June 18, 2026

Anteater Time Machine: Graduates hold blue and gold balloons to celebrate commencement, circa 1981. (Photo courtesy of UC Irvine Libraries Archives)

UC IRVINE NEWS

Lauded for leadership

Recipients of UC Irvine’s 2026 Staff Assembly Excellence in Leadership Awards are (from left) Alisa Rubalcaba, Jennifer Gerson, Jennifer Nelson Martinez, Jill Halvaks, Teresa Martinez Gonzalez and Mary Gillis.

For 15 years, the UC Irvine Staff Assembly Excellence in Leadership Awards have celebrated a simple but powerful truth: Great institutions are shaped not only by visionary ideas but by leaders who make people feel valued, supported and inspired every single day. Established by UC Irvine Staff Assembly in partnership with Human Resources, the awards honor supervisors and managers whose leadership transforms the experiences of employees across both campus and UCI Health operations.

Researcher secures NIH grant to advance therapeutic vaccine

Lbachir BenMohamed, professor of immunology and director of the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, has been awarded a $3.93 million National Institutes of Health grant to develop and test a novel therapeutic vaccine designed to prevent recurrent genital herpes, a lifelong viral infection that affects more than 60 million Americans and over 530 million people worldwide. “Our goal is to develop a safe and durable therapeutic vaccine that can reduce recurrent disease, limit transmission and ultimately improve the lives of millions of people worldwide,” said BenMohamed. #SpeakUp4Science

Division of Continuing Education offers scholarships

For many working professionals, the cost of a single course can be the one thing that stands between where they are and where they want to be. The Division of Continuing Education is removing that barrier, thanks to a $10,000 grant from Verizon. The grant will cover 20 scholarships of $500 each to working professionals who are ready to upskill, reskill or make a career pivot through one of DCE’s short, career-focused courses. Applications are now open. “We know that motivation is rarely what holds people back. More often, it’s access,” said Kristine Collins, dean of Continuing Education. “The Verizon grant allows us to meet learners where they are and to give them the financial support they need to invest in their success.”

Shaping America at 250

For 250 years, America’s story has been defined by discovery, creativity and opportunity. For the past 60 years, UC Irvine has advanced those values through transformative research, education and public service. Explore how UC Irvine has advanced the nation through discovery and the ideas driving what’s next.

Happy trails to Chief Griffin

After more than 33 years in law enforcement, including seven years at UC Irvine, Chief of Police Liz Griffin will retire at the end of the month. Griffin joined UC Irvine in May 2019 following a 27-year career with the Long Beach Police Department. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, the LAPD West Point Leadership Program and the UC CORO Systemwide Leadership Collaborative, she brought extensive operational experience and a strong commitment to community-centered policing. “Serving UC Irvine has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” said Griffin. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done to build trust, strengthen transparency and support the safety of this campus community.”

University Partnership Program

This year’s UC Irvine Commencement ceremonies marked the first commencement supported through the University Partnership Program, which connects the university with organizations that share its commitment to enhancing the campus experience. Through a partnership with Town & Country-Signature Party Rentals, graduates, families and guests benefited from shade structures and hydration stations throughout the commencement venue. As thousands gathered to celebrate this important milestone, these amenities helped create a more comfortable experience for the entire Anteater community. Learn more about commencement ceremonies and the partners supporting the experience at commencement.uci.edu.

*Please note that the UC Irvine Digest will take a brief hiatus, returning on July 6, and will run on a reduced schedule of Mondays and Thursdays during the summer.

SAVE THE DATE

Celebrate the opening of summer 2026 exhibitions with a free, all-ages, all-day event.

Public Opening: Summer 2026

June 27, 11 a.m. (sponsored by UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art)

Python Workshop

June 30, 12 a.m. (sponsored by UC Irvine Libraries)

New Swan Shakespeare Festival 2026

July 7, 8 p.m. and and multiple subsequent dates; Romeo & Juliet (Sponsored by New Swan Shakespeare Festival)

July 8, 8 p.m. and and multiple subsequent dates; The Merry Wives of Windsor Cove (Sponsored by New Swan Shakespeare Festival)

For more events, visit UC Irvine Today.

#IamUCI

From UC Irvine to Manchester

Since arriving in 2020, graduating Ph.D. student Jyotsana Kala has thrived and earned recognition as a Sheen T. Kassouf Endowed Fellow for research excellence. Come fall, Kala will be joining the Department of Economics at the University of Manchester as a lecturer/assistant professor. “It is a big, exciting step, and I genuinely can't wait – teaching at UC Irvine, including to first-year Ph.D. students, gave me real confidence in the classroom,” said Kala. “And the research portfolio I built here feels like a strong foundation to build toward tenure. UC Irvine prepared me well, in more ways than I can fully articulate.”

#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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