Sept. 26, 2024

UC IRVINE NEWS

UCI Podcast: How Latinos are shaping the future together

The theme for this year’s National Hispanic Heritage Month is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” As chair of the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies and a faculty member with the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community in the School of Medicine, Belinda Campos leads a network of colleagues who endeavor to foster in students an understanding of Latino history. In this episode of The UCI Podcast, Campos explores how to apply that knowledge to build a brighter future.

The human costs of mortgage rate lock

Rising interest rates between 2022 and 2023 caused more U.S. homeowners to stay put, reducing moves by 16% and costing the U.S. economy an estimated $20 billion, according to a new study. Known as a “mortgage rate lock,” the phenomenon underscores how interest rate increases discourage current homeowners with lower, 30-year fixed rate mortgages from considering a move. “This has consequences for the economy which lost an average of $296 per household with a mortgage,” said study co-author Jack Liebersohn, an assistant professor economics (above left with UC Berkeley economics professor Jesse Rothstein), “but also for homeowners who are foregoing moves for things like jobs, family and the like because they can’t afford or don’t want a higher house payment due to the higher interest rate.”

Preparing humanities students for the 21st century

The School of Humanities is using a comprehensive suite of undergraduate research opportunities, digital humanities projects, professional internships, study abroad programs and more to better prepare students for the evolving contemporary workplace. These include ​​the Undergraduate Summer Fellowship in Digital Humanities, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, the Internships for English Majors Program (2023 participants are shown above) and others.

Latest free COVID-19 home tests available

As of late September 2024, all residential households in the U.S. are eligible for another order of four free at-home tests from USPS.com. Orders will ship free starting Sept. 30. More information about the tests is available online.

UC NEWS

Academic Advisory Board Nomination 2025

Founded in 2017, the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement explores the intersection of expression, engagement and democratic learning in the context of free speech on college campuses and within society at large. Individuals may nominate themselves to the center’s Academic Advisory Board or be nominated by others. Nominations require a one-page statement of qualifications and interest and are due by Nov. 15. You can request more information by emailing freespeechcenter@uci.edu.

SAVE THE DATE

Down Syndrome Showcase

Sunday, 2 p.m., (sponsored by UCI Center for Aging Research in Down Syndrome and the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders)

2024 National Latinx Physician Day Celebration

Tuesday, noon. (sponsored by the School of Medicine)

For more events, visit UCI Today.

#IamUCI

Creating community through comics

Comics are a powerful medium for cultural expression and social commentary, blending art and literature to explore complex ideas beyond the reach of traditional text. At the forefront of this evolving field is Rocío Pichon-Rivière, an assistant professor of Spanish and Portuguese. As founding co-director of the UCI Graphic Narratives Research Cluster and a board member of the Graphic Medicine International Collective, Pichon-Rivière examines the intersection of visual narratives, cultural identity and social issues. “Comics offer a way to engage with and visually analyze cultural and social issues that resonate with students,” she said. “My students are often surprised to discover the depth and breadth of Latinx comics, and how they relate to their own experiences or those of their communities, whether they are Latinx or not.”

#UCIconnected spotlights interesting updates from the UC Irvine community. #IamUCI spotlights profiles of students, faculty, staff and alumni. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected or #IamUCI hashtags.

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