UC Merced Magazine | Commemorative Chronicle

2005

Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D.

Vice Chancellor and Chief External Relations Officer E. Edw. Klotzbier, J.D.

Associate Vice Chancellor and Senior Advisor Danielle J. Armedilla ’12

Associate Vice Chancellor, Strategic Communications Josh Morgan

Creative Director Christopher Abrescy ’09

Contributing Editors Patty Guerra Alyssa Johansen Sam Yniguez Contributing Writers Sara Davidson Squibb Francesca Dinglasan Collin Lewis Emily Lin Andrew Mitchell Juan Sánchez Muñoz Jody Murray Daniel T. Okoli

Contributing Designers Thomas Hudelson Elizabeth Lippincott ’13

Contributing Photographers Veronica Adrover

Sarah Boyle Melvin Diaz Thomas Hudelson Brandon Jerez Zachary Silva Sam Yniguez UC Merced Athletics

UC Merced Magazine | Commemorative Chronicle is published by External Relations Any opinions expressed herein are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editors or the position of UC Merced. Inclusion of solicited or unsolicited content is at the discretion of External Relations. Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders of any printed material in this magazine. Any omissions will be righted in subsequent issues if notice is given to the editors. Connect with us at brand@ucmerced.edu, follow us on social @ucmerced and visit us online at ucmerced.edu. University of California Merced | 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343

FEATURED STORIES

05 A LOOK BACK, A LEAP FORWARD JODY MURRAY From a seed. These closing words of UC Merced’s alma mater capture the promise of a campus rooted in California’s Central Valley.

21 R1SING RESEARCH JODY MURRAY

UC Merced’s researchers embrace questions and seek answers that expand boundaries and improve lives.

37 A VISION REALIZED AND JUST BEGINNING Juan Sánchez Muñoz Twenty years ago, the University of California, after more than a decade of planning, erected an ambitious vision in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley.

53 ALTAMED SUMMER PROGRAM AFFIRMS GRAD’S JOURNEY Francesca Dinglasan Follow a UC Merced alumna through an initiative designed for pre-health and pre-medical students who demonstrate a passion for serving underserved communities.

CONTENTS

01

FOREWORD FROM THE CHANCELLOR Juan Sánchez Muñoz

FROM FOUNDATION TO FUTURE: 20 YEARS OF THE UC MERCED LIBRARY Sara Davidson Squibb AND EMILY LIN 75 67 A NEW ERA FOR UC MERCED ATHLETICS Andrew Mitchell 47 CAMPOS FOUNDATION GIFT FUNDS TRACK FACILITY, FUELS STEM AND STUDENT SUCCESS Francesca Dinglasan BOBCATS IN THE WILD: ALUMNI AND THEIR COOL JOBS JODY MURRAY 57 TWO DECADES, COUNTLESS FUTURES Francesca Dinglasan 15 A-HA! DETECTING A ‘EUREKA’ BOLT BEFORE IT STRIKES JODY MURRAY 31 A LIVING LABORATORY FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION Daniel T. OKOLI 61

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BLUEPRINT TO REALITY: 20 YEARS OF UC MERCED ART & ARCHITECTURE UC Merced Arts at La Galería

On the cover: The Fiat Lux Drone Show displays “20” during the 20th anniversary celebration at UC Merced on September 5, 2025. The event also marked the university’s home debut in NCAA Division II competition. Scan the QR code to view the full drone show.

While the UC Merced 20th anniversary commemorates 2005 — 2025, we acknowledge and celebrate our deep roots and rich history that extend far beyond just two decades — long before the first shovel hit the dirt. Inside cover left: An aerial photo of the construction site circa 2003 captured by an aerial photographer. Inside cover right: Fast forward in time and technology to today’s campus captured by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

FOREWORD.

FROM THE CHANCELLOR

As this issue of UC Merced Magazine repeatedly illustrates, this moment is not only about looking back with immense pride and satisfaction; it’s also about celebrating where we are even as we look forward with vision and purpose. As we celebrate this milestone year, let us further rea rm our shared mission to empower students, advance knowledge and inspire innovation. Together, we will continue to write the next chapter of our university’s extraordinary story, here, in California’s Central Valley and beyond.

his fall, UC Merced achieves another major milestone: the 20th anniversary of our university opening its doors to students, faculty and sta . In just two decades, what began as an ambitious vision to further share extend the transformational impact of a University of California education has grown into a brilliant and thriving community of scholars, innovators and leaders whose bene ts have reached far beyond our campus. From the rst class of pioneers who helped shape the culture and traditions that continue to de ne the campus today, to the thousands of students who now proudly call themselves alumni and Bobcats, our story is one of progress, prosperity, discovery, and transformation. We have built world-class academic facilities and programs, developed groundbreaking research that addresses the challenges of our time and expanded opportunities for rst-generation, low income, and historically underrepresented students to pursue rigorous higher education. And our collective work in these arenas has not gone unnoticed. From many members of our campus community having garnered national and international recognition for their work, to being named a Carnegie Opportunity University, achieving the prestigious R1 Carnegie designation, and now recently being named a Top 25 Public University by U.S. News & World Report, the trajectory of UC Merced in its rst 20 years has been unparalleled.

is moment is not only about looking back with

immense pride and satisfaction; it’s also about celebrating where we are even as we look forward with vision and purpose.

ank you for being part of our shared journey. Whether you were here early on or have just recently joined our Bobcat community, your contributions and belief in our mission make this moment possible. Here’s to the rst 20 years and to the limitless possibilities ahead.

Fiat Lux,

JUAN SÁNCHEZ MUÑOZ, PH.D. CHANCELLOR

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July 15 — Carol Tomlinson-Keasey named the rst Chancellor

May 24 — Lisa Lopez, an elementary student from Delhi, Calif. submitted the winning entry for the school’s

May 19 — UC Regents vote to begin planning for a 10th University of California campus — to be placed in the Central Valley

o cial mascot the Golden Bobcat

May 18 — Merced is selected as campus site over Madera and Fresno

May 16 — First Lady Michelle Obama delivers the Commencement Address to the rst full graduating class of Bobcats

November 19 — UC Regents approve Merced 2020 Project — launching an unprecedented three-phased project to rapidly expand the campus

May 16 — Dorothy J. Leland becomes the third Chancellor September 22 — Bobcats host their rst intercollegiate contest, a women’s volleyball game

October 25 — UC Merced Groundbreaking Ceremony at future campus site

March 1 — Sung-Mo “Steve” Kang becomes the second Chancellor — following Acting Chancellor Rod Park

September 5 — Opening Convocation — inaugural class of

875 Bobcats cross Scholars Bridge, establishing a campus tradition

March 13 — First faculty appointed — research facilities established at the former Castle Air Force Base

May 11 — First commencement hosted in the Dr. Lakireddy Auditorium — three graduates cross the stage to become the rst Bobcat alumni

May 14 — Medical Education Building groundbreaking

February 13 — Earns R1 Carnegie research classi cation

July 1 — Juan Sánchez Muñoz, becomes the fourth Chancellor, following Interim Chancellor Nathan Brostrom

July 11 — Accepted into NCAA Division II

August 23 — e City of Merced annexes the university

September 5 — Celebrates 20 year anniversary of the

September 23 — e “Big M” is introduced as core visual identi er along with tagline: “ rst. further. forward.”

campus, and kicks o NCAA Division II play

September 4 — Ranked #1 in the nation for Social Mobility by e Wall Street Journal

September 22 — Ranked as a Top 25 Public University in the nation, by U.S. News & World Report

From a seed. ese closing words of UC Merced’s alma mater capture the promise of a campus rooted in California’s Central Valley. e lyrics describe plantings in fertile soil that push up lush tendrils and expand into a welcoming garden.

On September 5, 2005, the rst undergraduate classes began at the University of California’s 10th campus. Since then, a student body of 875 has bloomed to about 9,000. What started as a handful of completed buildings two decades ago has grown into a campus covering nearly 220 acres.

Sayantani Ghosh, one of UC Merced’s early faculty was not surprised. “In my mind there was never a doubt we would succeed,” said Ghosh, a physics professor. “What lls me with pride are our students: those who trusted us when we were untested, and who went on to become extraordinarily successful.” Personal connections remain a calling card for UC Merced, where students say they feel keenly appreciated and supported. Tammy Johnson, a founding sta member, has seen these connections, and others, take root in a community where she grew up “on the other side of Lake Yosemite.” “I’m amazed by all that has been accomplished by students, faculty and sta , and I’m honored to be a part of it,” said Johnson, now executive director of the university’s summer sessions. “To see the campus today and to dream of what it will become is just incredible.” In my mind there was never a doubt we would succeed... what lls me with pride are our students: those who trusted us when we were untested, and who went on to become extraordinarily successful.

s the university’s physicists would remind us, time is relative. ose early days yield vivid memories for the people who attended and worked at the Central Valley’s UC. For many of today’s Bobcats, however, the campus has existed longer than they have. But irrespective of how one perceives where UC Merced has been, there is little doubt as to where it is now: one of the nation’s nest universities. U.S. News & World Report, the gold standard in annual assessments of universities and colleges, raised UC Merced into the top 25 of public institutions in its latest rankings. In spring 2025, the university was con rmed to be in the top tier for research excellence by another gold standard, set by the Carnegie Foundation. Only 10% of quali ed U.S. institutions reside at the highest level, called R1. Carnegie, U.S. News and other respected sources say UC Merced excels at providing a better future for students, especially those from underserved backgrounds, through academics and support. In short, the university transforms lives.

Sayantani Ghosh ASSOCIATE DEAN OF GRADUATE DIVISION PROFESSOR | PHYSICS

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“We are building a research university in a region that is underserved in so many ways. We are the seed of a stronger city and of economic prosperity for the region.” In those early some-assembly-required days of UC Merced, faculty and sta wore multiple hats to get things done. “We all had this big li , and we carried it over the nish line,” said Frank Fimbrez, today the Facilities Management operations manager. Heather Nardello, now director of nancial aid and scholarships, designed the Cat Card campus ID everyone uses today. Now there’s a legacy. “You could walk into anyone’s o ce to solve a problem,” she said of those rst years. “ e atmosphere felt more like family than work.” In the years to come, Nardello hopes UC Merced holds fast to that pioneering spirit. “We have a chance to chart our own path. I’d like to see us double down on community connections and outreach, along with expanding opportunities for students.”

Six in 10 UC Merced students are the rst in their families to attend a university. Molecular and cell biology Professor Jennifer Manilay, who joined the faculty in 2005, noted proudly that UC Merced provides research opportunities for undergraduates “at unprecedented rates” compared to other UC campuses. U.S. Rep. Adam Gray said the university “is a catalyst for progress in the heart of the Central Valley. It’s already transforming lives through cutting-edge research, world-class education, and economic opportunity.” e intertwined goals of student success and transformative academic inquiry form the taproot born from seeds planted 20 years ago. “Part of what makes this campus such a positive place to be,” said Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Betsy Dumont, “is that people are here for two reasons: ey’re here to do the research and they care about the mission.

She built the Peer Health Educator Program that serves students today. Shay got a doctorate in philosophy at UC Merced while working as assistant director of the Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning. She is now a professor of ecology, evolution and marine biology at UC Santa Barbara. “Once a Bobcat, always a Bobcat,” Shay said. “UC Merced got me where I am today.” JACKIE SHAY ’09, PH.D. ’21 PROFESSOR | UCSB ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION & MARINE BIOLOGY

On a campus that was as much a construction zone as a university, people squinted through the sca olds, cranes and dust to see a long horizon of possibility. “It was like we pulled up to the land, built the log cabins and set up the saloon and sheri ’s o ce,” said Jackie Shay ’09, Ph.D. ’21, one of the rst undergraduates. “It was a playground for dreamers,” she said. “We were building it as we were living it.” Shay founded half a dozen student organizations. She set up student volunteers in the emergency room of Merced’s Mercy Medical Center.

Professor emeritus Christopher Viney, a founding faculty member and a professor of chemical and materials engineering, remembered feeling a “cocktail of emotions” as he gave the rst lecture to a class of pioneer rst-years. “Anticipation, relief, elation, honor, gratitude, anxiety, responsibility, and many more,” he said. It was a general education course. Reporters and news cameras lined the California Room. Founding Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey gave welcoming remarks. “I then described the motivation for and scope of the course, which was developed by six faculty, two from each school,” Viney said. “ e interdisciplinarity was energizing.” Turning to UC Merced’s future, Viney said he hoped the trait of rolling up sleeves and getting things done endures as the university

“adapts and innovates to ensure future-proof student success.”

For some, 2005 is one waypoint, albeit a big one, on a journey that winds back to the 1980s, when University of California leaders began talking seriously about building a 10th campus to accommodate rising enrollment. CHRISTOPHER VINEY PROFESSOR CHEMICAL & MATERIALS ENGINEERING

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“Looking back, it’s incredible to see how far UC Merced has come,” said another early supporter, Kathleen Crookham. “From the very beginning, the university brought hope and opportunity to our community,” said Crookham, a retired educator and a former Merced County supervisor and UC Merced trustee. “It has created jobs, expanded access to higher education and li ed the entire region. “It’s been transformative.” Carpenter said strengthening the bond between the university and the region’s residents should be a central goal in the years to come. Insurance businessman Bob Carpenter was there at the start, a founder of the committee that in 1988 began to bang the drum for Merced. In the 1990 census there were 99 California cities larger than the Gateway to Yosemite; ve of them were in the San Joaquin Valley. Did that slow down the University Committee? Obviously not. “In those early days I spent roughly half my time on the e ort,” Carpenter said. “Once people in the community understood that UC was looking for a site, there was tremendous support for it.” BOB CARPENTER FORMER CHAIR UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE

From the very beginning, the university brought hope and opportunity to our community...it’s been transformative. KATHLEEN CROOKHAM FORMER MERCED COUNTY SUPERVISOR & UC MERCED TRUSTEE | RETIRED EDUCATOR Concerts, theater and other lively arts can bring people to a rural campus that is about two miles from Merced’s nearest urban edge. UC Merced athletics could provide a spark in community interaction. e program’s teams graduated to NCAA Division II this fall, increasing visibility, the quality of competition and, perhaps, the possibility of college-town fandom. “I’ve encouraged the university to promote things more and for the community to go out there and nd out what’s going on,” Carpenter said. June 14, 2002 — Founding Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey (le ) with Kathleen Crookham alongside the Wells Fargo stagecoach in front of the Smith Ranch barn — a former landmark on the Merced Vernal Pools & Grassland Reserve.

Merced Mayor Matt Serratto agreed that community-friendly events at the university, along with improvements in public transportation and increased o -campus student housing, will strengthen the sense of town and gown. “Over time, the connection

builds,” Serratto said. “We’re already at a point where you couldn’t imagine the city without it.”

September 5, 2025 — City of Merced Mayor Matt Serratto (le ) pictured with Vice Chancellor Ed Klotzbier — at Bobcat Field kicking o the 20th Anniversary Celebration and UC Merced’s rst NCAA Division II game.

She followed her bachelor’s in Merced with master’s and doctoral studies, choosing Stanford University. Glaze said she saw the engineering labs at Stanford, UC Berkeley and Harvard University, and “nothing compares” to the labs at her hometown research institution. “UC Merced is the gateway to everything,” said Glaze, who now works at Intel as a senior packaging engineer and chip integration specialist. “ e opportunities are endless. Focus and believe in yourself.”

A Merced native has watched the intertwining of UC Merced and the city from a singular vantage point. Janna Glaze ’12 came to the university in 2008, transferring from Merced College and pursuing a mechanical engineering degree. Two years earlier, Glaze co-founded J&R Tacos, a longtime hangout for students and the city at large. e restaurant hosted poetry readings, dances and other arts events. Glaze created two endowed scholarships for UC Merced students, one in the restaurant’s name and one in her own.

UC Merced is the gateway to everything

janna glaze ’12 SENIOR PACKAGING ENGINEER & CHIP INTEGRATION SPECIALIST INTEL

On a Tuesday morning in August, Jasmin Cerna reached that gateway. Days a er moving into her residence hall, she and a crowd of other new Bobcats had been drenched by an unexpected cloudburst that unloaded on the on the Scholars Bridge Crossing ceremony. e Menlo Park resident’s pursuit of a psychology degree would start the next day. Sheltering outside a classroom building, Cerna smiled while recounting some of the negative online comments she’d read about her chosen university. She laughed, her roots already starting to grow. “Truly,” she said, “my rst three days here have been some of the most exciting of my life.” From a seed.

August 26, 2025 — Rooted in tradition, the incoming class of rst-year students were welcomed during the annual Scholars Bridge Crossing — the rst tradition established when the inaugural class arrived in 2005. Celebrating another rst, the 20th academic year started with a bang as students were greeted by the roar and downpour of an unexpected thunderstorm.

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e moments feel like lightning — sudden, brilliant and seemingly impossible to predict. But those ashes of “a-ha” insight may be detectable before they happen.

cientists at UC Merced have developed a way to identify subtle behavioral changes that happen minutes before a breakthrough, opening a window into the elusive e study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Shadab Tabatabaeian, Ph.D. ’22 , who earned her doctorate in Cognitive and Information Science from UC Merced, is the lead author. Tyler Marghetis, professor of Cognitive and Information Sciences, is the senior author. eir work builds on theories from statistical physics and ecology to answer an old question with a modern twist: Can we spot the approach of a “eureka” moment in real time? “ is is one of those discoveries that was possible only because we made connections between very di erent scienti c disciplines,” Marghetis said. “We took ideas from ecology and physics, added tools from information theory and combined them with a century of work on the psychology of creativity. “ e resulting discovery belongs to all those disciplines and to none of them. It's its own thing.” mechanics of human creativity.

Can we spot the approach of a “eureka” moment in real time?

e discovery is but one example of trailblazing and transformative research performed at UC Merced. In Spring 2025, the university was named one of the nation’s best for research, earning R1 status by the Carnegie Classi cation of Institutions of Higher Education. Less than 10% of eligible institutions in the U.S. have earned this distinction. In the “eureka” moment study, the researchers video-recorded six Ph.D.-level mathematicians as they wrestled, chalk in hand, with notoriously tough problems from the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition. e annual event is considered the world’s premier university-level math exam. A sample question from the examination: For which real polynomials p is there a real polynomial q such that p(p(x)) – x = (p(x) – x) q(x) for all real x? e researchers tracked more than 4,600 blackboard moments, such as writing, pointing, erasing and shi ing attention. ey used information theory — a branch of mathematics that measures how surprising or unpredictable an event is — to calculate “surprisal,” which rises when someone makes an unexpected move compared to their recent pattern. is research draws on theories about early warning signals in complex systems, where small changes in stability can foreshadow sudden shi s — such as ecosystems tipping or weather patterns breaking. In this case, the system was the mathematician’s ow of thought, expressed through gestures and writing. e resulting discovery belongs to all those disciplines and to none of them. It's its own thing.

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A striking pattern emerged. In the minutes before a mathematician exclaimed “Aha!” or “I see it!” their behavior became measurably less predictable. Familiar patterns of moving between ideas gave way to unpredictable ones. Tabatabaeian and Marghetis con rmed the e ect with a computer simulation that showed how underlying mental changes can be detected through visible, symbolic behavior, making their method potentially useful far beyond mathematics. ey said it could work in any eld where thinking unfolds in observable steps, such as a chemist sketching molecular bonds, a designer shi ing between prototypes or an artist exploring new forms. e authors suggest their approach could help scientists better understand the microdynamics of creativity and, perhaps, even predict breakthroughs before they happen. "I nd math amazing because it feels like it allows us to learn about the fundamental nature of reality just by thinking really hard. How wild is that?” Marghetis said. “So I've always been amazed by those special moments when somebody is stumped by a mathematical problem and they suddenly achieve a deep insight into it. “ e fact that we were able to foresee when those moments of insight were likely to happen, minutes before they actually did — that was a dream come true for me as a scientist."

e fact that we were able to foresee when those moments of insight were likely to happen, minutes before they actually did —

that was a dream come true for me as a scientist.

UC Merced’s researchers embrace questions and seek answerS that expand boundaries and improve lives. Here are a few examples of professORS working with and mentoring graduate students on the frontier of academic inquiry.

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Professor Shijia Pan (le ) in the lab with graduate researcher Shubham Rohal

Imagine a future home that feels alive, where a sofa can send a gentle hug during a video call or a mat can sense a footstep and help steady your balance

Shijia Pan PROFESSOR, computer science and engineering Shubham Rohal graduate student

Imagine a future home that feels alive, where a sofa can send a gentle hug during a video call or a mat can sense a footstep and help steady your balance. To move toward this vision, Pan and Rohal created ORI (Origami-inspired Responsive Interface), a system that turns everyday surfaces into smart, touch-responsive environments. Instead of packing objects with arrays of sensors, ORI uses the folding patterns of Miura-Ori origami with embedded conductive threads to sense and respond through touch. Supported by a Hellman Fellows Award, the project has earned major recognition, awards and a patent application.

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Graduate researcher Felix Opoku (le ) with Professor Asa Bradman

The goal is to better understand where and why blooms occur, their health risks, and ways to track and reduce exposure,

ASA BRADMAN professor, PUBLIC HEALTH

laying the groundwork for stronger research and public protection.

FELIX OPOKU graduate student

Harmful algal blooms are increasing in California’s rivers and lakes, fueled by warmer waters, drought and nutrient runo . ese blooms release toxins that harm people, animals and ecosystems. Little is known about how humans are exposed, especially through air. A project led by Bradman and Opoku aims to ll that gap by reviewing literature, gathering state and federal data, and interviewing community and agency stakeholders. e goal is to better understand where and why blooms occur, their health risks, and ways to track and reduce exposure, laying the groundwork for stronger research and public protection.

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Professor Yangquan Chen (le ) in the lab with graduate researcher Justus Nwoke

...“digital twins,” virtual models that

YANGQUAN CHEN professor, MECHANICAL AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING JUSTUS NWOKE graduate student

make etching processes smarter, with predictive

maintenance and self-optimizing ab i l i t i e s

Chen's Mechatronics, Embedded Systems and Automation (MESA) Lab partners with Lam Research to tackle industry-driven challenges in semiconductor manufacturing. Its latest work, led by Nwoke, develops “digital twins,” virtual models that make etching processes smarter, with predictive maintenance and self-optimizing abilities. Chen said the collaboration with Lam, a longtime innovator in the semiconductor industry, gives Ph.D. students hands-on experience solving real-world problems. MESA Lab is a multidisciplinary hub exploring unmanned aerial systems, cyber-physical systems, renewable energy modeling, mechatronics, and applied fractional calculus. e shared goal is to build solutions for complex technological needs. UCMERCED MAGAZINE 28

Graduate researcher Arabi Seshappan (le ) with Professor David Strubbe

...defects can store information and emit light, making them strong candidates for qubits,

DAVID STRUBBE PROFESSOR, PHYSICS ARABI SESHAPPAN graduate student

the basic unitS of quantum computing

Seshappan studies tiny defects in solid materials, spots where atoms are missing or replaced, that could serve as building blocks for quantum computers. ese defects can store information and emit light, making them strong candidates for qubits, the basic units of quantum computing. Using advanced computational methods developed in Strubbe’s lab, she calculates electron energy levels at these defects to evaluate their potential. Recently, with support from a prestigious Fulbright fellowship in Paris, Seshappan also has been exploring models of strongly correlated electrons to better understand the fundamental behavior of quantum materials.

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BY DANIEL T. OKOLI

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e campus would set standards for the sustainable use of energy and other scarce resources and be a model of development in the San Joaquin Valley.

carol tomlinson-keasey FOUNDING CHANCELLOR

In July 2001, UC Merced’s Founding Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey wrote a letter outlining her vision for California’s newest university with sustainability as a foundational principle.

he imagined a campus that would “set standards for the sustainable use of energy and other scarce resources and be a model of development in the San Joaquin Valley.” Two decades later, that vision has not only taken root, it has also ourished. With that letter as a guide, UC Merced has emerged as a national leader in environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic responsibility. From its inception, the university was designed to integrate sustainability into every facet of its mission; academic, operational, and community-facing.

Building a Sustainable Campus from Day One

UC Merced’s physical development re ects its deep commitment to sustainability. e campus was conceived as a “living laboratory,” where operations, infrastructure, and landscape design reinforce teaching, research, and public service. is approach has allowed students and faculty to engage directly with sustainability challenges and solutions in real time. A cornerstone of this commitment is the Triple Zero Commitment—a bold pledge to achieve zero net energy use, zero land ll waste, and zero net greenhouse gas emissions. To meet these goals, the university has implemented aggressive energy e ciency standards, including reducing energy consumption by 50%, exceeding California’s Title 24 energy code by 30%, and optimizing building performance to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. In 2018, UC Merced became the rst public research university in the United States to achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, a milestone that underscores its leadership in climate action.

December 17, 2003 — An inside look at the early construction of Central Plant

August 7, 2004 — Raising the walls of the Classroom and O ce Building 1

UC Merced became the first public research university in the United States to achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, a milestone that underscores its leadership in climate action.

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e 2020 Project: Growth with Purpose

One of the most ambitious sustainability-driven expansions in higher education, UC Merced’s 2020 Project added 1.2 million gross square feet to the campus, 13 new buildings constructed over four years at an investment of $1.3 billion. Delivered through a public-private partnership (P3), the project included new research facilities, student housing, administrative o ces, and recreational spaces. e Urban Land Institute (ULI) recognized the project with its prestigious Award for Excellence, citing its sustainable design and innovative delivery model. LEED certi cation was a guiding framework throughout the project, ensuring that the expansion aligned with the university’s environmental goals.

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) recognized the project with its prestigious Award for Excellence, citing its sustainable design and innovative delivery model.

Recognition and Impact

UC Merced’s sustainability achievements have not gone unnoticed. e university has earned a Platinum rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), placing it among the top-performing institutions globally and was ranked 10th in the Princeton Review’s 2024 Top 50 Green Colleges.

ese honors re ect a holistic approach that integrates environmental, economic, and social sustainability. From food justice initiatives and inclusive education programs to research on climate resilience and water conservation, UC Merced is rede ning what it means to be a sustainable university.

A Model for the Future

UC Merced’s story is one of intentionality, innovation, and impact. It demonstrates how a university can be built both physically and philosophically around the principles of sustainability. By embedding these values into its curriculum, research agenda, and community partnerships, UC Merced is preparing the next generation of leaders to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges, while serving our community and the Central Valley.

As institutions across the globe grapple with how to reduce their carbon footprints and promote sustainability, UC Merced stands as a compelling model of living sustainability, not just implementing it.

UC Merced is preparing the next generation of leaders to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges, while serving our community and the Central Valley.

DANIEL T. OKOLI, PH.D., NCARB VICE CHANCELLOR | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER PHYSICAL OPERATIONS, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

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By Francesca Dinglasan

Campos Companies founder and Executive Chairman Marco Campos (le ) with Campos Foundation President Deanna Campos-Miller

UC Merced’s scholar-athletes and future engineers will bene t from a $5 million gi from Campos Companies and its charitable arm, the Campos Foundation. e commitment will fund a new track and eld facility, permanently endow scholarships for scholar-athletes and STEM students, and deepen an already robust partnership between the university and the Campos family.

“Athletics taught me resilience, discipline, leadership and the importance of working as a team,” he said. “ ese are the characteristics we hope to help support and cultivate in generations of UC Merced scholar-athletes.” The Campos Foundation’s ongoing investment in our university will inspire a new era of competitive and academic excellence... JUAN SÁNCHEZ MUÑOZ, PH.D . CHANCELLOR

t the women’s soccer season opener on September 5, Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz joined Campos Companies founder and Executive Chairman Marco Campos and Campos Foundation President Deanna Campos-Miller in announcing the new track will be named Campos Field. “ anks to this generous gi , UC Merced is better positioned to support the holistic well-being of our scholar-athletes while also strengthening ties with our community and region,” Muñoz said. “ e Campos Foundation’s ongoing investment in our university will inspire a new era of competitive and academic excellence, and we could not be more grateful for their enduring support and partnership.” Marco Campos, who credits athletics with shaping his own career, said the foundation hopes to pass those lessons on.

A Home for Champions

undoubtedly carry a tradition of excellence that our supporters will be proud of,” he added. “I have been fortunate to see this campus grow in so many ways in my 10 years as a Bobcat. I am looking forward to seeing the records that will be set by our future Bobcats and the events for which we will be able to hoist trophies one day.”

“Grateful is an understatement,” said Vicente Velarde, head coach of cross country and track and eld. “ e amount of work our student-athletes commit to their cra is incredible, and a track-and- eld facility on campus will provide greater access to reach their potential and beyond. Our student-athletes will

Campos Field will anchor UC Merced’s future athletics complex, which will be a hub for regional sporting events and student engagement. e facility is designed not just to advance athletics but to connect the campus with the community through prominent signage, programming and outreach.

Investing in Access and Equity

Campos ENgage Summer Bridge Academy, A weeklong program that welcomes high school students from the Central Valley and Southern California for hands-on STEM experiences and mentorship Sponsorship support for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers’ SHPEtinas Conference at UC Merced Annual scholarships to STEM students

Founded in 2005 — the same year UC Merced welcomed its rst undergraduates — Campos EPC became the foundation for Denver-based Campos Companies, a growing portfolio of engineering, construction and fabrication companies across North America. rough the Campos Foundation, the companies dedicate 1% of annual revenues to expanding access to education, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) elds. e partnership with UC Merced has ourished in recent years through multiple initiatives, including: e Summer Bridge Academy, launched in August, gave students, many of them rst-generation college hopefuls, the chance to picture themselves as future engineers through immersive workshops and mentoring. “UC Merced did not disappoint with our rst

Summer ENgage cohort,” Deanna Campos-Miller said. “We’re proud of every student for taking this opportunity seriously and leaving with a deep belief that they belong at UC Merced, in Campos and in whatever elds they choose to pursue.” UCMERCED MAGAZINE 48

Alumni Connecting Campus and Careers

“At Campos, I found the same kind of advocacy and commitment to underrepresented communities. at’s how our partnership grew, through people who care and are passionate about helping others. “It so happened that there were a lot of UC Merced alumni at Campos who also strongly advocated for underrepresented students,” Diaz added. “ is was very rewarding and turned out well because we all care and are passionate about helping others, and all that helped us grow what is now our partnership with UC Merced.” With the creation of Campos Field, expanded scholarships and ongoing STEM programs, the Campos Foundation’s support is helping shape UC Merced’s future, on the track, in the lab and beyond.

e collaboration also thrives through UC Merced alumni who have gone on to leadership roles at Campos EPC. Among them are Christien Lindblöm ’11 and Lourdes Diaz ’18, whose careers re ect the spirit of the partnership. “I saw an immediate likeness between UC Merced’s culture and Campos’ around community outreach and our owner’s true passion: giving back to those who need it most,” said Lindblöm, Campos EPC’s regional director for greater Los Angeles. “ e people who come out of UC Merced are special. ey go above and beyond for the greater good. at same spirit is alive here at Campos.” For Diaz, who is an engineer team lead, the journey came full circle. “As someone from a humble background and a minority in a male-dominated eld, I don’t think I could have gotten to where I am without the support I received at UC Merced,” she said.

the people who come out of UC Merced are special. They go above and beyond for the greater good. That same spiriT is alive here at Campos.

Christien Lindblöm ’11 REGIONAL DIRECTOR, GREATER LOS ANGELES CAMPOS EPC

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I don’t think I could have gotten to where I am without the support I received at UC Merced. At Campos, I found the same kind of advocacy and commitment to underrepresented communities. That’s how our partnership grew.

Lourdes Diaz ’18 ENGINEERING TEAM LEAD CAMPOS EPC

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The Campaign For UC Merced

This year marks a milestone: 20 years of excellence, innovation, and impact at UC Merced. As we celebrate two decades of transforming lives and advancing communities, we invite you to be part of shaping what comes next. HALFWAY THERE With Your Help We’ll Go The Distance

Thanks to the generosity of our friends and supporters, we’ve surpassed the midpoint of our campaign goal to raise $200 million by 2030. But our work is only halfway done.

Every gift brings us closer to:

• Empowering Student Excellence through scholarships and support services

• Leading Through Discovery with cutting-edge research that tackles real-world challenges

• Cultivating Healthy Societies by improving outcomes in public, mental, and behavioral health

Join us in celebrating UC Merced’s history while investing in our future. Give now and grow our legacy by supporting the next 20 years and beyond at our remarkable university.

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altamed summer program Affirms UC Merced Grad’s Journey to Medical School

By Francesca Dinglasan By Francesca Dinglasan

is past summer, recent UC Merced alumna Fanny O’Vincent ’24 took a step toward her goal of becoming a physician by participating in the AltaMed Scholars Summer Program, a six-week enrichment initiative designed for pre-health and pre-medical students who demonstrate a passion for serving underserved communities. is past summer, recent UC Merced alumna Fanny O’Vincent ’24 took a step toward her goal of becoming a physician by participating in the AltaMed Scholars Summer Program, a six-week enrichment initiative designed for pre-health and pre-medical students who demonstrate a passion for serving underserved communities.

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My desire to be pre-med in the rst place is to work with underserved communities...

FANNY O’VINCENT ’24

osted in Los Angeles by AltaMed Health Services, a nonpro t community health care provider, the program immerses participants

in hands-on experiences, workshops, and research opportunities centered on health equity and clinical skills. e program’s goal is to equip future health

professionals with the tools and mentorship they need to succeed in graduate-level health programs while staying grounded in community-driven service. “My desire to be pre-med in the rst place is to work with underserved communities,” said Fanny O’Vincent. “To see that this program would allow me to do that, that it was geared for pre-med students and had mentorship opportunities, made it incredibly valuable to me.”

AltaMed was founded in 1969 as the East Los Angeles Barrio Free Clinic, later renamed AltaMed Health Services in 1986. Today, it operates as the largest federally quali ed health center in the nation, o ering a broad range of services — including medical, dental, pediatric and senior care — to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Its mission is to eliminate disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, particularly for Latino, multiethnic and underserved communities across Southern California. AltaMed and UC Merced’s partnership is grounded in their shared commitment to advance healthcare quality and access to underserved communities throughout California. e organizations serve similar populations – 69 percent of AltaMed’s patients are Latino and 84 percent are minorities, while 54 percent of UC Merced students identify as Hispanic and nearly 91 percent identify as being part of a minority.

e partner institutions also continually explore opportunities for collaboration. In 2024, AltaMed President and CEO Cástulo de la Rocha served as a speaker for UC Merced’s School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts commencement ceremony. “I am very proud of our partnerships with esteemed institutions across California,” said de la Rocha. “UC Merced’s passion for creating change and improving access, both in higher education and in the healthcare sector, aligns with the AltaMed vision and core values. I am excited that our AltaMed Scholars Summer Program is helping prepare students from UC Merced and other universities become the next generation of healthcare leaders.”

UC Merced’s passion for creating change and improving access, both in higher education and in the healthcare sector, aligns with AltaMed’s vision and core values. Cástulo de la Rocha PRESIDENT & CEO ALTAMED HEALTH SERVICES

“UC Merced shares AltaMed’s dedication to ensuring all Californians, regardless of their nancial circumstances, have access to high quality, comprehensive health care,” added Zoila D. Escobar, executive vice president and chief administrative o cer of AltaMed Health Services Corporation. “I look forward to opportunities to continue our good work together in developing and advocating for long-term health solutions that improve health care for all in our state.” For O’Vincent, a Los Angeles native, AltaMed’s community-based mission was the reason she was eager to participate in the summer program.

UC Merced shares AltaMed’s dedication to ensuring all Californians, regardless of their nancial circumstances, have access to high quality, comprehensive health care... “ e mentorship they provided and the professional workshops, those were key,” she shared. “But ultimately, I joined because AltaMed’s mission really aligned with why I wanted to do medicine in the rst place, which is to work in my community.” As part of her cohort’s research project, O’Vincent explored how best to educate community members about substance-use disorder. e team designed three di erent educational interventions: visual, written and kinesthetic (game-based). ey then brought their work directly to the community.

Zoila D. Escobar, eD.D. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER ALTAMED HEALTH SERVICES

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It was a very valuable experience, especially for students who want to work in underserved communities... everyone there had the same mission. FANNY O’VINCENT ’24

“Everyone there had the same mission. And for medical students who might feel like they don’t know what they’re doing or don’t have enough mentorship — this program really gave that. It gave you the opportunity to connect with doctors and people who are doing the work.” As O’Vincent looks ahead and starts the process of applying to medical school, she says the AltaMed Scholars Summer Program has given her not only a deeper understanding of public health and community engagement but also con rmed her sense of purpose. “It really rea rmed for me that I’m on the right path,” she said.

“We went into the community and administered these to underserved populations while also educating them at the same time," O’Vincent explained. “ ey did a pre-survey and a post-survey to help us measure how much they learned based on the educational method they were given. We wanted to assess which approach worked best, especially given the circumstances.” e experience o ered a rare blend of academic rigor and real-world impact, something O’Vincent says is o en hard to nd in traditional pre-med pathways. “It was a very valuable experience, especially for students who want to work in underserved communities,” she said.

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DONOR IMPACT

TWO DECADES, COUNTLESS FUTURES

UC Merced and Bank of America Mark Scholarship Milestone

August 9, 2005 — Founding Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey (le ) with Linda Barreto ’09 in the California Room

By Francesca Dinglasan

at sense of belonging stayed with her. Today, Barreto is a professor of law at San Joaquin College of Law’s New American Legal Clinic — and one of just two UC Merced alumni to serve on the University Foundation Board of Trustees. “I wanted to donate my time, experience and feedback,” she said. “Being involved in high-level decisions and feeling like my voice is heard as a Bobcat feels very meaningful to me. It is an honor to be on the Board of Trustees and know my ideas are being ingrained in future projects and decisions as we continue to grow the campus. “UC Merced has evolved so much from when I started in 2005 to now,” she added. “Twenty years later and the campus is incredible.”

hen Linda Barreto ’09 walked into a UC Merced scholarship luncheon as a brand-new freshman in 2005, she wasn’t sure what to expect. en came the oversized check — and the sense that something important had just shi ed in her life. “I remember being so proud holding the giant check,” she said with a laugh. “I felt so honored to just be there.” e event was a rst for Barreto and her family.

Twenty years later and the campus is incredible.

“I’d never been to something like that before. It felt so fancy, and my mom was there with me,” she said. “I felt special. I felt like I was part of something big, even though at that time, my 18-year-old self couldn’t really grasp what it was or understand what I was doing, really.”

LINDA BARRETO ’09 ATTORNEY & PROFESSOR

A Gi with Lasting Impact

Barreto was one of the rst recipients of the Bank of America Distinguished Management Scholars Program, a scholarship created the year UC Merced opened its doors. Funded by a $1 million grant, the bank’s largest single gi in the San Joaquin Valley at the time, the program was built to last. Rather than a one-time fund, the gi established an endowment that continues to provide sustainable support. Over two decades, it has awarded more than $500,000 to 325 promising scholars and aspiring business leaders, with a focus on educationally disadvantaged students from the Valley.

“From the beginning, UC Merced’s goal was clear: to build a pipeline of high-achieving, community-minded students who would remain in the region and work to improve its economic well-being,” said Mark Riley, Bank of America’s president for the Fresno/Visalia region. “Bank of America is proud to have been able to help so many students right from day one. We’re also especially proud of how the university structured the $1 million into an endowment so that the program has sustainable funding over the years. is savvy, strategic nancing is a win-win model.”

Building Leaders for the Valley

For UC Merced, the program represents more than nancial aid. It’s a partnership that re ects the university’s mission to expand opportunity for talented students who might otherwise struggle to a ord higher education.

become leaders who stay and invest in the future of this region.” Barreto is living proof of that vision. She still recalls the thrill of her rst scholarship luncheon, but it is the ripple e ect on her career in law, her advocacy for immigrant communities and her service on UC Merced's board that shows what the Bank of America gi has made possible.

“Bank of America’s generosity and commitment to UC Merced students cannot be overstated,” said E. Edward Klotzbier, vice chancellor and chief external relations o cer. “ eir support has helped the university ful ll its mission of providing opportunity to underserved students from right here in the Valley, ensuring that those talented students

Two Decades, Countless Futures

As UC Merced celebrates its 20th anniversary, the Bank of America Distinguished Management Scholars Program is marking its own milestone: 20 years of helping students like Barreto imagine a di erent future. What began with a single oversized check and a proud mother watching from the audience has now became a legacy that will support generations of Bobcats still to come.

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