A new grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will help UC Merced further diversify its community of graduate students and faculty, beginning with the humanities and humanistic social sciences.
“Diversity of background and perspective drives creativity and innovation, and a diverse faculty improves the educational environment for all students,” interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Gregg Camfield said. “As a campus community, it's imperative for us to envision ways to foster an environment that provides the necessary resources for underrepresented minority faculty to thrive.”
Vice Provost and Graduate Division Dean Marjorie Zatz is the principal investigator on the four-year, $573,000 Pathways to a Diverse Faculty project, the campus’ second award from the Mellon Foundation.
“We are thrilled to receive this prestigious award that will enhance the success of our faculty and students while it contributes to the university’s commitment to diversity,” Zatz said. “With Mellon’s help, we are beginning this initiative with the humanities and humanistic social sciences, but our hope is to expand it to the entire campus soon.”
The project will be managed by Zatz and grant co-PIs Jill Robbins, professor and former dean of the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, and Teenie Matlock, interim vice provost for the faculty and McClatchy Chair in Communications.
