UC Spotlight: May 2025

Russell Lehmann, an autism advocate and poet, champions neurodiversity at UCLA, emphasizing understanding and acceptance.

Deepti Pandeeta, chief medical information officer and vice president of clinical informatics at UC Irvine Health, shared her strategy for preparing UC Irvine Health for future growth with Becker’s Health IT.

By championing inclusivity, UCSF Police Department Chief of Staff Ailene Estalilla has strengthened community within her department and across campus while ensuring staff feel heard and valued. Last year, she received the MLK Jr. Leadership Award for uplifting campus staff.

 UC Irvine head baseball coach Ben Orloff made an appearance on MLB Network’s “Hot Stove” show to talk about Anteater baseball, the UC Irvine campus, the city of Irvine and more.

Chief Ricardo Barboza, UCLA ’95 and UCLA Fire Marshal for the UCLA campus and UCLA Health, received the 2025 UCLA Award for Community Service in recognition of his outstanding dedication to keeping the campus safe and his deep commitment to the True Bruin Values.

Alec Guerra found his passion for medicine in high school, pursued it through community college, and gained key experience via a CADRE internship at UC San Diego. He’s now a part-time employee at the San Diego Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Translational Virology Core.

Brice Kikuchi has been elected to serve as treasurer and Finance Committee chair of the Western Association of College & University Business Officers Board of Directors. UC staff now hold four seats on the 15-member board, which includes Michael Clune, UCSF, immediate past president; Patricia Realo Anderson, diversity, equity and inclusion chair; and Melissa Jarnagin, board member at large.

Alicia Buffi guides cancer patients through their treatment at UCLA Health, providing support and calm reassurance.

Darnele Wright, who has spent more than a dozen years as UC counsel in roles at UC San Francisco and the UC Office of the President, will become UCSF’s next chief campus counsel and vice chancellor of legal affairs.

Bryce Bandfield, inspired by his brother’s illness, became an ICU nurse at UC San Diego Health. There, he provides compassionate care and recently earned the Beacon Award for Excellence — a national recognition.

Claire Chaumont is leading the effort to carry out UCLA’s 2023–28 Strategic Plan, coordinating projects and solving challenges across the university.

UC Davis Workplace Violence Prevention Director Adam Burkholder talked about his role, emphasizing that to protect staff, students and the broader community, it is important to stay aware, report concerns early and build a culture where abuse is never accepted.

Kelly Sparks, who will be UC Berkeley’s new vice chancellor for finance and chief financial officer starting July 1, is aligned with the university’s values. “This is a very volatile time, but we need to stand behind these values and support each other,” she says.

Jack Bobo, a global food systems expert and former U.S. State Department advisor, now leads UCLA’s Rothman Family Institute for Food Studies, where he aims to advance sustainable and equitable food solutions worldwide.

UC Santa Cruz retiree Nancy Pascal drew upon her 32 years of staff experience when she established a field study scholarship to support students in hands-on opportunities outside of a typical classroom setting. 

UC Riverside launched the nation’s first hydrogen carshare program, offering low-cost, zero-emission vehicles to residents. Funded by a state grant, it promotes clean transportation and supports academic research.

Research on faculty promotion biases by UC Merced’s Center for Excellence in Faculty Advancement — in partnership with the Division of Equity, Justice and Inclusive Excellence; Chief Diversity Officer Delia Saenz; and the Health Sciences Research Institute — earned national recognition for influencing equitable academic policies nationwide.

UC Davis honored ten outstanding staff members with the Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Awards during a special event at the Chancellor’s Residence.

Ten UCLA Health nurses were honored by the Simms/Mann Family Foundation’s Off the Chart campaign, each receiving $10,000 for their exceptional leadership, innovation, and compassionate care.

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital staff created a magical, Monte-Carlo-themed prom night, bringing joy, glamour and unforgettable memories to teen patients.

UC Irvine, UCI Health, and the city of Irvine hosted the second annual CicloIrvine, a car-free, open-street festival featuring live music, art, food and family-friendly activities to promote community engagement and sustainability.

UC ANR’s “Making Every Dollar Count” budgeting course is helping people in transitional housing develop essential financial skills, such as budgeting, goal setting and managing expenses.

The UCOP Native American, Indigenous and Pacific Islander Staff Association and OP Staff Assembly hosted a conversation between Greg Sarris, UC regent and chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, and Katherine Newman, UC provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs.

The UC Santa Barbara Environmental Health and Safety team welcomed 140 Department Safety Representatives for an action-packed summit.

UC Davis set a new fundraising record on its ninth annual Give Day, raising nearly $4.5 million. Development staff cruised campus in cow-themed “Fund-Grazer” carts, spreading cheer and fundraising energy.

Brian Blackburn and Kate Dorff of the UC Riverside School of Medicine’s Department of Strategic Initiatives are working behind-the-scenes magic to ensure seamless events and community building.

The UC Irvine Health Family Health Center in Anaheim has launched Spanish-language Diabetes Group Medical Visits, offering culturally tailored, eight-week educational sessions on diabetes management to support the Latino community.

UC Riverside honored departing Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox with a heartfelt celebration, renaming Campus Drive to Kim Wilcox Drive in commemoration of his nearly 12-year leadership.

‌Operating Budget Analyst Richard Chen and ‌Budget and Finance Analyst Sarah Hislen — both of UCSF Finance Budget and Resource Management — shared why being best friends at work is important to them.

UC Davis Health’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Program has been nationally recognized for excellence in pediatric epilepsy care, offering advanced diagnostic and treatment options for children with complex seizure disorders. It joins UC Irvine, UCLA, UC San Diego and UCSF as a Level 4 pediatric epilepsy center.

UC Irvine’s Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute began offering a variety of wellness programs — including cooking, mindfulness and tai chi — to support holistic health and stress reduction for the campus community.

UCLA Health is reducing language barriers in patient care by expanding medical interpretation services, hiring multilingual staff and integrating culturally sensitive communication practices.

UC Riverside’s Brain Awareness Day welcomed over 400 students for hands-on neuroscience activities, inspiring young minds through interactive exhibits and showcasing the excitement of scientific discovery.

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources started a new video series to support California vegetable growers.

UC Riverside’s Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Facility reached a major milestone with the completion of its structural frame. The 100,700-square-foot building will offer classrooms, labs and a dance studio.

UC Irvine’s Transportation and Distribution Services department shared its dedication to sustainability, innovation and community engagement.

UC Davis Staff Assembly held its 45th annual Thank Goodness for Staff picnic, welcoming more than 7,000 guests and several campus teams, including Workplace Violence Prevention.

UC ANR helped young Californians celebrate Earth Day by teaching nature skills through its Naturalist courses.

UC Riverside School of Medicine’s 2025 Open House welcomed over 1,200 attendees. The event emphasized community engagement and encouraged aspiring medical students.

UC Davis staff created and manage a paid internship to help neurodivergent people train for medical coding jobs.

UCLA rebranded IT Services as Digital and Technology Solutions, transforming the department into a strategic partner focused on modernizing systems, reducing complexity, and enhancing digital experiences across campus.

UC Irvine is replanting diverse trees in Aldrich Park to replace aging eucalyptus and make the park healthier and more sustainable.

UC Riverside’s School of Medicine celebrated the Biomedical Sciences Division’s 50th anniversary with a symposium that included reflections on the department’s legacy and future.

UC Tech News organized two virtual panel events in support of Earth Day — one focused on sustainability and energy innovation at UC and the other on the intersection of sustainability and technology.

UC Riverside and the University of Michigan established the Center for Strategic and Inclusive Governance, which supports higher education boards in promoting student success, equity and sustainability.

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources launched the UC ANR Policy Institute to connect researchers with policymakers and support science-based decision-making.

UC Berkeley opened the Grimes Engineering Center on April 21, providing a modern, collaborative space for engineering students to innovate and connect.

UC Davis formally inaugurated Aggie Square, a $1.1 billion hub in Sacramento for research, learning, and community collaboration.

UC Davis Health held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the expanded C Street Clinic, which includes new therapy and pharmacy services.

UC Santa Barbara Human Resources launched the interactive 2025 “Staff Service Milestone” website to recognize and celebrate staff for their service milestone accomplishments. 

UCI Health has launched a redesigned website to enhance the patient experience by offering streamlined navigation, improved access to services, and a more intuitive interface for finding care options.

UC Santa Cruz created the Slug Family Hub, a new platform that keeps families informed and connected with campus news, resources, and events.

UC Riverside launched Scholarship Universe, a platform that streamlines the scholarship search and application process by matching students with scholarship opportunities based on their profiles.

UC Santa Cruz launched a new WordPress-based news site with a modern design to better share stories and highlight campus impact.