[Orgvpdue] February 2025 DUE Spotlight

Mon Feb 24 09:33:24 PST 2025

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*Undergraduate Education Monthly Spotlights*
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The* DUE Monthly Spotlight Series* aims to highlight important advances
across the Division of Undergraduate Education. The goal is to ensure that
our fellow DUE members stay in the know as we collectively work toward
DUE’s strategic goals, including boosting graduation rates and reducing
equity gaps, among others.

VPDUE Rodriguez visits UCDC students

UCR's Vice Provost of the Division of Undergraduate Education, Dr. Louie
Rodriguez visited UCDC last month. He had dinner with UCR students
participating in UCDC this winter quarter, along with UCDC Executive
Director* Dr. Tanya Golash-Boza*, UCDC Director of Academic and Student
Services, *Dr. Jimmy Ellis*, and *Michael Nieto*, UCDC Manager of Campus
Relations and External Affairs. Dr. Rodriguez said, "...it is evident from
the students’ excitement that the *UCDC program is a transformative
experience* for our UCR students." Indeed it is!

Thank you so much for visiting UCDC, Dr. Rodriguez!

New Kessler Scholars Program Coordinator

Let's welcome *Andrea Martinez-Frausto* to the Division of Undergraduate
Education. She will begin her new role as Kessler Scholars Program
Coordinator on March 3. Andrea will be responsible for enhancing
educational opportunities and academic progress to degree completion for
Kessler Scholars who tend to be the first in their family to attend college.

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising
every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela

UCR Army ROTC cadets inspire future leaders through ‘Meet Your Army’
outreach

As part of the *Meet Your Army initiative*, UCR Army ROTC cadets are
engaging with high school seniors to educate and inspire the next
generation of leaders. Led by the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs
(OCPA), this outreach effort connects high school students with cadets who
share their personal experiences, highlight scholarship opportunities, and
explain how UCR and ROTC develop leadership skills for both military and
civilian careers.

A key participant in this initiative is the Army ROTC program at the
University of California, Riverside. The *UCR Army ROTC provides cadets
with world-class education, leadership training, tuition assistance, and
career-building opportunities*. Cadets from UCR discuss financial benefits,
career paths, and the challenges and rewards of military service.

Through open discussions and firsthand accounts, these cadets help students
understand the value of the UCR Army ROTC and higher education. Meet Your
Army ensures that future leaders have the knowledge and inspiration to
consider service, education, and leadership development.

*ADT to Host Dr. Sasha Sidorkin, Chief AI Officer*

The *Academy of Distinguished Teaching (ADT)* will be hosting an external
speaker--*Dr. Sasha Sidorkin, Chief AI Officer at CSU Sacramento--from
March 17-18th*. On the 17th, Dr. Sidorkin will present a seminar on using
AI as a tool for teaching and learning and on the 18th, he will lead a
hands-on workshop for faculty/instructors to create course chat bots, embed
rubrics in an AI system for student feedback, etc. We look forward to his
presentation!

Listen to Beyond J: Dr. Sasha Sidorkin
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CRF's Lead Application Workshops

The Chancellor’s Research Fellows (CRFs) have had a productive winter
quarter, balancing their academic, research, and CRF-related
responsibilities with great success. The fellows have organized and hosted
a series of professional development workshops, reaching students across
all disciplines. We also collaborated with the Ethnic & Gender Programs to
host a student panel to expose students to organized research programs and
providing resources for them to apply.  The fellows are also *leading CRF
Application Workshops, providing valuable guidance to prospective
applicants for the 2025/2026 cohort*.

In addition to these workshops, the *CRFs have been actively mentoring 28
sophomore Mentees*, with the aim of helping them secure research
opportunities by the upcoming spring quarter. Their mentorship is making a
significant impact on the professional growth of these students.

One of the standout events this quarter was a *luncheon with Executive Vice
Provost Elizabeth Watkins*, offering an invaluable opportunity for fellows
to engage directly with university leadership.

We are excited to share that several CRFs are being accepted into
prestigious graduate programs and are actively participating in campus
visitation events. The fellows' accomplishments this winter reflect not
only their dedication but also the exceptional opportunities that the CRF
program continues to provide. We will highlight their post-graduation plans
at our CRF Spring Reception.

*CUREL participated in R'STEM Find Your Research Match*

CUREL participated in *R’STEM Find Your Research Match* on February 13,
2025. *Over 540 students attended the event, which was co-sponsored by
CNAS, BCOE, and ASUCR.* Students had the opportunity to:

   - Learn about summer or year-long undergraduate research programs
   - High-impact programs
   - Research/industry internships
   - Faculty-led research

Three CUREL staff members and five CUREL Student Ambassadors introduced
students to Excel+, R’Courses, and CUREL’s undergraduate research programs.
This event was well attended and provided the CUREL Team an opportunity to
connect directly with enthusiastic students.

Four students endorsed for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship

CUREL’s Prestigious Scholarship Program *endorsed four outstanding students
for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship* (https://goldwaterscholarship.gov
<https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/goldwaterscholarship.gov?p=eyJzIjoiR2RtZ1dDNWduWkE4TkpsZ0w1ZlYzZEJpZTNZIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDAxMDg0MixcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL2dvbGR3YXRlcnNjaG9sYXJzaGlwLmdvdlwiLFwiaWRcIjpcImMzNDgxMzE2OTFlNjRmY2VhOGEzYTRiMmIyMmRlZGRjXCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiMmJlMGVmZWJiNDI2NGIzYjQ1NWQ5NmM0Y2I3OWEzNTI3YzRlN2VkM1wiXX0ifQ>).
The endorsed students represent Biochemistry, Computer Science,
Neuroscience, and Physics. This prestigious national award recognizes
promising STEM students engaged in research and dedicated to pursuing
graduate studies in STEM disciplines.

The scholarship *recipients receive $7,500 in financial support* and
national recognition for their academic excellence and research potential.
Additionally, all applicants benefit from the rigorous application process
that provides invaluable preparation for graduate school and future
post-graduate awards. Applicants learn to develop their personal
statements, research proposal, and secure three strong letters of
recommendation.

Goldwater scholars are recognized for attending prestigious graduate
programs and winning other national and international awards like the
National Science Foundation’s Graduate Fellowship, Rhodes Scholarship,
Churchill Scholarship and the National Defense Science and Engineering
Graduate Fellowship that support graduate studies.

*Since 2013 eighteen UCR students have won a Goldwater Scholarship. The
team of Gladis Herrera-Berkowitz and Jennifer Kavetsky coordinate the
advising and writing support for students starting in the summer through
fall*. Campus finalists are interviewed by a STEM faculty committee that
includes:

   - Dr. Jernej Murn, Biochemistry
   - Dr. Sean O’Leary, Biochemistry
   - Dr. Robert McKee, Bioengineering
   - Dr. Joshua Morgan, Bioengineering
   - Dr. Matthew Conley, Chemistry
   - Dr. Hill Harman, Chemistry
   - Dr. Leonard Mueller, Chemistry
   - Dr. Ahmed Eldawy, Computer Science & Engineering
   - Dr. Stefano Vidussi, Divisional Dean Physical Sciences & Mathematics
   - Dr. Zhenghe Zhang, Mathematics.

The faculty committee and Gladis work together in the winter to select and
endorse the four finalists. *Goldwater awards will be announced on the last
Friday in March*.

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reserved.*

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