UC Merced Magazine | Commemorative Chronicle

“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.