Diversity

UC Merced’s Office of Sustainability and Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are working to create a more inclusive workforce.

This summer, both offices are teaming up with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a nonprofit international environmental advocacy group, to allow one student to participate in an exclusive paid remote internship to gain experience in ecological research alongside the NRDC clean transportation team.

As news headlines continue to focus on seeing the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, the coronavirus continues to spread across the globe. As of May 18, California has recorded more than 3.6 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, resulting in over 61,500 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Since 2008, University Friends Circle (UFC) has shown its support to UC Merced students through programs that promote community interaction.

One way UFC has been a critical advocate of the campus is by raising funds each year for UC Merced students and organizations through an endowed scholarship and Student Impact Funds.

After a selection process that included more than 40 individual applicants, six students were awarded the Distinguished Volunteer Scholarship for this year. In addition, two student groups received the Community Service Organization award.

UC Merced takes pride in encouraging the younger generation to learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers by counting on some of the top educators in the fields.

To help expand the knowledge and encourage young girls to think about careers within STEM, cognitive science Professor Lace Padilla and mechanical engineering Professor Ashlie Martini recently highlighted their work on the CBS television show “Mission Unstoppable,” a series that spotlights cutting-edge female scientists and STEM professionals to inspire young girls.

For the second year, the Margo F. Souza Student Leadership Center and the Office of Student Involvement (OSI) held the 2021 UC Merced Leadership Awards virtually. The April 30 event provided an opportunity for the center to acknowledge all student leadership witnessed by individuals at UC Merced and celebrate award recipients, including 21 individuals and four organizations.

While this year's ceremony looked quite different from years past due to the coronavirus pandemic, the presentation of the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance remained an important celebration.

Alicia Garza, civil rights activist and co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter and the Black Lives Matter Global Network, will be honored as the 13th recipient of the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance during a virtual award ceremony on April 20.

The scourge of anti-Semitism was in Charlottesville, where white nationalists chanted “Jews will not replace us.” It is felt when Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is compared to Nazi Germany. It happens when a college student is denied a club membership unless they renounce ties to a Jewish organization.

Graduate school is tough, but graduate students have a place to turn to for advocacy and support on campus.

Since it was established in 2005, UC Merced’s Graduate Student Association (GSA) has promoted graduate students’ rights and worked with the Graduate Division and other campus leadership to ensure that students’ best interests are met.