Chancellor’s Office

Former Gov. Gray Davis Awarded Chancellor’s Medal for Transformative Leadership in Bringing UC Merced to the Central Valley

February 24, 2026

UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sanchez Munoz and Governor Gray Davis pose with the Chancellor's Medal

At an intimate gathering of supporters, UC Merced awarded former Gov. Gray Davis the Chancellor’s Medal — the university’s highest honor — in recognition of his instrumental role in bringing the 10th University of California campus to Merced. The medal was presented...

UC Merced's mascot Rufus and a student pose for a photo.

Bobcat Day Attracts Record Crowd to UC Merced

The excitement was palpable at UC Merced as a record number of people descended on the campus for Bobcat Day. More than 5,700 students, family members and friends attended the annual open house event...

An image depicts a tree and the Beginnings sculpture at UC Merced.

Advisory Committee Hit Hard by COVID-19 Rebuilding to Continue Supporting Women

The Chancellor's Advisory Committee on the Status of Women (CACSW) has brought awareness to issues related to the campus climate for women since its founding at UC Merced in 2008. But after...

Cognitive science Professor Teenie Matlock

Matlock Receives International Cognitive Science Prize

Teenie Matlock, Cognitive and Information Sciences professor and the McClatchy Chair in Communications, has been awarded the fourth Jeffrey L. Elman Prize for Scientific Achievement and Community...

Zatz Named 2022 AAAS Fellow

Special Assistant to the Chancellor and sociology Professor Marjorie Zatz has been elected to the 2022 class of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), adding to the list of...

Dr. Vikram and Priya Lakireddy pose for a photo.

UC Merced Celebrates Official Dedication of the Lakireddy Grand Ballroom

Longtime UC Merced supporters Dr. Vikram and Priya Lakireddy were recently honored as part of an intimate event to mark the official dedication of the campus ballroom bearing their names. The Dr....

A graduating student holds up a diploma cover.

'Courage' and 'Idealism' Take Center Stage at Fall 2022 Commencement

Neither chilly temperatures nor a thick blanket of dense fog could dampen the smiles and spirits of hundreds of Bobcats as they participated in UC Merced's Fall 2022 Commencement. Nearly 450...

UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz and alumni pose for a photo at Dodger Stadium.

UC Merced Alumni Hit Home Runs in 2022

UC Merced alumni gave back to their alma mater in several big ways in 2022. From endowed scholarships to events, Bobcats are ensuring that current and future students have access to the best...

UC Merced graduating students pose for a photo with their regalia.

Fall 2022 Commencement to Include First Graduate Division Ceremony

Downtown Merced will be covered in a sea of blue and gold over two days as hundreds of UC Merced Bobcats take part in fall commencement. Also, for the first time, graduate students will have their...

UC Merced in Partnership with the K-16 Workforce & Education Collaborative Receives State Planning Grant

The University of California, Merced, as the lead agency working in collaboration with partners from Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, was awarded a planning grant for $250,000 to plan and...