History

Empathy is the Central Theme of Todo Cambia Film Festival

February 25, 2026

Brightly colored photo of Assyrian women from Miram Ohan multimedia project

em·pa·thy (noun): the ability to recognize, understand and share the thoughts, emotions and perspectives of another person. It is a means of connection, a path to understanding. Can you see where I’m coming from? Walk a mile in my shoes. Empathy is the keyword for the 2026...

Nathan Parmeter, Arlene Kranich, Melissa Becerra and Haipeng Li

New Scholarship Pays Homage to Persistence and Research

A generous gift from the grandmother of a UC Merced alumna and current staff member is benefitting two undergraduate students who put the UC Merced Library to good use. Melissa Becerra, a third-...

Local Ghost Town’s Past on Display in New Collaborative Exhibit

Driving past Merced Falls on the way to Lake McClure doesn’t usually inspire thoughts of a bustling mini-metropolis with its own movie theater. But a new exhibit opening at the Merced County...

A man in glasses stands in front of a monitor displaying desert scenes.

LibraryCAVE Brings Virtual Reality and Big Data Into the Classroom

Professor Nicola Lercari is leading his students on a tour of Palenque, the ancient Mesoamerican city that flourished at the peak of Maya civilization. They’re exploring the altar atop the...

New Center, Conference Focus on Mesoamerican Studies

Topics ranging from ethnobotany, public health and feminism to agriculture, urban growth and social movements are among the highlights of the Mesoamerican Studies Center’s upcoming conference...

Professor’s Book Examines Gender Roles in Merry Olde England

Examining the power of gender seems like a topic built for today. But UC Merced history Professor Susan Dwyer Amussen’s new book, “Gender, Culture and Politics in England, 1560-1640:...

National Book Award Winner to Give Talk on Racism

Ibram X. Kendi, one of the nation’s most prolific and accomplished young professors of race, is this spring’s guest speaker as part of the Chancellor’s Dialogue on Diversity and Interdisciplinarity...

Campus Provides ‘Inclusive Excellence’ Dialogue, Activities

Social Justice Initiatives and the Office of Campus Climate will host “Talking Circles,” a space to create dialogue about inclusive opportunities at UC Merced, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 20. The...

History Professor to Give Talk in Turlock on the Graphic Novel

UC Merced history Professor Mario Sifuentez will present a lecture, “Histories and the Graphic Novel,” at the Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15. Sifuentez will discuss how the...

Alumnus Finds His Purpose in Education

Editor's note: The following story appeared in the spring issue of UC Merced Magazine. When Abraham Olivares moved to Merced at age 20, a career in education was the furthest thing from his mind....