Staff & Faculty News

UC Merced’s Berhe Joins Scientists in Warning of Global Land Mine Crisis

July 24, 2025

A sign posted on a tree in Eastern Europe warns of active land mines.

More than 100 million land mines remain buried around the world, posing a threat in approximately 70 countries and territories, and killing or injuring about 5,000 people, most of them civilians, every year. As the world’s geopolitical landscape shifts, nine scientists studying...

Founding Faculty Member Leading Campus in New Role

Cognitive science Professor Teenie Matlock, the McClatchy Chair in Communications , has been appointed interim vice provost for the faculty at UC Merced. This is her first high-level...

Hundreds of UC Merced staff members listen to Chancellor Dorothy Leland speak inside the Dr. Lakireddy Auditorium.

Faculty, Staff Usher in New Year at Convocations

Chancellor Dorothy Leland, her leadership team members and others kicked off the 2018-19 academic year by celebrating the campus community’s good work and looking ahead to the coming year...

A large crowd of campus community members stand in line for food at UC Merced's new dining center, The Pavilion.

The Pavilion Serves Up Tasty Fare, More Menu Options in Bigger Digs

Before Executive Chef Mitch Vanagten and his Dining Services team members saw blueprints for The Pavilion — UC Merced’s new dining center and centerpiece of the Merced 2020 Project’...

uc merced celebrating service award winners

Staff Assembly Survey Informs Board Activities and Future Plans

Staff Assembly exists to promote and support all staff members at UC Merced. To do that, our executive board must first understand what employees want and need. We issued a survey this past spring...

Four male students huddle around a computer as they work.

Student Success Internship Program Returns, Project Proposals Due Sept. 7

Campus departments and schools: Here’s a chance to get your projects off the ground while helping students gain valuable experience. The only cost is the time you invest with your interns....

Two students hold a sign that reads: Welcome to UC Merced. Welcome to the Community. Welcome Home!

Events Prepare Campus Community for Fall

Never mind the holidays. For Ron Radney, the most wonderful time is the start of a new academic year. Since joining UC Merced three years ago as director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Radney...

Humanities Project Launching Community Collaborative for Graduate Training and Research

A new two-year project at UC Merced aims to bring academic and non-academic researchers together to recast the role of the humanities in public policy and, ultimately, improve the lives of San...

Sifuentez Appointed to Head Center for Humanities

As new director of the Center for the Humanities, Professor Mario Sifuentez ’ sights are set on a fuller understanding of rural communities and how best to help them. He’s got a...

Librarian’s Book Addresses ‘Fake News’ and Critical Thinking

First impressions count, maybe now more than ever. But what if those impressions are based on lies? People’s willingness to believe even the most outrageous “information” they...

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