Jan. 13, 2025

Students stroll through Aldrich Park between classes. (Photo: Steve Zylius/UC Irvine)

UC IRVINE NEWS

Gift secures future of Center for the Power of Music and Social Change

A significant donation from philanthropist and businessman Alec Glasser will allow the School of Social Ecology to fully endow the Center for the Power of Music and Social Change, paving the way for it to positively impact lives for generations to come. The gift follows earlier donations by Glasser that set up 10 annual scholarships for students hoping to incorporate music into their professional paths. “I believe music has the power to drive social change by bringing people together and breaking down barriers like culture, language and socioeconomic differences,” said Glasser, above. “It’s a unifying force that can inspire real change – empowering communities, raising awareness, healing wounds and advancing education.”

For UCI Health, 2024 was a year of expansion, innovation

Last year, UCI Health embarked on a historic expansion of access to world-class medicine that transformed the academic health system into one of California’s largest, capable of serving more community members than ever before. From acquiring four community hospitals and breaking ground on a new 52-bed rehabilitation hospital in Irvine to opening the second clinical hub of the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center along with the Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care on the UCI Health ― Irvine medical campus, 2024 saw significant strides toward building a healthier future for the region.

Outpatient spine surgery cures runner's pain

Correction: Last Thursday’s digest included an incorrect title for Thai B. Nguyen. He is an assistant project scientist.

UC NEWS

President Drake issues statement on proposed state budget

On Jan. 10, UC President Michael V. Drake issued a statement expressing concern about Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2025-26 budget. “At a time when the University is enrolling record numbers of California students, I am concerned about the impact of the proposed $271 million funding reduction on our students and campus services,” Drake said. “I look forward to our continued collaboration with the Legislature and the Governor throughout the budget process to mitigate any harmful budget impacts. With stable state support, the University can continue to invest in California’s students, our state’s economic growth, and the leading-edge research needed to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”

#IamUCI

Undergraduate advising director recognized for career achievements

David B. Spight (above center), director of the Undergraduate/Undeclared Advising Program, has received the 2024 Bobbie Flaherty Service to NACADA Award. NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising is the premier association for student success through academic advising in higher education, The award is named after NACADA’s first Executive Director, Bobbie Flaherty and recognizes Spight’s impact on the academic advising space through his professional leadership, scholarly research and commitment to excellence. “I have been blessed to work in advising for over 20 years, and I love that I get to come to work each day and work toward making the student experience better,’ Spight said. “I love serving our profession, supporting others in our collective work and watching students go from being new students to graduates and changemakers.”

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