Brenda Ortiz

Founding UC Merced Staffer Wraps Up 45 Years in Law Enforcement

August 28, 2025

A collage of photos depicting Tamela Adkins and other staff during the past 20 years.

On Aug. 12, 2005, less than one month before UC Merced opened its doors to undergraduate students, Tamela Adkins joined the campus’s Police Department as support services manager. Intially, her role included managing records and evidence, overseeing the police dispatch center and hiring....

The Student Impact Fund can support student organizations who lead off-campus projects that address an identified community need.

New Fund Gives Students Assistance

During this year’s Give Tue UC Merced annual 24-hour campaign of giving, participants will have more options to which to direct their support, including a new fund that assists with the...

UC Merced alumni showing their Bobcat pride

Air Force Pilot’s Gifts Give Wings to Students

UC Merced alumnus Daniel Lobato (’13) always planned to give back to the campus that provided him an education. As a student, Lobato started with modest donations during the university’s...

A large group of fraternity members pose in red shirts with uniformed veterans from prior world wars

Service Project Partners Fraternity With West Side Veterans

Gustine’s Veterans Day parade has a been a Westside tradition for as long as most people in the area can remember. It’s also been a tradition for the brothers of Omega Delta Phi for as...

Alumna Shavone Charles heads global music and youth culture communications at Instagram.

Shavone Charles is First Alum Chosen for Commencement Keynote

UC Merced is welcoming back its first alumni keynote speaker, Shavone Charles, to address December 2017 graduates at its first Fall Commencement ceremony on Dec. 16. Charles received her bachelor...

More than 2,000 people were on campus for Homecoming events Oct. 20-22.

Homecoming Unites Campus With Community

Traditional UC Merced events — Homecoming, Preview Day and Family Weekend, plus the Chancellor’s Scholars recognition ceremony — came together for a first-of-its-kind bundle of...

Students to Host ‘Sustainability Week’ Events

The Associated Students of UC Merced (ASUCM) Sustainability Council will host UC Merced Sustainability Week Oct. 23-27, during national Campus Sustainability Month. An entire week of events will...

Campus Raises Awareness About Domestic Violence

Started in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is observed in October across the nation. UC Merced’s Campus Advocacy, Resources...

Free Produce Initiative Launches on World Food Day

UC Merced will celebrate World Food Day with its first Pop-up Produce program from 10 a.m. to 2 pm. Oct. 16 on Scholars Lane. The Pop-up Produce event provides students with free, local and organic...

Homecoming Oct. 20-22 is slated to be a lively weekend joining past, present and future Bobcats, families and the local community.

Campus Celebrates Community at Homecoming

UC Merced’s Homecoming Oct. 20-22 will draw students, staff, faculty, alumni, family and friends together for a weekend of activities that highlight the campus and the community. For the first...