Social Sciences

Hellman Fellowships Welcome Three New Members from UC Merced

September 4, 2025

This year's Hellman Fellows: Adeyemi Adebiyi, Qian Wang and Meredith Van Natta

As the Hellman Fellowships celebrate their 30th year, three more researchers, one from each of UC Merced’s schools, have joined the prestigious ranks of recipients. Electrical engineering Professor Qian Wang, sociology Professor Meredith Van Natta and Earth systems Professor Adeyemi...

The annual Shakespeare in Yosemite production is just one avenue for environmental humanities students to get involved.

New Major Trains Students to Tell the Planet’s Urgent Stories

Compelling storytelling is vital to ensuring the action needed to secure a habitable planet for future generations, according to an increasing amount of research. UC Merced is recruiting students...

Zulema Valdez Appointed Associate Vice Chancellor for EJIE

Zulema Valdez has been selected as UC Merced’s associate vice chancellor for Equity, Justice and Inclusive Excellence (EJIE). In making the announcement, Vice Chancellor and Chief Diversity...

Isabella Mitchell poses for a photo with the Beginnings sculpture in the background.

'Listen to Your Gut': First-Year Student Offers Tips for Success to Incoming Bobcats

Bobcat Day turned out to be one of the most important days in Isabella Mitchell's life. Her experience at UC Merced's open house event in April 2022 assured her that she belonged at the...

Public Health Society officers pose for a photo at UC Merced.

National Public Health Week Includes Research Symposium and Food Drive

The campus community is invited to take part in the first UC Merced National Public Health Week, from April 3-9. Several events are planned to show students, faculty and staff the importance of...

One of the 2020 Black Lives Matter marches.

Group Conflict Inspires People to Feel Morally Elevated — for Their Side — Study Shows

You know that warm, uplifting feeling you get when you see someone going out of their way to help other people? You might get goosebumps or even a tear in your eye, and something inside you might...

Engaging the Black Community Inside, Outside UC Merced

Professor Maria Martin has a lot going on. On Feb. 18, she was the grand marshal and a speaker at a program and march honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in downtown Merced. This...

Black Alliance Launches Africana Studies Conference

UC Merced’s first Global Africana Studies Research Conference, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25, grew out of a course taught at the university. The subject was Black consciousness...

A student sits in a stairwell and smiles while holding a diploma cover.

Alumnus Shares His UC Merced Experiences to Guide Youth to College

While growing up in the Sacramento area, Donald Carter ('21) said he didn't see many people who looked like him pursuing higher education. As the oldest of four boys in a single-parent...

Several farmworkers are seen in a field.

Community and Labor Center's New Study Highlights Farmworkers' Health Challenges

A new landmark study by the UC Merced Community and Labor Center shows farmworkers across California are facing serious health challenges on a daily basis. The goal of the Farmworker Health...