Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back to a new quarter.

Spring is an exciting time for UC Riverside’s next cohort of students. Beginning in late February and continuing through March, first-year applicants receive admission news. Next month, transfer students will receive their notifications. By June, we’ll know who wants to be a Highlander in the fall.

Every student who receives an admission letter from UCR belongs here. I say that with confidence because our admissions process identifies students with talent, curiosity, and determination to succeed. At UCR, those qualities are matched with a world-class education and opportunities for hands-on discovery.

Our momentum is garnering national attention. EdSource recently reported that, while enrollment has leveled off at many UC campuses, UCR is seeing a remarkable surge. As our prestige grows alongside our student body, UCR is uniquely prepared to scale that excellence.

During my past eight months as UCR Chancellor, I have had the opportunity to meet with many current students and recent graduates. They all speak of the positive, transformative experience they had at UCR. Thank you to the faculty and staff for supporting our students.

This month, I’d like to share a few updates that reflect how our campus community continues to support our students and advance discovery at UCR.

Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture and Fireside Chat

In my January update, I highlighted the launch of the Provost’s Lecture Series. This month, I’m pleased to share news about the first speaker in the relaunched Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series.

On April 15 at 2 p.m. in the University Theatre, Jack Dangermond, founder and president of Esri and one of the region’s most influential entrepreneurs, will visit campus to speak on the science of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and their 

transformative applications. In conjunction with his visit, the campus will also host the "Mapping the Future" Esri Innovation and Demo Day, showcasing the cutting-edge GIS work taking place right here at UCR.

Jack and his wife Laura Dangermond launched Esri in 1969—well before personal computers, the internet, or smartphones—building a company around computer mapping and geographic data decades before most people imagined its possibilities.

Following his remarks, we will sit down for a fireside chat about his journey building Esri and how artificial intelligence may shape the future of GIS. Conversations like this are part of the UC Riverside experience, where students learn in a research environment shaped by bold ideas and the innovators behind them.

The Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series is free to attend and open to the UCR community and the public. I hope you will join us for what promises to be a fascinating conversation about innovation, discovery, and entrepreneurship. To reserve your seat, please register through this link. I also encourage you to view the workshops and sign up for the Innovation and Demo Day.

Investing in UCR’s priorities

The budget reviews that began last month are now complete. These discussions help ensure that we continue to invest resources where they matter most while encouraging every department to examine its operations.

Responsible stewardship has long been part of the UCR story. It allows us to remain both an outstanding research university and the most affordable, prestigious university in Southern California for students.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the process.

Give Day is almost here

For a 24-hour period starting Tuesday, April 7, at 12 noon, our campus community will come together for UCR’s fourth annual Give Day.

Faculty and staff across campus give back for many reasons—to support students, advance research, and strengthen the community we care about. A new video highlights why some of your colleagues choose to give back to UCR.

Last year, our community raised more than $886,000 across campus. This year, with your help, we can break that record and expand our impact. Thanks to a challenge from SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, if 425 faculty and staff participate, the credit union will contribute $12,500 to Give Day. Please consider making a donation of any amount to assist the University in reaching its Give Day goal.

You can browse participating causes and make your gift early at giveday.ucr.edu.

Thanks again for the many ways you support UC Riverside and help advance both student success and the discoveries that shape our future.