UC Spotlight: 5 staff stories that inspired us this month

From behind the scenes to center stage, our monthly UC Spotlight article celebrates how UC staff and their teams are making a difference for Californians and the world beyond our state.

UC Irvine officially opened UCI Health — Irvine, the nation’s first all-electric acute care hospital

Located along the edge of the 300-acre San Joaquin Marsh Reserve, the newly opened UCI Health — Irvine is the nation’s first all-electric acute care hospital. Combining advanced medicine with flexible surgical and intensive care spaces, a chef-inspired, culturally attuned menu and a calming setting framed by native habitat and mountain views, the hospital anchors a full medical campus. “UCI Health — Irvine embodies what it means to be a modern public research university,” said UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman. “We are extending world-class, research-driven care into the community in a way that is compassionate, forward-looking and deeply rooted in this place we call home.”

UC Riverside Chief Librarian Mihoko Hosoi shared her international, equity-focused perspective

Mihoko grew up in Saitama, Japan, in a traditional household where she learned tea making, flower arranging and calligraphy. Her self-driven, non-traditional scholarly and career journey led her to New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Santa Barbara, and ultimately to UC Riverside. Along the way, Mihoko, a first-gen student, earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish language and literature, two master’s degrees, including one in library sciences, and a doctorate in higher education. Drawn to UC Riverside’s leadership in social mobility and support for first-gen students, Mihoko is ready to make a difference. “The core value of librarianship is to contribute to education equity,” she said. “We are for anyone who needs support in a neutral, safe space.”

Senior Development Engineer John Graham explained how scientific computing may shape the future of agriculture

UC San Diego’s San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) is helping producers farm more efficiently using data, sensors and artificial intelligence. At Iron Horse Vineyards in Sonoma County, drones and sensors collect information about soil, water use and plant health, which is sent through a high-speed network and analyzed using powerful computers. The goal is to help farmers make better irrigation decisions, reduce water use and respond to climate challenges. “AI can tease out non-obvious relationships between vine locations, watering patterns and growth,” explained John Graham, senior development engineer at SDSC. “If there’s a drought, AI can help inform whether to spray water or employ fans to disperse moisture, whether to use drip irrigation or even determine which type of fish in a holding pond might create the most nutrient-rich water for the vines.”

The UC Berkeley Hope Scholars Program has transformed the university experience of 360 students and counting

The Hope Scholars program (originally the Cal Independent Scholars Network) was established at UC Berkeley in 2005 by a single employee who sought to provide support and remove barriers for students with backgrounds in the foster care system. Since then, it has reached over 360 students, including 170 in 2025, and has expanded its services to students who have experienced housing insecurity or weren’t raised by biological parents. Hope Scholars’ track record shows “20 years of proving that when we invest in students who have experienced foster care or childhood homelessness, we are investing in brilliance, in leaders, in scholars and changemakers,” said Hope Scholars Director Charly King Beavers.

UC Davis Health chefs Jet Aguirre and Santana Diaz connected with local high school students

Jet and Santana met with high school students from John F. Kennedy, Rosemont and American Legion at Sacramento City Unified School District’s Central Kitchen, sharing stories and insights from their careers with the next generation of culinary professionals. In speaking with students, they emphasized their passion for connecting people through food and their commitment to local sourcing and improving community health. “It was a privilege to speak with these students and help deepen their understanding of nutrition while showing why it’s important to know where food comes from and how those choices can benefit local communities,” Jet said. “My hope is that they take this knowledge and carry it forward into their future careers.”

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UC Spotlight honors workplaces, teams and individual staff members that make UC a great place to work. To send a recognition or achievement for consideration, email the relevant URL and information to the UCnetwork editorial team or complete this form. Your story may also be featured on our new @ucnet_work Instagram page!

Please note that UC Spotlight is intended to reflect staff-specific achievements; to that end, we do not accept recognitions that are student, faculty or alumni-focused. Submissions are chosen for publication at the editor’s discretion. Funding and promotion/hiring announcements are not appropriate for this feature.