James Leonard

UC Merced campus photo of sign

Director of News and Social Media

Office: (209) 228-4408

Mobile: (209) 681-1061

jleonard3@ucmerced.edu

U.S. News Ranks UC Merced No. 1 in the Nation for Financial Aid

The University of California, Merced, is the No. 1 public university in the nation for financial aid given to first-year students — and a strong performer in graduation and retention rates — according to the U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings released today.

Statement From Chancellor Leland on DACA

The decision to end DACA is a cruel bait-and-switch for the many young adults who are living, learning, and working here under its protections. Congress must now step up and pass legislation that will allow Dreamers to remain in this country to pursue the opportunities they have earned.

Washington Monthly Ranks UC Merced Top-10 in the U.S.

UC Merced ranks among the top 10 universities in the nation for the success of its first-generation and underrepresented students, according to Washington Monthly’s 2017 College Rankings.

The university received high marks in areas related to social mobility, placing No. 3 in the nation for graduating Pell Grant recipients at higher-than-predicted rates. It’s also No. 10 in the nation by the same measure for first-generation students, which account for 71 percent of the campus’s total enrollment.

Campus Named a Top-50 ‘Cool School’ for Sustainability

UC Merced checks in at No. 50 in the Sierra Club’s 2017 "Cool Schools" list, rising more than 30 spots from its previous position in the ranking of sustainable colleges and universities.

It’s the fifth Cool Schools appearance in the past six years for UC Merced, which is the only university in the nation to have all of its buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

Revamped News Site Spotlights the Best of UC Merced

UC Merced’s University Communications has launched Newsroom, a revamped news website housing information for the campus community and the general public.

In addition to cosmetic improvements, the site’s launch coincides with the department’s new approach to covering the news at UC Merced and sharing it with the university’s most important audiences.

Revamped News Site, Features Spotlight the Best of UC Merced

UC Merced’s University Communications has launched Newsroom, a revamped news website housing information for the campus community and the general public.

In addition to cosmetic improvements, the site’s launch coincides with the department’s new approach to covering the news at UC Merced and sharing it with the university’s most important audiences.