[Orgvpdue] January 2026 DUE Spotlight

[Mona Nelson on behalf of Louie Rodriguez]

*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.
Sreenidhi Surineni named UC Riverside’s first Marshall Scholar

*Sreenidhi (Sree) Surineni*, a UC Riverside senior in neuroscience, has
been named a *2026 Marshall Scholar,* one of the most competitive awards in
higher education.

The Marshall Scholarship awards American students up to three years of
fully funded graduate study in any field at a university in the United
Kingdom. Founded in 1953, the program aims to strengthen relationships
between the British and American peoples, their governments, and their
institutions.

Surineni is one of just 43 students selected nationwide
<https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/www.marshallscholarship.org?p=eyJzIjoiU3FCUmhTdTBJTXgtMExCdXNTd0pzQjdoeXk0IiwidiI6MiwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDAxMDg0MixcInZcIjoyLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL3d3dy5tYXJzaGFsbHNjaG9sYXJzaGlwLm9yZ1xcXC9zY2hvbGFyc1xcXC8yMDI2LXNjaG9sYXJzXFxcL1wiLFwiaWRcIjpcImVmN2RjMGYyNDYwMDQyNDg4MWY4ZDQyZDJmZWZkMzQ1XCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiNWUxZDBmZWY1YjE5MzkwMDg3N2E4ZWRiZjQ2Yjk2ZjM5MTJhYTAxM1wiXSxcIm1zZ190c1wiOjE3NzA2NjcwNTZ9In0>.
He is the only University of California student to win the award this year
and UC Riverside’s first Marshall Scholar.
Read the full story
<https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2025/12/16/sreenidhi-surineni-named-uc-riversides-first-marshall-scholar?_gl=1*19rojw0*_gcl_au*NjExMDU3ODk4LjE3NjU5OTE4MTI.*_ga*MTE3MDY2Mzc4NS4xNzQ3MjUyMTAy*_ga_Z1RGSBHBF7*czE3Njk4MTQxOTAkbzEyNiRnMCR0MTc2OTgxNDE5MyRqNTckbDAkaDA.*_ga_S8BZQKWST2*czE3Njk4MTQxOTAkbzEyNyRnMCR0MTc2OTgxNDE5MyRqNTckbDAkaDA.>


Expanding Horizons: Bridging UCR and the Capital in the Arts & Humanities

In a strategic effort to broaden students' career pathways, *Danielle
White, recently visited the UCDC Center in Washington, D.C.,* in her role
as internships program manager. *Sponsored by the Dean of CHASS, Dr. Daryle
Williams, this visit was a dedicated mission to expand access to
prestigious internship opportunities within the Arts & Humanities.*

Over a fast-paced two days, Danielle met with leaders from various national
museums, historic houses, and cultural associations. These meetings focused
on building sustainable partnerships that will provide UCR students with
direct access to high-impact placements in the nation’s cultural heart. One
of the trip’s most rewarding highlights occurred at the National Gallery of
Art, where Danielle reconnected with a UCR and UCDC alumnus who now
oversees their internship program, a powerful testament to the long-term
success and reach of the program.
Read the full story
<https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/ue.ucr.edu?p=eyJzIjoiUE1WOEJMR0IzUFJJdUZpT1h1SDlGeVJFLVlvIiwidiI6MiwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDAxMDg0MixcInZcIjoyLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL3VlLnVjci5lZHVcXFwvZHVlLXNwb3RsaWdodHNcXFwvMjAyNlxcXC8wMlxcXC8wNlxcXC9leHBhbmRpbmctaG9yaXpvbnMtYnJpZGdpbmctdWNyLWFuZC1jYXBpdGFsLWFydHMtaHVtYW5pdGllc1wiLFwiaWRcIjpcImVmN2RjMGYyNDYwMDQyNDg4MWY4ZDQyZDJmZWZkMzQ1XCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiNmU5NWFmNTZlMGY5ZGFiNTljMTEyZjhhMDI1NDg1YzYwMTdkZmQ0NVwiXSxcIm1zZ190c1wiOjE3NzA2NjcwNTZ9In0>


Academic Resource Center's Elena Perez contributes to UCR Spanish-language
website

UCR now has a Spanish-language website, and *our very own Elena Perez* was
a vital part of the site's creation! Elena helped to translate the text for
the website and recorded videos for the "Apoyo" (support) page. This
initiative helps to ensure that all students and their families feel
welcomed as a part of the Highlander Family!
PPAC Ambassador Ivan Romero Awarded $10,000 Nike Scholarship

Ivan Romero, a biological science major set to graduate in Spring 2026, has
been *awarded a prestigious $10,000 Nike Scholarship*. A first-generation
college student from Long Beach, California, Romero was selected for his
academic excellence, resilience, and commitment to addressing healthcare
disparities in underserved communities.

For Romero, this scholarship is more than just financial aid; it is a
validation of a journey defined by perseverance. Growing up in a low-income
household shared by up to 12 relatives, Romero witnessed firsthand the lack
of healthcare resources available to his community.

“I have experienced the effects of violence, substance use, and domestic
violence both within my own home and throughout my community,” Romero
shared. “These experiences deeply shaped who I am today and continue to
fuel my long-term goal of entering medicine so I can advocate for
underserved communities.”

Read the full story
<https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/ue.ucr.edu?p=eyJzIjoicmhTdG9TWS1OQ05WdmJKQ2p1SF9wbFRIRjdZIiwidiI6MiwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDAxMDg0MixcInZcIjoyLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL3VlLnVjci5lZHVcXFwvZHVlLXNwb3RsaWdodHNcXFwvMjAyNlxcXC8wMVxcXC8zMFxcXC9wcGFjLWFtYmFzc2Fkb3ItaXZhbi1yb21lcm8tYXdhcmRlZC0xMDAwMC1uaWtlLXNjaG9sYXJzaGlwXCIsXCJpZFwiOlwiZWY3ZGMwZjI0NjAwNDI0ODgxZjhkNDJkMmZlZmQzNDVcIixcInVybF9pZHNcIjpbXCI5NTZjOTdmMDFlMjE2YTc0MTU1M2FjMTJkMzY0YmZiZGZhNTkwNzQ2XCJdLFwibXNnX3RzXCI6MTc3MDY2NzA1Nn0ifQ>
.
Academic Resource Center tutors to participate in Southern California
Writing Centers Association Conference

Students A. K. Ronin (Creative Writing, 4th year) and Taiyo Diamond
(Creative Writing, 4th year) submitted to Southern California Writing
Center Association Annual Conference 2026. The conference theme is:
"Politics in the Parlor: Dialogue and Dissonance in Destabilizing Times."

Both students are sharing their experiences in creative writing workshops
to the tutoring session! They spend a lot of time providing constructive
feedback and challenging the writer to find new connections and avenues of
exploration in their work.

Congrats to A.K. Ronin and Taiyo Diamond!

PPAC hosts Winter 2026 open house

The Pre-Professional Advising Center (PPAC) welcomed 55 students, faculty,
staff and community members on Wednesday, January 14 for the annual Open
House. This event is to showcase the Center space, located on the ground
floor of Rivera Library, and to connect pre-health and pre-law students
with PPAC advisors, ambassadors as well as others in the campus community.
Attendees enjoyed refreshments while learning about opportunities in health
and law careers along with upcoming winter quarter events.

The Pre-Professional Advising Center provides information, advising, and
support for students who aspire to graduate/professional programs in health
and law professions and wish to enhance their academic and extracurricular
preparation. Professional staff and peer mentors guide students as they
plan their pre-professional coursework, health/law-related experiences,
service work, and research in preparation for applying to programs.
*Copyright ©  2026 Division of Undergraduate Education, All rights
reserved.*

*Our mailing address is:*
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