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UC Merced Receives 2025 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction Award

September 12, 2025

The University of California, Merced, has received the 2025 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction Award from Insight Into Academia magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. The annual HEED Award is a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and...
UC Merced graduate student Karla Seijas siting on concrete wall.

Ph.D. Student Pushes for Better Education Benefits for Veterans’ Dependents

A new state law will make a difference in accessing education for the dependents of disabled veterans in California, thanks to the initiative of UC Merced Interdisciplinary Humanities graduate...
New chief campus counsel Cesar Alvarado-Gil is shown, with the entrance to UC Merced.

New Chief Campus Counsel Selected for UC Merced

Cesar Alvarado-Gil joins UC Merced as chief campus counsel, bringing his broad background in the law, deep affinity for education and firm ties to Merced. "Higher education is critical for...
Photo shows tree mortality in Sierra National forest, taken by Margot Wholey, December 2015.

Having a Mix of Tree Heights Enhances Drought Resilience in Sierra Nevada Forests

In a paper published in Nature Communications, UC Merced Professor Roger Bales, collaborating with an international team, found that the height of neighboring trees strongly influenced whether...
Elizabeth "Betsy" Dumont is pictured.

Betsy Dumont Named Provost at UC Merced

Elizabeth "Betsy" Dumont, Ph.D., has been named executive vice chancellor and provost of the University of California, Merced after a robust process that drew candidates from across the...
Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz addresses the Almond Board of California's Nutrient Summit.

Almond Board Summit Brings Growers to UC Merced

Dozens of almond growers and researchers came to UC Merced on Wednesday for a summit on best practices for one of California's most important crops. It was the first time the Almond Board of...
Professor Claire Lukens, right, and recent graduate Kolleen Peyakov measure the geochemistry of a rock using an XRF spectrometer.

Lukens’ Latest Research Tracks Sediment’s Journey in the Eastern Sierra

Rocks, from ponderous boulders to tiny grains of sand, are subject to the whims of moisture, weather and time as they tumble from surrounding slopes into rivers, pools and lakes. UC Merced...
Fall trees on campus

New Study Suggests Chance Plays a Bigger Role Than One Might Think in Faculty Promotion

For professors, it’s up or out when it comes to tenure and promotion: After five years on the job as assistant professors, junior professors’ promise is evaluated by their more senior...

Two New Officers Added to UC Merced Police Department

The sworn ranks of UC Merced’s police department grew by two on Monday. UC Merced Police Chief Chou Her administered the oath to new officers joining his department. Angela Henke and...
The ¿field curious? group in Yosemite.

¿Field Curious? Smashes Barriers to Outdoor Science

When Carlos Martinez was growing up in Southern California, his experience outdoors largely consisted of the irrigated lawns and tidy trees of his local park. Camping and hiking were not in his...

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