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....

Andrew De Los Santos works in the recycling and composting center to help UC Merced attain Triple Net Zero.

New Initiative Helps Students Explore Green Careers

When Chigoziri Ibechem attended her first planning commission meeting in downtown Merced last November, she had no idea where it might lead. After the meeting, the psychology major from Los Angeles...

Student Success Internship Proposals Due Sept. 25

The Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Undergraduate Education are excited to announce the Student Success Internship (SSI) program, which provides opportunities for undergraduate students...

Annual 5K Run Raises $6,000 for Scholarships

The third annual UC Merced Journey 5K Fund Run drew a record 475 participants Saturday and raised more than $6,000, exceeding the event’s stated goal. Proceeds and donations from this...

The UC Merced Journey 5K Fund Run is Sept. 9.

Journey 5K Fund Run Honors Late Cross Country Coach

Saturday’s annual Journey 5K Fund Run has special meaning for the UC Merced community. Last November, the campus lost Ryan Nunez — head coach of the men’s and women’s cross...

Campus to Host Training in Life-Saving Tools, Techniques

In a life-threatening incident, bystanders have mere moments to act. Thanks to the UC Merced Police Department, American Heart Association and Riggs Ambulance, the general public and campus community...

CatCrawl Celebrates Community Connection

Food, fun and prizes drew more than 100 UC Merced students and others to downtown Merced on Aug. 25, for the inaugural CatCrawl. Degree Attainment for Returning and Transfer Scholars (DARTS), Office...

New Academic Year Brings New Faces, Opportunities

More than 2,200 students — many entering their first year at UC Merced — arrived last weekend in cars, trucks and minivans packed to the gills with living essentials from clothing and...

Young man sitting against the wall with head down and laptop computer open on lap

Emergency Fund Offers Hope to Students in a Bind

Karen Merritt came from a family without much money. Like nearly 90 percent of UC Merced’s students, financial aid made her college dreams a reality. However, she quickly learned the costs of...

Pioneering Alumna Embraces Career in Immigration Law

UC Merced alumna Linda Barreto always wanted to become a lawyer, but an experience in college helped reinforce her career path. While driving, Barreto was pulled over and cited for failing to...