross Country team, Alpha Kappa Psi professional business fraternity, and Golden Lynx as a student ambassador.
UC Merced has provided me with amazing opportunities and allowed me the chance to create genuine connections with my peers. UC Merced is a special place, where intelligent individuals gather to learn and reach their highest potentials. Students are able to further their knowledge, refine their skills, and discover what they want to do by getting involved with extracurriculars, Greek life, and other clubs on campus. I am lucky to say I have had the chance to grow with the university and my fellow Bobcats. After my undergraduate journey, I hope to utilize the skills I gain from UC Merced and this internship to pursue a career in human resources.
I am extremely appreciative of this opportunity to work with you all and I am thrilled to continue to learn and grow throughout my internship!
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UCAN is a community of committed people who lend their voices to shape state and federal policies promoting the university's mission.
The new year is right around the corner and with it comes a fresh opportunity to push for the priorities that can help the UC community thrive. This includes more federal financial aid for college students; state investments to help California rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, and urgent action on climate change, to name a few.
Pledge to Stand with UC in 2022!
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The board's fundraising initiative, the 2021 Trustees' Impact Fund, is designated to support Student Success initiatives. If you would like to contribute to their effort, gifts can be made online (engage.ucmerced.edu/foundation-gift) or by completing and returning this form.
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Friday, December 17, 2021
10:30 am - 4:00 pm
Conference Center or Zoom
You are cordially invited to the bi-annual showcase of student ingenuity from the School of Engineering's signature programs: Engineering Capstone, Engineering Service Learning, and Software Engineering Capstone. I2G is a unique "experiential learning" program that engages external partner organizations with teams of students who design systems to solve complex, real-world problems. The event is a great opportunity to experience the program and get ideas to discuss partnership opportunities and projects.
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Saturday, December 18, 2021
9:00 am - School of Natural Sciences
12:00 pm - School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts
3:00 pm - School of Engineering
The Fall 2021 Commencement Ceremonies will be hosted at the Art Kamangar Center at the Merced Theatre and will be streamed on the Commencement website. Join the celebration virtually to cheer on our graduates as they cross the stage into a new, exciting chapter of life!
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After a monthlong collaboration between dozens of UC Merced students, professional artists, National Park Service staff and Merced community members, Shakespeare in Yosemite's first feature-length film, "Imogen in the Wild," celebrated its premiere in November on YouTube.
The 90-minute film is an adaptation of Shakespeare's play "Cymbeline," rewritten to address concerns of land use and environmental justice facing California. In this version, Cymbeline is the mayor of "The Town" near "The Wild," represented by Yosemite National Park. Read more here.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom, speaking at UC Merced, announced that the state will support the building of the university’s new medical education building. The Health, Behavioral Sciences and Medical Education Building will support a B.S.-to-M.D. joint degree program with UCSF-Fresno, starting in 2023, along with public health and psychological sciences faculty and students. Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz, introducing the governor, said the financial support would be significant not simply to UC Merced but the San Joaquin Valley.
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Delivering his first in-person State of the University campus address, Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz outlined the progress UC Merced has achieved across many fields and laid out initial plans for investing a historic $20 million gift to the university.
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UC Merced's commitment to the success of Latino students has been recognized with the prestigious Seal of Excelencia. The campus is among 10 institutions in the country to receive the reputable certification this year.
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Distinguished UC Merced Director of Medical Education and public health Professor Dr. Thelma Hurd has been appointed the inaugural Thondapu Family Endowed Chair in Medical Education.
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2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Nadia Murad was honored with the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance during a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, November 3.
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