Alyssa Johansen

UC Merced campus photo of sign

United for Education: Merced Institutions Forge a Stronger Future Together at UC Merced Summit

In an unprecedented show of unity, leaders from Merced City School District, Merced Union High School District, Merced College and UC Merced came together to discuss how continued collaboration can transform education and opportunities across the region.

Flavors & Stories: Chef Sean Sherman Brings Indigenous Culinary Wisdom to UC Merced

The beat of drums and the scent of cedar filled UC Merced’s Conference Center as acclaimed chef, author and activist Sean Sherman shared stories of tradition, resilience and culinary innovation during “Flavors & Stories: A Fireside Chat with the Sioux Chef.”

The New York Times bestselling author and founder of North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS) engaged the audience in a conversation about his journey to revitalize Indigenous cuisine and reconnect communities with the ingredients and methods that sustained their ancestors for generations.

SJV PRIME+ Expands Training with Sutter Gould, Modesto Hospital Partnership

UC Merced’s San Joaquin Valley PRIME+ (B.S. to M.D.) pathway continues to grow as it teams up with Sutter Gould Medical Foundation and Sutter’s Memorial Medical Center in Modesto. The collaboration will give undergraduate students in the pathway the opportunity to complete immersive, eight-week clinical experiences alongside physicians in a range of specialties, bringing them one step closer to their goal of serving communities throughout the Valley.

UC Merced Arts Opens Season with East L.A. Band Las Cafeteras

UC Merced Arts has announced its 2025-26 season of performances, exhibitions and public art programs, beginning with the return of East L.A.’s electrifying band Las Cafeteras.

The band’s Día de los Muertos-themed production, “Hasta La Muerte,” comes to Merced on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at the Art Kamangar Center at The Merced Theatre. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.

UC Merced Named the 14th Best College in the Nation by Wall Street Journal

Following recognition as a Top 25 university by U.S. News & World Report, UC Merced has once again earned national acclaim, this time from the Wall Street Journal. In its 2026 report of the Best Colleges in the U.S., the highly respected media outlet has named UC Merced the 14th best college in the nation.

UC Merced Launches Distinguished Speaker Series with World-Renowned Bioengineer David Kaplan

The Health Sciences Research Institute (HSRI) at UC Merced is preparing to launch its long-envisioned distinguished speaker series on Oct. 6 with a visit from David Kaplan, a Tufts University professor internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work in bioengineering.

20th Anniversary Exhibit Presents UC Merced Architecture as Art

Before the first walls were raised or walkways paved, UC Merced existed as an idea on paper. The vision consisted of a campus master plan, detailed architectural designs and artistic renderings that illustrated a bold vision for a university at the heart of California’s Central Valley.

UC Merced Named Top 25 Public University by U.S. News & World Report

UC Merced’s upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing as the university has cracked the Top 25 of U.S. News & World Report’s best public schools in the nation.

The annual survey, which evaluates nearly 1,700 national public and private colleges and universities, also placed UC Merced No. 57 overall among all universities and No. 3 in the nation for social mobility.

Gary Stewart Named UC Merced Head Men's Basketball Coach

Gary Stewart, who has won 385 career games across all levels of NCAA basketball, has been named the University of California, Merced head men's basketball coach, Executive Director of Recreation & Athletics David Dunham announced today.

UC Merced and Fresno Unified Launch Guaranteed Admission Path with Scholarship Opportunity

A new program between UC Merced and the Fresno Unified School District guarantees admission to UC Merced for qualified high school juniors and offers each student the chance to earn up to $12,000 in scholarships.

The Merced Automatic Admission Program (MAAP) agreement notes that both UC Merced and Fresno Unified “recognize the importance of higher education and its transformative impact on Fresno and neighboring communities.”