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UC Spotlight: July 2024

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AIDS Walk SF participants
Ward 86 Medical Director Dr. Monica Gandhi (center left) stands with UCSF community members during the AIDS Walk on Sunday, July 14, 2019, in San Francisco. From left to right are Dr. Gandhi, UCSF nurse practitioner Mary Lawrence Hicks, who serves as deputy clinic director of Ward 86, and UCSF postdoctoral scholar Sona Chowdhury, Ph.D.

Our monthly UC Spotlight celebrates the UC locations, teams and individual staff members who are helping to make UC a great place to work. Fiat Lux!

Campus and location recognitions

Whale in front of a container ship

Staff initiatives from nine UC campuses and the Office of the President were honored with 38 Circle of Excellence Awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The awards recognize creative, inspiring projects that impact institutions and their communities — and transform lives around the globe.

UCLA Health received Health Care Equity Certification from The Joint Commission, a major accreditation body, for its commitment to providing high-quality, equitable care to all patients. It is the first health system in California and the western region of the United States, and among the first nationally, to receive this certification.

Individual, team and group recognitions

Headshots of Wylie Liu, Shira Minerd, Glenda Humiston

The Council of UC Staff Assemblies has announced the winners of their annual awards for exemplary service on behalf of the university. Congratulations to the 2023-24 CUCSA Award winners!

Crystal Wiley Cené, chief administrative officer for health justice, equity, diversity and inclusion at UC San Diego Health

Crystal Wiley Cené, chief administrative officer for health justice, equity, diversity and inclusion at UC San Diego Health, is drawing upon her childhood experiences to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment and eliminate barriers to quality health care.

Shawn Demmons and Lusirena

UCSF Project Director Shawn Demmons and Clinical Research Director Lusirena, continued the conversation on why UC’s Gender Recognition and Lived Name Policy is so important.

Chef Santiago (center) with Rosa and Filimon Regalado

The International Fresh Produce Association recognized Executive Sous Chef Jonathan Gutierrez Santiago for his commitment to the innovative and sustainable use of fresh produce for UC Merced’s Dining Services.

Robert Sotelo with Cali

Officer Robert Sotelo is supporting the UC Davis community with help from Cali, a 14-month-old Labrador retriever who is the police department’s first specialized therapy dog. Cali is trained to assist with mental health and crises.

three people in red costumes smile festively

UCSF AIDS Walk teams are fundraising to make a difference for people living with HIV. Soon, they’ll gather to walk and continue strengthening community ties.

David Gomez, the Surplus Sales and Moving Services Coordinator, highlights items found in the Surplus Store.

Staff are embodying the university’s sustainability initiatives by stocking and organizing the UC San Diego Surplus Store and organizing UCLA’s first Sustainable Move Out.

People putting out a fire

At UC Santa Barbara, 15 staff volunteered to complete a specialized disaster response training program that will allow them to assist at a disaster scene before professional first responders can arrive. 

University Librarian Jeff MacKie-Mason poses for a portrait on April 3, 2024. (Photo: Jami Smith/UC Berkeley Library)

Just before his June 30 retirement, UC Berkeley University Librarian Jeff MacKie-Mason shared his thoughts on the past, present and future of libraries.

UC Davis Health Connected Care Center team

UC Davis Connected Care Center staff are leveraging the latest health care technology to provide personalized care and meet patients where they are.

Submit your achievements!

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 to ucnetwork@universityofcalifornia.edu. 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-related. Submissions are chosen for publication at the editor’s discretion. Funding and promotion/hiring announcements are not appropriate for this feature.

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