UC Spotlight: July 2025

Patty Furukawa, assistant dean and CIO/COO at the UC Irvine School of Law, will be honored with the Outstanding Staff Achievement award at the 2025 Lauds & Laurels Awards Ceremony. The awards recognize members of the UC Irvine community for outstanding contributions to the university, their professions and society.

Michelle Brubaker, director of media relations for UC San Diego Health, has been sharing her cancer journey to inspire hope and raise awareness of her hospital’s top-notch care team and clinical trial programs.

Anne Marie Watkins, chief nursing executive and senior vice president at UC Irvine Health, was named one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives for 2025. 

Third-gen UCSF employee David Gonzalez shared what his typical day entails, what motivates him and what it’s like to be married to another UC staffer.

Steve Reyes, strategic planning and project manager at the UC Riverside School of Medicine, shared how he helps departments create benchmarks and build strategic plans that fulfill the school’s mission.

Ashfia Huq, director of the Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab participated in a podcast interview about the Foundry and what inspires her work.

UCSF Police Officer Steven Carter shared heartwarming details about Nash, UCSF’s first therapy dog.

Arturo Galvez, aka the “father of yoga at UC San Diego,” shares his yoga journey and what he’s looking forward to in his continuing UC career.

Diana Winston, educational director of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Center and director of UCLA Mindful, shared her nontraditional career path that began with her ordainment as a Buddhist nun.

UC Davis associate vice chancellor for Finance, Operations and Administration Blair Stephenson shared his career journey, which included time in the Navy as well as 40 years with UC.

UC San Diego Qualcomm Institute (QI) Research Specialist Riley Need shared their passion for their work supporting faculty with quantum information science, advanced materials, semiconductors and more.

UCOP employee resource group Veterans Among US helped decorate 260,000 veterans’ graves at Riverside National Cemetery with American flags in honor of Memorial Day.

The UCLA School of Nursing hosted an induction ceremony to the Gamma Tau at-Large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, recognizing academic and clinical excellence, leadership and commitment to service.

At UC Merced, the Division of Equity, Justice & Inclusive Excellence; Dining Services; and Global Arts, Media and Writing Studies teams collaborated to support an Indigenous people-themed student mural.

The UC Irvine Police Department has achieved the goals outlined in the 30×30 Initiative, part of a national effort aimed at increasing representation and improving the experiences of women in policing.

Researchers and staff at the UC ANR-led FutureFood Engine advanced to the next phase of the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines competition.

UC Riverside Dining Services shared the process behind the custom ice cream flavors they create with Coney Island Creamery, an artisanal ice cream manufacturer based in San Dimas that specializes in boutique flavors.

UC Davis launched a small-batch wine label to sell wines to the public made by students, staff and faculty from grapes they grow in the Napa Valley and around campus. It’s the culmination of 10+ years of work.

UC San Diego firefighters joined EMS teams throughout the region for a Revive & Survive San Diego Event at a local beach. Together, the teams have trained 500,000 people in administering hands-on CPR.

The UC Riverside Staff Assembly honored 11 colleagues during its annual Outstanding Staff Awards celebration. 

The UC Merced Police Department launched the Bobcat Safety App, a free official safety tool for UC Merced students, faculty and staff.

Since its Jan. 2025 launch, ScottyEats — a UC Riverside Dining Services program that reduces food waste and addresses student food insecurity — has recovered approximately 1,827 pounds of food from Glasgow Dining Hall and served more than 1,445 meals to students.

A historic agreement between the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has created the first-ever UC Cooperative Extension Tribal Extension Office.

The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center earned its fifth consecutive Magnet designation, a prestigious distinction awarded to fewer than 2% of U.S. hospitals.

The UC President’s Native American Advisory Council honored President Drake for his commitment to Native American students, staff, faculty and tribal communities by presenting him with a traditional Native American blanket featuring a design titled, “Bear Medicine.”

The UC Irvine teamMADE team attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first residential unit they designed and built for public use. The development will provide housing for local at-risk youth.

UC Riverside shared a series of biographies celebrating faculty and staff who recently retired and are retiring soon.

The Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at UC San Diego marked 40 years of education and training focused on the integration of research with patient care.

The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health at UC San Diego marked its fifth anniversary and 1,851 graduates. The unique interdisciplinary program prepares students to address a variety of public health challenges.

UC Riverside celebrated the beginning of construction for SoCal OASIS Park, a new research and innovation hub near campus.

The UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine raised over $3 million for integrative care during its yearlong 30th anniversary campaign.

For Pride Month, UC San Diego Health faculty and staff held a festive flag-raising ceremony to demonstrate their commitment to providing care and support for LGBTQ+ patients, colleagues and community members.

Also for Pride Month, UC San Diegoans created a playlist of go-to Pride anthems, “full of glitter, guts and vulnerability.”

The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden has reopened the Arboretum Terrace Garden and Lois Crowe Patio just in time to celebrate its 25th anniversary as a vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired gathering space.

The UCLA Rape Treatment Center celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special fundraising event that benefitted the RTC and Stuart House, which provides care for sexually abused children and their families.

The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz celebrated its 25th anniversary with a lively Night at the Museum event featuring speculative fiction projects, public scholarship and a special commendation from State Assemblymember Gail Pellerin.

The UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition celebrated 25 years of empowering entrepreneurs.

UCLA Health opened a new general and specialty pediatric clinic in Porter Ranch to address the area’s growing demand for several disciplines of pediatric care.

The Basement at UC San Diego celebrated its tenth anniversary during Demo Day, an annual spring event that celebrates student innovation. 

UC Santa Barbara Promoting Opportunity and Equity in Learning Program staff celebrated the graduation of their first class.

Led by staff at the American Indian Resource Center and Student Alliance of Native American and Indigenous Peoples, UC Santa Cruz held its first off-campus Powwow in three decades, including the entire community in a vibrant, joy-filled celebration. 

UC Davis Health celebrated the grand opening for the 48X Complex — a state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center that addresses the growing demand for same-day or overnight surgical services.

The California NanoSystems Institute at UC Santa Barbara, a technology incubator that has spun out 40 startups, celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

The UC Office of the President Black Staff and Faculty Organization partnered with employee resource groups at UC Berkeley and UCSF to host a farewell celebration for President Drake.