Brenda Ortiz

Hundreds Gather at UC Merced to Explore Graduate School Pathways

October 30, 2025

Photo depicts a crowd of students in front of a UCM letter installation on the UC Merced campus.

UC Merced buzzed with energy as nearly 800 students and 200 recruiters, staff and volunteers from across California converged on campus on Oct. 18 for the California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education - a dynamic event dedicated to inspiration, inclusion and academic ambition....

The Center for Career and Professional Advancement connects students to opportunities and experiences that best fit their talents through career fairs, on-campus interviews, career development programming and other opportunities.

Career-Minded Students Get a Helping Hand

Senior mechanical engineering major Kelvin Cheung from San Francisco got a head start on his career exploration during his first year at UC Merced. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM...

Two students decorate t-shirts for the Clothesline Project, one of many campus activities to commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Stand Up, Speak Out Against Sexual Assault, Sexual Violence

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and UC Merced is hosting a series of events to provide campus community members opportunities to increase awareness and advocate for sexual assault...

Ma Kelley Memorial Golf Tournament to Raise Funds for Student Athletes

The 21st annual Ma Kelley Memorial Golf Tournament will be held April 13 at the Turlock Golf and Country Club and proceeds benefit UC Merced student athletes. Tickets for the 18-hole tournament...

Governor Names Nies to California Student Aid Commission

UC Merced’s Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Charles Nies has been appointed to the California Student Aid Commission by Gov. Jerry Brown. The commission is tasked with making education...

Jonathan Grady oversees UC Merced’s Office of Student Life, Calvin E. Bright Success Center and the Student Response Team.

Campus Voices: Positioning Students as Architects of Social Change

Working in education over the years, I have learned to never let inhospitable and toxic circumstances destroy one’s soul, but to use education as a way to empower, transform, radically heal and...

The campus is preparing for the largest graduating class of roughly 1,200 candidates who are eligible to participate in the weekend’s ceremonies.

CNN Contributor Maria Cardona, Civic Leader Lenny Mendonca to Speak at UC Merced’s Largest Commencement Ceremonies

The University of California, Merced, has selected political commentator and public affairs professional Maria Cardona and civic leader and entrepreneur Lenny Mendonca to deliver keynote addresses at...

Local Homebuilder Donates to UC Merced Women’s Volleyball

UC Merced Athletics received a generous donation from longtime campus supporter Greg Hostetler, owner of Stonefield Home of Los Banos. The gift recognizes and supports two student-athletes from...

Campus to Tackle Food Waste with CalRecycle Grant

UC Merced is one of the first recipients of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery’s new Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant. As part of the state’s...

Twitter's Trier-Lynn Bryant speaks to first-generation students about what makes them unique in today's workplace.

First-Gen Students Get Career Tips at New Conference

Starting and navigating the career-planning process can be daunting for any college student, but especially for those who will be the first in their families to graduate from college. UC Merced...