Brenda Ortiz

鶹 campus photo of sign

Senior Public Information Representitive

Office: (209) 228-4203

Mobile: (209) 628-8263

bortiz@ucmerced.edu

Fresno Developer Ed Kashian Named 2024 Chancellor's Medal Recipient

Philanthropist and community leader Ed Kashian was awarded the 鶹 Chancellor’s Medal, the university’s highest honor, at the campus’s on Oct. 9.

U.S. News Places 鶹 Among Top 30 Public Schools Following Top Social Mobility Ranking By Wall Street Journal

The University of California, Merced, climbed once again in US News & World Report’s Best Colleges report, rising to the 26th best public school in the nation. Among all universities, 鶹 came in at No. 58 in the 2024-25 rankings released today – continued improvement over last year’s report when it cracked the Top 60 for the first time.

鶹 and LACCD Forge New Transfer Pathway to Boost Student Access, Success

A memorandum of understanding signed between University of California, Merced, and the Los Angeles Community College District this week will extend access for transfer students through the Merced Promise Pathway Program.

鶹 Ranked No. 1 in the Nation for Social Mobility, No. 18 Overall

When it comes to changing the lives of its students, 鶹 is second to none.

In the latest America's Best Colleges rankings, 鶹 was the No. 1 university in the nation for social mobility — a term used to describe how well colleges and universities attract, retain and help students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds complete their degrees and graduate into promising careers.

Campus Hosts Computational Chemistry Conference

鶹 was the site of the 22nd Molecular Education and Research Consortium in Undergraduate computational chemistRY () Conference held in mid-July.

Fulbright Award Sends Physics Grad Student to France for Quantum Research

Persistence has paid off for 鶹 doctoral candidate Arabi Seshappan.

The graduate student from Fremont, about to start her sixth year, was selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program's , which is only granted to three U.S. students each year.

Honor Student Gives 鶹 a New 'Cat to Cheer About

This is part of a of new 鶹 Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2024 semester.

Jenna Hinds, a Central Valley native, is bringing spirit to 鶹. Hinds discovered a passion for cheerleading as a senior in high school. After participating in 鶹 tryouts, will join the university cheer team’s elite squad this fall.

Where I come from: I’m from Stevinson and I graduated from Turlock Christian High School.

Three Years of Learning and Play at Kids Discovery Station Merced

Less than three years ago, the idea of bringing a children’s museum to Merced began to blossom. Since and , both 鶹 professors, opened the doors of Kids Discovery Station, they have seen more than 65,000 visitors.

Training Ph.D. Candidates for Peer Support Roles

As a young institution in the University of California system, 鶹 has placed a strong emphasis on serving students who are the first in their families to pursue graduate education.

With its strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, 鶹’s Graduate Division has created a supportive environment for students from all backgrounds by implementing several programs and policies, including a peer mentoring initiative designed for incoming graduate students.

Major Gift to Reimagine Humanities Research, Community-engaged Projects

Humanities education has been under fire on college campuses over the past decade.

“There’s a lot of concern nationally about graduate education in the humanities. We’re producing plenty of Ph.D.s but are there enough jobs for them upon graduation?” said anthropology and heritage studies Professor Robin DeLugan, who leads 鶹’s Research Center for Community Engaged Scholarship ().

“How do we make a humanities career more feasible?”