Category: Giving
A human-centered approach supports emerging scientists
UCSC's Lamat Institute—which provides opportunities for early-career scientists to engage in novel research and creates healthy spaces for scientific inquiry—marked a banner year with graduate school admissions, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship awards, and American Astronomical Society honors.
By Christy Tall, August 2023
Supporting others and giving back
Colleen Langan (Porter ’06, anthropology) overcame much personal hardship to attend UCSC. Now as the vice president of treasury at JPMorgan Chase & Co., Langan gives back to the Smith Society, which supported her during her student years.
By Haneen Zain (Rachel Carson ’21, politics), May 2023
New traditions
UC Santa Cruz alumni Florence Nelson, Stephen Klein, and Nadene Thorne are at the forefront of volunteering at Cowell College, laying the groundwork for what an alumni relationship with the campus could look like.
By Haneen Zain (Rachel Carson ’21, politics), March 2023
A page at a time
The daughter of the late UCSC astrophysicist Bill Mathews has found a creative way to remember and pay tribute to her father—by weaving portraits of him into and over his handwritten notes.
By Haneen Zain (Rachel Carson ’21, politics), March 2023
Organizing for lasting impact
Crown College pioneer alumni worked to raise $1 million toward the Crown College Endowment.
By Haneen Zain (Rachel Carson ’21, politics), November 2022
Centering South Asian Studies
The Anuradha Luther Maitra and Thomas Kailath Endowed Professorship in South Asian Studies will advance the center’s position as a leading hub of research and discourse dedicated to South Asia and the South Asian diaspora.
By Haneen Zain (Rachel Carson ’21, politics), November 2022
Musical chair
Best known for producing the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives, alumnus Ken Corday has brought new opportunities to the film department at UCSC—and has now created the Corday Family Chair in Music.
By Haneen Zain (College ‘21, politics), August 2022
Empowering women leaders
Alumna Cassi Janakos, whose company offers lactation programs, created an endowment for the Feminist Studies Department with the aim of empowering other women as leaders and innovators.
By Christy Tall, August 2022
Coming together to heal
Arts Dean Celine Parreñas Shimizu's son, Lakas Shimizu, unexpectedly passed away in 2013 at the age of 8. In his memory, his family has established a scholarship at UC Santa Cruz supporting students in the arts.
By Christy Tall, May 2022
Lighting a spark
Astronaut and pioneering scientist Kathryn Sullivan is making a planned gift to inspire future generations.
By Dan White, May 2022