UCI School of Social Sciences
Spring Magazine 2023
be BOLD
because breaking the mold is part of your Anteater legacy
featured stories
Paving his own path
Ajay Kirpekar, finance and macroeconomics Ph.D. ’23, reflects on his academic journey and why the study of finance is not about money
A demographer’s duty
UCI sociologist Wang Feng’s passion and purpose to create change through academic inquiry earns international, campus recognition
Democracy, then and now
The mission of the UCI Jack W. Peltason Center for the Study of Democracy remains as relevant today as it was 30 years ago
Constant role model
Commencement speaker Kate Constant, ’23 political science and history, on perseverance, justice, and what comes next
From Beirut to Irvine
Commencement speaker Jane Mary Sakr, ’23 international studies, shares her international journey
From the Marines to UCI to the CDC
UCI alumnus and U.S. veteran Shaun Whitecavage '20 SPPS, '22 MPH, has leveraged his UCI education into a prestigious position in the CDC’s Public Health Associates Program
Service in the spotlight
Long Bui, global and international studies associate professor, earns dual awards in recognition of his tireless commitment to student and faculty success
Forging her own path
While her passion for gaming brought her to UCI, ’23 anthropology major Nyah Beck’s ability to adapt opened other doors on campus
A passion for advocacy
High school experiences led Nini Wu, ’23 political science, to pursue a future in activism
Anthropology Ph.D. alums celebrate first book publications together
Friends Lydia Zacher Dixon, Ph.D. ’15 and Caitlin Fouratt, Ph.D. ’14 in conversation about the “family vibe” of their cohort, how UCI gave them a model of collegiality, and their recent publications
Creating community connections
UCI Social Sciences Dean’s Leadership Society member Steve Platt ’03 builds UCI’s ties in Los Angeles
When was talking invented? A language scientist explains how this unique feature of human beings may have evolved
Richard Futrell breaks it down in this piece for The Conversation's Curious Kids
UCI Veterans Studies Certificate Program gives voice to unique experiences of those who’ve served
Faculty and students reflect on key takeaways from the three-course series available to veteran and non-veteran scholars
Networking for the next generation of neuroscientists
UCI cognitive scientist Megan Peters co-leads a multinational summer school that engages, educates those with a passion for computational neuroscience and deep learning
A bold glass
Banking executive Roger Whitenhill ’03 pursues his passion of business ownership and opens a winery
Ageist language in job ads discourages older applicants, UCI-led study finds
Effect is tantamount to direct age discrimination in hiring, but trickier to track
A double graduation
First-generation Anteater Faith Couts ’23 and her son Hunter Wetzel ’23 will receive their degrees together
The long game
Volleyball player and economics major Davis Lau ’23 talks about lessons learned on the court and finding the aloha spirit away from home
Archiving something new under the sun
Ana Elizabeth Rosas, UCI associate professor of Chicano/Latino studies and history, is leading a research team dedicated to telling El Sol Academy's rich history
Tech entrepreneur and thought leader Peter Trepp ’88, ’98 MBA takes reins as chair of UCI social sciences Board of Councilors
Leadership efforts will build upon the board’s on-going mission, vision put in motion by successful tenure of outgoing chair Larry Kugelman who has been elected a UCI trustee
The extra mile
UCI triple major Nicholas Swink ’23 secures life-changing internships assisting formerly incarcerated students in Orange County and working for the Executive Office of the President in D.C.
UCI-led study finds pay practices, job barriers to blame for women making less than men
Findings across 15 countries suggest how new policies could resolve continuing issues
Meet LPS Ph.D. candidate and ethics expert Jessica Gonzalez ’23
As she nears the end of her time on campus, the graduate Anteater reflects on her UCI experience
UCI pathfinder
Kayla Atkinson, '23 psychology and sociology, aims to break barriers and uplift others through mental health advocacy
Creating a higher level of connection
Sharlene and Neel Grover ’92 help build the UCI School of Social Sciences Women of the Dean’s Leadership Society
Building while doing
A team of UC and CSU researchers is working to remove barriers and build research success among faculty at minority-serving institutions
Logic and philosophy of science summer diversity fellows program closes out first year of new program at UCI, looks ahead to second cohort
Created by logic and philosophy of science associate professor Lauren Ross, the weeklong residential summer program for underrepresented undergrads seeks to diversify the field of philosophy
Staff spotlight: Estela Magaña
The fun-loving, hard-working first-gen undergraduate academic advisor shares what’s fueled her 20+ years of success as a social sciences Anteater, resulting in her receipt of the 2022 Leinen Outstanding Staff Award
Virtual cultures in pandemic times
New documentary chronicles UCI research team’s efforts to understand COVID’s impact on lives online
Energy innovator
Flick Power founder and CEO Andre Ramirez ’07 energizes students with opportunities
Study: Having a friend, partner or mentor of a different race reduces racial apathy in white teens
Findings, coauthored by UCI sociology assistant professor Asia Bento, published in Sociological Perspectives
UCI to launch pre-health program with support from state of California
Multipronged training model will prepare more underrepresented undergraduates for careers in medicine
Using Minecraft to study sleep’s role in memory
UCI-led research team finds night of rest improves performance on spatial memory – but not navigation – over same day using Minecraft
Hickok is elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
One of six from UCI recognized, the honor spotlights the distinguished cognitive neuroscientist’s efforts to advance science or its applications
UC Irvine’s Leo Chavez elected to membership in the American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Renowned anthropologist studies international migration, particularly among Latinos
Fernandez earns distinguished UC-wide emeriti award
Panunzio prize recognizes research and scholarly excellence since retirement
be BOLD
a publication of the
UCI School of Social Sciences
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writers, designers, editors, & photographers
Heather Ashbach, Christine Byrd, Cara Capuano,
Luis Fonseca, Jill Kato, Sheri Ledbetter,
Adriana Maestas, Tom Vasich, Jim Washburn,
Steven Zylius
special thanks to contributing photographers and multimedia creators:
altmodern/E+ via Getty Images, Centers for Disease Control, KUCI, Anna_Om/iStock,
Carlos Puma, Puma Images, Oliver Rossi/DigitalVision, Edward Savaria Jr, Clarke L
Smith, CBS News, UCI Athletics, phokin/iStock, Dan Stokols, UCI Social Ecology, Barbara
Walker, UCSB
School Leadership
Bill Maurer, Dean
Barbara Sarnecka, Associate Dean
Jeanett Castellanos, Associate Dean
Annita Casavantes Bradford, Associate Dean
Angela Jenks, Vice Associate Dean
Rebecca Ávila, Assistant Dean
Communications & Marketing
Heather Ashbach, Executive Director
Luis Fonseca, Digital Media Manager
Development
Tracy Arcuri, Senior Executive Director
Liz Codispoti, Senior Director
Melissa Churlonis, Coordinator
featured on cover:
Faith Couts and son Hunter Wetzel are celebrating educational milestones together
this year as they both earn their bachelor’s degrees from UCI social sciences.
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