University of California, Merced - Samuel Yniquez

Genentech Grant Supports New �鶹�� Center for Health Equity

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 18:37:46 +0000

By Francesca Dinglasan, �鶹��

October 23, 2023

�鶹�� Project Scientist Rosa Manzo, Ph.D. (center) with Camarena Health’s Claudia Fabian Chavez (left) and Maria Meraz (right)

�鶹�� was recently awarded a significant grant from Genentech, a member of the Roche group, to create the �鶹�� Center for Health Equity. The initiative will focus on eliminating health disparities and advancing health equity throughout the San Joaquin Valley, particularly among the region’s Hispanic, Latinx, immigrant and rural communities.

Led by Principal Investigator and Project Scientist Rosa Manzo, Ph.D., the Center will implement a community-engaged collaboration model that aims to facilitate and improve communication and engagement among health professionals and the communities they serve.

Through the support of the $1 million grant, the Center will invest in training and promoting community health workers – or promotoras – who will not only assist in addressing cultural gaps and understanding between patients and health care providers but will also participate as co-researchers and policy advocates for issues related to local health disparities.

Manzo and her team are launching the Promotora and Community-Based Education Model in Merced, Tulare and Madera counties in conjunction with agency partners Kaweah Health, Golden Valley Health Centers and Camarena Health. Together, the partners are preparing volunteers and agency staff members to fill the roles of community health workers by training them in such core competencies as service coordination and navigation, outreach, public health principles and social determinants of health.

Manzo said the uniqueness of this model is that promotoras will have the opportunity to directly assist with research efforts on projects of interest to them. Through their status as �鶹�� affiliates, they will have access to training and resources that enable them to participate in various research activities, including data collection and analysis, survey administration, and Spanish-language feedback and input.

“There are a handful of these models, which are mostly centered around outreach and engagement efforts,” said Manzo. “Our promotoras will be involved in data dissemination, research design and research materials. They are participating as researchers and contributing to every aspect of the research process.”

“The cultural element offered by the promotoras is critically important,” added �鶹�� Health Sciences Research Institute Executive Director Trevor Hirst. “They are affecting their communities because the way they communicate is different, and that is bringing the community up as a whole.”

Camarena Health Community Engagement Manager Claudia Chavez has observed the positive effects of the work for both the volunteers and the community members.

“The project not only empowers the promotoras with the tools and resources to help people in their communities, but also makes a tremendous impact on the participants’ lives in managing their health conditions,” she said. “To be able to watch promotoras share their stories of the impact they have made on participants’ lives is immeasurable.”

This latest grant from Genentech is a continuation of its commitment to Manzo’s community-engaged research, with a prior grant contributing support to her project “Promotoras and Community Based Education.” That grant, totaling nearly $500,000, provided funding for the initiative that paired community health workers and medical students in the UCSF San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education (SJV PRIME) to address asthma-related health disparities and deliver asthma-management education to the Valley’s underserved populations.

Maria Meraz, who participated in the initial project and will continue serving as the lead promotora at Camarena Health, noted the impact of the work on the local community.

“It was satisfying to know that this collaboration allowed us to bring information to minority communities,” she said. “The comments we received were positive, and people were happy to receive education from promotoras because they inspired confidence.”

“We are deeply grateful to Genentech for its exceptional investment in �鶹�� and Manzo’s work to address health inequities by promoting community health workers whose cultural and linguistic competencies help engage the diverse individuals and families of our region,” said �鶹�� Vice Chancellor and Chief External Relations Oﬃcer E. Edward Klotzbier. “We look forward to finding new opportunities for collaboration that build on and further grow these important efforts.”

Genentech’s $1 million grant is among the pivotal philanthropic gifts that are advancing Boldly Forward: The Campaign for �鶹��. Boldly Forward aims to raise $200 million over the next decade, with gifts and pledges received since the campaign's launch nearing $100 million.

Give to �鶹�� 2022 Breaks Fundraising Record

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 00:16:33 +0000

By Francesca Dinglasan, �鶹��

January 12, 2023

�鶹�� raised well above its goal of $150,000 in its annual December fundraising campaign

�鶹��'s annual month-long fundraising campaign, Give to �鶹��, wrapped up on Dec. 31, 2022, as the most successful in the initiative's history. The effort eclipsed the original goal of $150,000 to raise $952,000 in financial support for students, faculty, research, programs, departments and schools throughout the university.

Now in its ninth year - with 2022 marking the third year in a row that the campaign extended through the entire month of December - Give to �鶹�� involved all members of the campus community. Once again, students, staff, faculty, parents, alumni and friends were invited to give to areas particularly meaningful to them, ranging from scholarship and fellowship support and programs focused on student health and well-being to specific schools or departments.

A total of 573 unique donors participated in Give to �鶹��, exceeding the goal of 500.

Gift highlights from this year's Give to �鶹�� campaign include the establishment of a new alumni scholarship endowment as well as significant contributions to the Calvin E. Bright High Impact Student Engagement Fund and the Financial Wellness Center to help advance the work of these vital programs.

Additionally, 12 �鶹�� donors issued giving challenges by offering donation matches -ranging from $250 to $5,000 - to encourage philanthropic support and help increase overall fundraising totals.

"The generosity of �鶹��'s community continues to grow by leaps and bounds with each passing year," said Vice Chancellor and Chief External Relations Officer Ed Klotzbier. "The commitment of our supporters to �鶹�� is evident every single day, but shines especially bright in December during Give to �鶹��."

Every dollar raised during Give to �鶹�� 2022 will also count toward Boldy Forward , the university's first comprehensive fundraising campaign. Boldly Forward is rapidly approaching the halfway point of its goal to raise $200 million by 2030.

Year In Review: Top Stories of 2022

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 18:06:42 +0000

December 26, 2022

�鶹�� students, faculty and staff move boldly forward into the new year.

2022 was a banner year for �鶹�� marked with growth, innovation and prestige. As we boldly move forward toward 2023, here's a look back at the stories that stood out this year.

Solar-paneled Canals Getting a Test Run in San Joaquin Valley

February 8, 2022

A research paper published by graduate student Brandy McKuin is close to becoming a reality. McKuin’s findings showed that covering California’s 4,000 miles of water canals could reduce evaporation by as much as 82%, saving about 63 billion gallons of water a year. Covering the state water canals with solar installations would also generate 13 gigawatts of renewable power, equaling roughly 1/6th of the state’s current installed capacity. A state-funded pilot program in partnership with the Turlock Irrigation District called “Project Nexus” is scheduled to break ground in early 2023.

Report Reveals Drought Cost State Ag Industry Over $1 Billion, Thousands of Jobs in 2021

February 24, 2022

The 2021 drought directly cost the California agriculture sector about $1.1 billion and nearly 8,750 full- and part-time jobs, according to estimates in a new analysis led by �鶹�� researchers. Lead author of the report Professor Josué MedellÍn-Azuara paints a bleak picture if conditions persist, stating “...a higher tier of adaptation measures may come into play to reduce economic impacts on agriculture and communities that host thousands of households relying on agriculture for a living.”

�鶹�� Appoints First Representative To Serve On UC Board of Regents

March 28, 2022

Keith Ellis, who received his bachelor’s degree in 2012, became the first �鶹�� alumnus to serve on the UC Board of Regents - the University of California governing body. His new position as alumni regent is the latest addition to his extended history of involvement with the university, having served as president of the �鶹�� Alumni Association from 2014-2020. Ellis has been a key player in encouraging diversity and equity in his various roles and a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, the visually impaired and first-generation college students. Ellis will serve a two-year term which began on July 1, 2022, and ends on June 30, 2024.

�鶹�� Joins Partnership To Increase Enrollment of Students of Color

April 26, 2022

Providing access and opportunity for students from underrepresented backgrounds is a core tenet of �鶹��’s mission. Several programs and initiatives are in place that facilitate this work, the latest being the 1300 Campaign. In collaboration with CSU Stanislaus, the expansion of the Sacramento-based program into Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties was announced with the shared goal of enrolling 1,300 more young people of color from the Central Valley in the UC and CSU systems by 2030.

Community and Labor Center (CLC) Receives $6.5 Million Award

May 2, 2022

The �鶹�� Community and Labor Center (CLC) received a historic multimillion-dollar award to continue its mission of conducting research and educating the public about low-wage work, immigrant and workers' rights, workplace health and safety, among other issues. The funding will support the creation of a Worker Resource Center to advance efforts at greater public education of workers' rights in a region marked by some of the nation's greatest worker and environmental inequities.

�鶹�� Professor Tapped For Federal Office of Science Director

May 10, 2022

Nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, science Professor Asmeret Asefaw Berhe was named the new director of the Office of Science in the federal Department of Energy. She previously served as the chair of the U.S. National Committee on Soil Science at the National Academies; was a leadership board member for the Earth Science Women’s Network; and is a co-principal investigator in the ADVANCEGeo Partnership. Berhe will hold the position through the duration of Biden’s term.

�鶹�� Adds Two New Intercollegiate Sports, Water Polo and Track

June 21, 2022

Beginning in the 2022-23 academic year, �鶹�� added men’s and women’s water polo and men’s and women’s outdoor track as varsity intercollegiate sports. The additions bring the total number of varsity sports to 12. Water polo, which will be elevated from a �鶹�� sports club team, will call the Aquatics Center home and compete in the Collegiate Water Polo Association. The track program aims to focus on distance track at the start while competing as a member of the Cal Pac in the NAIA.

�鶹�� Earns AASHE Platinum Rating

July 7, 2022

�鶹�� prides itself on its sustainability efforts and continues to raise the bar each year. In recognition of its achievements in this arena, �鶹�� was awarded a Platinum rating - the highest rating a higher education institution can receive - by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). AASHE uses the most widely regarded framework for publicly documenting long-term sustainability goals for high-achieving institutions internationally. In fact, only 11 institutions throughout the nation have earned Platinum rating.

Third Segment of Campus Parkway Opens to Traffic

July 12, 2022

There is now a direct route from the heavily-traveled Highway 99 to �鶹��, thanks to the completion of the third segment of Campus Parkway. The project, which aims to alleviate congestion in the city of Merced and make travel to and from the university much more efficient, was completed about a year ahead of schedule. The new corridor is expected to provide a boon to the local economy, already ushering in new businesses, developments and jobs. It also lays the foundation for a planned loop system that will facilitate surrounding communities, improve traffic flow and the transportation of goods and connect the entire region to �鶹��.

State Budget Allocates Over $100 million to �鶹��

July 18, 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state of California provided �鶹�� with a financial boost by allocating over $100 million to the university in the latest budget. The new funding is earmarked for campus expansion, climate-related initiatives, �鶹��’s Community and Labor Center and a potential housing partnership with Merced College. Chancellor Muñoz praised the work done by �鶹��’s long-time supporters, including Assemblymember Adam Gray, Sen. Anna Caballero, Assemblymember Jose Medina, “...and, of course, Gov. Newsom, who has been a steadfast supporter of this university."

F3 Coalition Awarded Landmark $65.1 Million Federal Grant

September 2, 2022

�鶹�� is a proud member of a coalition that was on the receiving end of one of the biggest federal investments in the Central Valley’s history. Named the Fresno-Merced Future of Food Innovation Coalition or F3, the group - which includes Fresno State as well as local farmers, agricultural organizations, community colleges and manufacturers - was awarded $65.1 million as part of the Biden Administration’s “Build Back Better” initiative to boost economic recovery following the pandemic. Among the projects that will be funded is iCREATE - an agricultural technology hub that will connect farmers across the valley to industry, boost productivity, create jobs and build capacity for regional sustainability.

�鶹�� Appears on US News and World Report’s Top 100 Colleges for Third Straight Year

September 12, 2022

�鶹�� completed a three-peat this year, landing on the U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of the Top 100 Colleges for the third year in a row. The university was slotted at No. 97 overall and No. 42 for public universities. Additionally, of the 133 schools classified as R2 reasearch institutions in the nation by the Carnegie group, �鶹�� came in at No. 15. The campus also ranked No. 13 for economic diversity and No. 5 for creating social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students who were awarded Pell Grants.

�鶹�� Launches First Comprehensive Fundraising Campaign

September 14, 2022

Entitled “Boldly Forward," �鶹�� initially launched its first comprehensive fundraising campaign with an ambitious goal of $100 million by the year 2030. Soon after, the goal was doubled to $200 million following a fast start - which included a transformational $15 million gift from Fred and Mitzie Ruiz - that exceeded projections. The funds that are raised will enhance the university's ability to meet the greatest needs and find solutions for pressing issues facing the Central Valley and beyond. The initiative will also help the campus prepare for increased student enrollment, which is expected to reach 15,000 by the end of the decade.

�鶹�� Lands $12.5 Million NSF Grant to Predict the Impact of Climate Change on Symbiotic Systems

September 26, 2022

Led by Department of Molecular and Cell Biology Professor Michele Nishiguchi, �鶹�� received a $12.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a new institute that will look at the impact climate change is having on ecosystems. Whereas most climate change research focuses on what you can see, the new institute dubbed INSITE - the INstitute for Symbiotic Interactions, Training and Education - aims to “approach this problem through a microbial lens, so we proposed looking at symbiotic interactions,” said Nishiguchi. “Microbes are invisible, and they are important because they are on everything.”

Professor Eaton Makes a Case for Student Loan Forgiveness on Dr. Phil

October 26, 2022

During 2022, sociology Professor Charlie Eaton was an interview subject for several high-profile media outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post and CNBC. His most visible interview was a guest spot on the “Dr. Phil Show” where the topic of discussion was President Joe Biden's plan to cancel billions of dollars in federal student loans. Eaton’s research, which focuses on the relationships between financialization and growing inequalities in higher education, and recently-published book on the topic "Bankers in the Ivory Tower" made him a much sought-after interviewee.

Expansion of MAAP Opens Doors For Central Valley Students

November 2, 2022

The Merced Automatic Admission Program, or MAAP, provides Central Valley high school students a clear path to �鶹�� by guaranteeing admission to the university upon fulfillment of certain criteria by their senior year. The program began in Spring of 2021, but really started making headway this past year when Dinuba Unified School District signed on the dotted line. Since then, the partnerships with school districts up and down the valley have grown exponentially, increasing �鶹��’s reach to over 33,000 students.

�鶹�� Designated Agricultural Experiment Station

November 16, 2022

�鶹��’s designation as an Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) is yet another feather in the university’s research cap. Announced along with UC Santa Cruz during the Board of Regents November meeting, the designation comes with additional funding and collaboration opportunities to explore and resolve issues within the agriculture and food production industries. The two universities join UCs Berkeley, Davis and Riverside in sharing the distinction and were the first campuses to receive the designation in 50 years.

�鶹�� Shines In Annual Sustainability Report

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 19:12:17 +0000

By Sam Yniguez, �鶹��

October 6, 2022

�鶹�� ranks No. 10 in research by AASHE

In the 2022 Sustainable Campus Index, �鶹�� placed Top 10 in several categories including a tie for the No.1 spot in research. The annual report published by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) recognizes top-performing colleges and universities overall and in 17 sustainability impact areas.

Using the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ratings System (STARS), AASHE measures green efforts of over 570 institutions in 20 countries. The STARS framework helps institutions track, report and strengthen their contributions to global sustainability and is the most widely recognized report card in the world for documenting long-term sustainability goals for high-achieving institutions.

Among the distinctions, �鶹�� was tied for 1st place in the research category which takes into account the breadth of faculty and department sustainability research as well as initiatives for open access research. According to the report, top performers in this category help the world to understand sustainability challenges and develop new technologies, strategies and approaches to address those challenges.

�鶹�� also received high marks in several other areas. Listed below are the rankings, followed by category and description.

#7 – “Waste”, recognizes waste minimization and reduction construction, waste diversion and hazardous waste management

#9 – “Air and Climate”, takes into consideration steps taken to reduce air pollutant emissions in an effort to positively impact the health of their local communities and regions

#9 (tie) – “Investment and Finance”, covers sustainable investment, committees for responsible investing and investment disclosure

#10 – “Energy”, recognizes energy reduction and development and use of clean and renewable energy sources

In addition to the above, �鶹�� was ranked 9th overall amongst all doctoral institutions. To learn more about sustainability at �鶹��, visit sustainability.ucmerced.edu/.

Coalition Including �鶹�� Awarded $65 Million in Build Back Better Funds

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 19:08:08 +0000

By Samuel Yniguez, �鶹��

September 2, 2022

Members of the Fresno-Merced Future of Food Innovation (F3) Coalition celebrate the funding announcement on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.

The White House announced today (Sept. 2) a $65.1 million award — the largest federal grant ever awarded to the Central Valley — to the Fresno-Merced Future of Food Innovation (F3) Coalition as part of its "Build Back Better" initiative to boost economic recovery after the pandemic. The funding will help launch a state-of-the-art agricultural technology hub that will serve and connect farmers across the San Joaquin Valley to industry and spark a new, more advanced era in agriculture-based technology in an effort to boost productivity, create jobs and build capacity for regional sustainability.

Composed of scholars and researchers from �鶹�� and Fresno State, farmers, agricultural organizations, community colleges and manufacturers, the F3 coalition is one of 21 regional groups selected to receive grants from the federal government's $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge. The coalition's proposal received the largest pool of funding from the challenge and was among 60 finalists nationwide. In total, the challenge garnered 530 applicants.

The new technology center, dubbed iCREATE, will serve communities across Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties. Ashley Swearengin, president and CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) — the lead agency and coordinator of the grant — describes it as a place that will "bring together the University of California research arm with the engineering capabilities of our state schools, alongside industry and community, all under one roof at a dedicated facility."

Left to right: �鶹�� Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Professor Joshua Viers and Interim Vice Chancellor for Research Marjorie Zatz.

"We are thrilled that the Biden administration has recognized the unique potential of our Valley in awarding this grant to the Central Valley Community Foundation," said �鶹�� Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz. "�鶹�� looks forward to working with all our partners shoulder to shoulder to advance this effort and make the San Joaquin corridor the foremost global destination for innovation in the future of food."

Interim Vice Chancellor for Research Marjorie Zatz called today's announcement a signature moment for economic development in Central California. "Linking higher education, from the UC and CSU, through our community college partners, to build next generation technologies and train the workforce of the future will continue to build the massive economic impact our faculty and researchers are already having on this region."

�鶹�� Professor Joshua Viers, also the director of CITRIS and the Banatao Institute, a key research partner of the effort, has been working with the CVCF since the visioning and scoping period of the F3 coalition began back in 2019. As associate dean for research in the School of Engineering, he will be launching iCREATE as its first center director to spur collaboration among the project participants and helping to integrate workforce development at local community colleges and local food producer activity supported by University of Californiia Cooperative Extension offices.

"The Build Back Better funding of F3 will not only accelerate research and development solutions for climate smart food systems that benefit local communities in the Valley, but also transform how we produce and process food in the future," Viers said. "We will continue to lead the nation in producing food but will lead the planet in how to do it in a more technologically advanced and sustainable manner."

�鶹�� Hosts College Track Retreat

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 21:02:44 +0000

By Samuel Yniguez, �鶹��

August 15, 2022

�鶹�� hosted the College Track Retreat over the summer. Photo by College Track.

College Track recently held a retreat at �鶹�� that brought almost 200 staff members from all over the country to the site to "reflect, renew and rise together."

College Track is a 25-year-old program that partners with college students from underserved communities. The nonprofit equips scholars confronting systemic barriers and provides a comprehensive, 10-year-long program that prepares them academically, financially, socially and emotionally for college and beyond. The retreat provided the group the opportunity to be in the same room together for the first time since 2018 and featured engaging speakers, a variety of team-building exercises and fellowship.

Not surprisingly, the majority of students enrolled in the program are the first in their families to go to college. This is just one of the commonalities at the heart of a budding partnership between College Track and �鶹��, a campus where 75% of the student body are first-generation college students. College Track has 71 undergraduates currently enrolled at �鶹�� and another 46 �鶹�� alumni.

"Having been a first-generation college student myself, I understand the challenges that they face in learning to navigate higher education," said Alejandro Delgadillo, associate director for educational equity and access at the �鶹�� Calvin E. Bright Success Center. "Mutual partnerships like the one between College Track and �鶹�� jointly provide a supportive foundation for a scholar's success in and out of the classroom during their tenure at the university."

�鶹�� Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz spoke at the retreat. Photo by College Track.

Early in the retreat, �鶹�� Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz provided a welcome speech along with some words of inspiration to the group, which included staff members from northern and southern California as well as student centers in Colorado, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans.

"The work that College Track is doing to help increase student success is highly commendable, and we were more than happy to host them at �鶹��," said Muñoz. "I am very excited about growing this partnership and what it will mean for our students."

During their stay, attendees made use of campus facilities, dining together at �鶹��'s Pavilion and Yablokoff-Wallace Dining Center and socializing in Mariposa Hall's lounges. A popular spot was the pool at the Aquatics Center. They also explored nearby communities and got a taste of Central Valley cuisine.

College Track leaders say that they appreciated the hospitality and look forward to the continued partnership with �鶹��.

"I am extremely grateful to Chancellor Muñoz and the many �鶹�� leaders, staff and faculty who prioritize and empower first-generation college students and those from underserved communities," said College Track President and CEO Shirley M. Collado, Ph.D. "I look forward to transformative collaborations as we unite to really move the needle on educational equity and justice in our communities and in our country."

University of California, Merced - Samuel Yniquez

Genentech Grant Supports New �鶹����� Center for Health Equity

Give to �鶹����� 2022 Breaks Fundraising Record

Year In Review: Top Stories of 2022

�鶹����� Shines In Annual Sustainability Report

Coalition Including �鶹����� Awarded $65 Million in Build Back Better Funds

�鶹����� Hosts College Track Retreat

Genentech Grant Supports New �鶹�� Center for Health Equity

Give to �鶹�� 2022 Breaks Fundraising Record

�鶹�� Shines In Annual Sustainability Report

Coalition Including �鶹�� Awarded $65 Million in Build Back Better Funds

�鶹�� Hosts College Track Retreat