UCI Alumni

Meet Martha Morales Hernandez '17, M.A. '19, Ph.D. '24, this year's Lauds and Laurels Outstanding Graduate Student! A UC Irvine School of Social Sciences triple Anteater and tireless advocate for undocumented students, Martha's journey is truly inspiring. Naturally curious and a problem solver at heart, she has dedicated her research to identifying and understanding ways to better support and promote the educational success and well-being of undocumented college students.

Her advocacy for the rights of undocumented students led her to co-found and serve as an instrumental member of the Undocumented Student Equity Project at University of California, Irvine. She was also crucial in founding the UCI DREAM Center, with her efforts leading to campus-wide initiatives and successful grant acquisitions. Currently a UC Presidential Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California, Merced, Martha is expanding her research to write a book about the structural marginalization created by current immigration laws and politics.

Join us in celebrating Martha and meet other extraordinary Anteaters at our Lauds & Laurels ceremony on Oct. 10. Register now: https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=805799&fbclid=IwY2xjawFHbyxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUOZmX7v6_hB4rvlMVFN9d-dVYJkrw016azMyjb58F3Kfl6djuzft1dr6A_aem_v9h3oZ31Cb-EPIMpbKy-YA 🐜🍽️💙

👏🎉👉Anteaters, your was strong world-wide today during the Fifth Annual ! volunteers joined together to serve their communities and connect with each other. We’re still tallying the impact you made on this milestone service day- stay tuned for those details! 💙💛🐜🍽️

Here’s a look at more organizations that you helped support today: Blanchet House, Guadalupe River Conservancy, Nashville Rescue Mission, COASTSWEEP, Orangewood Foundation, Dance Arts Academy, Elder Law, Dreams for Schools.

is underway and we’re excited to share our Anteaters in action today! Are you participating? Be sure to tag us in your photos with . Together we’re making an impact in communities and showing our all across the U.S. and in London.
Organizations pictured: Housing Works NYC, Dreams for Schools, Surfrider Foundation OC, RunThrough UK Battersea Half Marathon, Latino Health Access, Second Harvest Food Bank, Newkirk Alumni Center, Orange County Foodbank

is underway and we’re excited to share our Anteaters in action today! Are you participating? Be sure to tag us in your photos with . Together we’re making an impact in communities and showing our all across the U.S. and in London.

Organizations pictured: Surfrider North Orange County, Friends of Urban Agriculture Arlington, VA, London Battersea Half Marathon, Latino Health Access Santa Ana, and Housing Works NYC.

✨ 💙 💛 We're kicking off the Fifth Annual Anteaters In Service Day RIGHT NOW!
We can't wait to showcase your Anteater pride– it's your day to join forces in a celebration of collective power to create a brilliant future together.

Connect with fellow on this day of service to make a difference, then show us how you're supporting your local community: tag us in your photos and use so we can feature your !

Drop off donations for the Illumination Foundation and DANCE ARTS Academy at the University of California, Irvine Newkirk Alumni Center until 2 p.m. today. View all the projects here: https://buff.ly/3ScIiu1 🐜 🍽️ 😎

📣 💙 💛 Tomorrow is the Fifth Annual Anteaters in Service Day! We're excited to showcase the throughout our communities in Orange County, across the U.S. and in London. Follow us here for updates throughout the day, and if you're participating, be sure to tag us in your photos using and ! Check out the participating organizations here: https://buff.ly/3ScIiu1 🐜 🍽️

Meet Shelley Thunen ‘90 MBA ‘92, this year’s Lauds & Laurels Distinguished Alumna for the UC Irvine School of Social Sciences! Shelley's journey is nothing short of remarkable. As a double Anteater with a B.A. in economics and an MBA, she was the first in her family to graduate from college, completing her MBA program first in her class in two years while a successful CFO. That drive and resilience led her to become the CFO for RxSight, a company revolutionizing vision care for cataract patients. Shelley's impact goes far beyond her professional achievements, and she is deeply committed to giving back through education, philanthropy and mentoring, including University of California, Irvine School of Social Sciences’ Women of the Dean’s Leadership Society. Shelley plays a crucial role in shaping Orange County’s future as a global hub for ophthalmology and fostering the next generation of leaders.

Join us to celebrate Shelley and meet extraordinary Anteaters at our Lauds & laurel ceremony Oct. 10. Register now at: https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=805799& 🐜🍽️💙

Meet Manu Gulati ’95, this year's Lauds & Laurels Distinguished Alumnus from The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UC Irvine! From working at start-ups to Google and Qualcomm, Manu always had a keen eye for innovation and problem-solving. Thanks to his time at University of California, Irvine, Manu has curated his innovative style and passion towards finding solutions, with authoring close to 100 patents. Manu is a recent addition to the The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UC Irvine Hall of Fame for his impact on the engineering profession and philanthropic efforts.

Join us to celebrate Manu and meet extraordinary Anteaters at our Lauds & Laurels ceremony Oct. 10. Register now: https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=805799& . 🐜🍽️💙

Happy Labor Day, Anteaters! Wishing our community a relaxing and rejuvenating day. Take a moment to celebrate and reflect on your dedication and hard work that keeps thriving!

is next Saturday, Sept. 7! We need more 'Eaters to register as blood donors for UC Irvine Campus Blood Donor Center ! Appointments ARE required, so schedule yours and show your to help replenish the critically low blood supply. You'll give at the bloodmobile at University of California, Irvine Newkirk Alumni Center Sept. 7.

, help us meet the UC Irvine Campus Blood Donor Center Sept. 2 registration deadline and serve your community- click NOW to register! https://www.ucihealth.org/blooddrive/default?id=UCIAlum

🐜 🍽️📣 London Anteaters! Register now to volunteer with us Sept. 7 for the Fifth Annual Anteaters in Service Day from 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Run Through Battersea Half Marathon! 🏃‍♂️ We’ll be staffing the water stations, cheering on runners and helping them stay hydrated as they race towards the finish line.

Make a difference and show your by supporting this incredible cause! https://buff.ly/4e7FrLF

📣Hey, Anteaters - did you know you can save *three* lives when you donate blood with UC Irvine Campus Blood Donor Center🩸🩺, our partner? 🫵We need YOUR help to get to 47 registered donors by Sept. 2 - their blood supply is critically low, especially for O+, and your blood donation of any type will make a big impact!

Be a hero: REGISTER NOW https://buff.ly/3T3Tx8M to join and donate blood at the University of California, Irvine Newkirk Alumni Center on Sept. 7! 💙💛🐜🍽️

Meet Sana U. Khan ’86, this year's Lauds & Laurels Distinguished Alumnus from UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences! As a renowned radiologist, researcher, teacher and entrepreneur, Sana has made a groundbreaking impact within University of California, Irvine and beyond the Anteater community, like his paper on paradigm-shifting research on epilepsy, which is still cited today, that stands as an important and meaningful accomplishment. As a continuing supporter of UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences, he is an inspiration to current and future generations.

Join us to celebrate Sana and meet extraordinary Anteaters at our Lauds & Laurels ceremony Oct. 10. Register now https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=805799&. 🐜🍽️💙

Meet Tracy Carmichael ’03, Ph.D. ’13, this year's Lauds & Laurels Distinguished Alumna from the UCI School of Education! Through research and policy, Tracy is using her passion for education towards advocating for youth in the education system. Her commitment to University of California, Irvine is central to her life, as a co-host to UC Irvine podcast “Our Kids”, exploring the impact of hunger, homelessness and under-education on students. Her roles in leadership at the UCI School of Education are deeply recognized in the Anteater community and will continue to shine throughout the years.

Join us to celebrate Tracy and meet extraordinary Anteaters at our Lauds & Laurels ceremony Oct. 10. Register now at https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=805799& . 🐜🍽️💙

In two weeks at this year's , our friends at Community Action Partnership of Orange County are seeking your help at their OC Food Bank 🥫 and The Giving Farm 🥕. The OC Food Bank aims to end malnutrition and hunger in the surrounding communities through the organization and distribution of donated foods. Over at The Giving Farm, their mission to provide agricultural engagement to students and the community allows them to provide over 200,000 pounds of food to low-income families. The Community Action Group is empowering people and communities with the resources they need to prevent and end poverty.

Volunteer with your family Sept. 7 at The Giving Farm or the OC Food Bank 💙💛. All are welcome! Learn more about the Community Action Group and register today: https://buff.ly/3ScIiu1 .

Happy Friday, everyone! ⏳Let’s travel back in time–pictured here is Dan Aldrich, circa 1965. Fifty nine years later and here we are. In another 60 years future generations will also stand where we stood. What would you put in a time capsule to give future Anteaters a glimpse of life today? Share in the comments!🤖
(Photo: UC Irvine Library Archives)

Meet Susan L. Polan, Ph.D. ’94, this year's Lauds & Laurels Distinguished Alumna from the UC Irvine Wen School of Population & Public Health! Susan’s passion for creating healthy communities led her to foster access and opportunities for University of California, Irvine students. She has been an expert and leader in public health, providing invaluable insight and positively impacting the trajectory of the UC Irvine Wen School of Population & Public Health as an active member of the UCI Public Health Community Advisory Council and the UCI Graduate Dean Advisory Committee.

Join us to celebrate Susan and meet extraordinary Anteaters at our Lauds & Laurels ceremony Oct. 10. Register now https://buff.ly/3YXCRmX. 🐜🍽️💙

We're here for business! 🧳 Join for an exclusive hiring event Aug. 22 at UC Riverside featuring top employers from diverse industries. Don't miss this chance to be in front of companies eager to hire UC grads like you - it's your chance to discover new career fields! Register now at https://buff.ly/3WFz2QH.

Join us after the career fair at the networking mixer for insightful conversations with fellow alums. Register now at https://buff.ly/4djNiG0!

Volunteer on Sept. 7 with our partner Latino Health Access to beautify Familias Corazones Verdes Park and help organize clothes for their clothing drive. Latino Health Access brings health, equity and sustainable change to low-income, low-opportunity areas through education, services, consciousness-raising and civic participation.

Join with family, friends and fellow University of California, Irvine to serve the community. Register today at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/anteaters-in-service-day-2024-latino-health-access-tickets-980484965927?aff=oddtdtcreator 💙 💛 🐜 🍽️

🇺🇸 🏐USA Volleyball 🏅Olympic Bronze Medalist David Smith '08, shared some with some of the UC Irvine Alumni Association team today outside Bren Events Center at University of California, Irvine during his visit with UC Irvine Men's Volleyball UC Irvine Athletics to catch the New Orleans Saints 🏉 practice! 💙 💛🐜 🍽️

Meet Sean Garcia-Leys, J.D. ’16, this year's Lauds & Laurels Distinguished Alumnus from the School of Law! Sean is a passionate advocate for civil and legal rights who became a Staff Attorney after graduating University of California, Irvine, leading community lawyering services and direct legal services. Sean gave back to University of California, Irvine School of Law as a Munger, Tolles & Olson Fellow and Visiting Scholar, working with the school's Criminal Justice Clinic.

Join us to celebrate Sean and meet extraordinary Anteaters at our Lauds & Laurels ceremony Oct. 10. Register now: https://engage.alumni.uci.edu/lauds/ 🐜🍽💙

, what's your favorite place on campus? Tell us in the comments.

The time is finally here! 🧳 Get excited for the HireUC Alumni Career fair on Aug. 22 and these exclusive workshops, just for you. Don't miss this chance to be in front of companies eager to hire UC grads like you - it's your chance to discover new career fields! Register now at https://buff.ly/3WFz2QH

Meet David Israelsky ’03, this year’s Lauds & Laurels Distinguished Alumnus from the School of Humanities at UC Irvine! Passionate about his impact at University of California, Irvine, Israelsky is guided by experiences in his family and continues to support efforts to find treatments and cures for Parkinson’s Disease and rheumatoid arthritis. After making remarkable achievements such as climbing Kilimanjaro, trekking to the base camp of Mt. Everest and rafting from the Andes to the Amazon basin, Israelsky is a model for exploring "the road not taken". Learn more about our extraordinary Anteaters at our Lauds & Laurels ceremony.

Save the date for Oct. 10 to meet extraordinary Anteaters at our Lauds & Laurels ceremony. https://engage.alumni.uci.edu/lauds/ 🐜💙

This , support local students by donating and distributing school supplies at 💃 DANCE ARTS Academy, founded by Sakina Ibrahim '14. Volunteers and their child(ren) can participate in a free dance workshop focused on health and fitness designed for children and their guardians.

You can also drop off 📚donations at the Newkirk Alumni Center 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Mon.-Fri. through Sept. 7 💙💛. Register now: https://buff.ly/4dA3Hpl.

It’s Friday, Anteaters! ✨We all want to know… what’s your favorite, most memorable event that you’ve attended on campus? Share some memories in the comments! Whether it was Homecoming, one of our iconic concerts, or an interesting day in class; let us know! 🤓 Photo, circa 1983

Meet Darcy Prevost, M.F.A. ’09, this year's Lauds & Laurels Distinguished Alumna from the Claire Trevor School for the Arts! Darcy is an Emmy award-winning model maker, production designer and set designer who stays closely connected to UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts. She hires University of California, Irvine alumni, inspires current students and mentors aspiring artists to remain committed to their craft and seize every opportunity. Join us in celebrating Darcy's incredible contributions and dedication to the arts!

Save the date for Oct. 10 to meet extraordinary Anteaters at our Lauds & Laurels ceremony. https://engage.alumni.uci.edu/lauds/ 🐜💙

M.J. Yang, a Tongva biologist, ethnobotanist and scientific illustrator, recently led a walk through UC Irvine's Ecological Preserve. Students, faculty and community members explored the significance of native plants on traditional Tongva and Acjachemen lands, upon which UC Irvine was built. Arranged partly by UC Irvine’s Wildlife-Urban Interface Climate Action Network and six UC Irvine disciplines, this event showcased the collaborative climate action efforts happening on campus. Learn more at https://buff.ly/3YB3HBl 🌱

📣Hey Anteaters! Check this out- your fellow Scott Brooks is officially coaching for the Los Angeles Los Angeles Lakers 🏀! Brooks was a key player for during his time at UC Irvine and an impactful figure in the Anteater community, and was named the 2017 Lauds & Laurels Outstanding Alumni Athlete. 'Eater nation wishes him the best on this new and exciting journey!

Meet Toshiki Tajima, Ph.D. ’75, this year's Lauds & Laurels recipient for Outstanding Faculty Achievement at University of California, Irvine! A trailblazing researcher and world-renowned physicist, Dr. Tajima has received numerous awards, including the Enrico Fermi Prize of the Italian Physical Society and the Einstein Professorship of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He has also been elected to the Russian Academy of Sciences. Committed to training the next generation of researchers, Dr. Tajima has conferred degrees to over 40 Ph.D. and M.S. students at UCI School of Physical Sciences. Early in his career, a former professor asked him what he believed a professor’s job was. The answer inspired him: “A professor is someone who learns from their students.” Join us in celebrating Dr. Tajima’s incredible achievements and dedication to education!

Save the date for Oct. 10 to meet extraordinary Anteaters at our Lauds & Laurels ceremony. https://engage.alumni.uci.edu/lauds/🐜💙