UC Merced Magazine | Commemorative Chronicle

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).