The Graduate Dean's Advisory Council on Diversity (GDACD) is dedicated to enhancing and strengthening a culture of open inquiry, pluralism, mutual respect, and engagement among — and for — UC Merced graduate students through the work of the council itself and through the active advisement of the Dean.
Council Objectives
- Advise on policies, practices, and initiatives that enhance and promote an environment supportive of diversity and inclusivity in graduate education, consistent with the UC Merced Principles of Community
- Assist with the recruitment and retention of a diverse graduate student population, including planning for and participation in events such as Graduate Visitation Weekend and the Chancellor’s Dialogue on Diversity and Interdisciplinarity
- Provide guidance to encourage community collaborations that support the intellectual and research interests of the university in the area of diversity and inclusion.
- The work of the council this year will focus on the Black Lives Matters movement and on addressing structural issues underlying racism, xenophobia, and other pervasive biases in our society, including in graduate education and the academy.
Membership
2023-2024 Council Members
- Jennifer Alvarez - Environmental Systems
- Shivam Kamboj - Physics
- Nicolette Lecy - Interdisciplinary Humanites
- Mohit Saraswat - Chemistry and Chemical Biology
- Karla Seijas - Interdisciplinary Humanites
- Jullanar Williams - Sociology (GSA)
- Aaryn Wilson - Environmental Systems
2022-2023 Council Members
- Shelby Defeo - Environmental Systems
- Bianca Hinojosa - Psychological Sciences
- Jonathan Kuntz - Environmental Systems
- Maia Powell - Applied Mathematics
- Waleed Rajabally - Sociology
- Yulissa Perez Rojas - Environmental Systems
- Behnoush Seifinoferest - Chemistry and Chemical Biology
2021-2022 Council Members
- Edgar Perez-Lopez - Mechanical Engineering
- Azin Shamshirgaran - Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Heather Stever - Quantitative and Systems Biology
- Karen Mohammadtabar - Mechancial Engineering
- Karla Seijas - Interdisciplinary Humanities
- Kris Troy - Quantitative and Systems Biology
- Maria Duenas - Sociology
2020-2021 Council Members
- Janice Disla - Psychological Sciences
- Larisa Gavrilova - Psychological Sciences (GSA: Climate, Diversity & Equity Officer)
- Melissa Goodlad - Chemistry and Chemical Biology
- Dalena Ngo - Interdisciplinary Humanities
- Edgar Perez-Lopez - Mechanical Engineering
- Arabi Seshappan - Physics
- Farhana Sharmin - Mechanical Engineering
2019-2020 Council Members
- Taylor Fugere - Management of Innovation, Sustainabilty & Technology
- Edgar Perez-Lopez - Mechanical Engineering
- Maria Ramirez Loyola - Psychological Sciences (GSA: Climate, Diversity & Equity Officer)
- Maria De Jesus Mora - Sociology
- Arabi Seshappan - Physics
- Houa Vang - Sociology
- Alauna Wheeler - Physics
2018-2019 Council Members
- Jasmine Clark - Psychological Sciences
- Mohammad Ebrahimpour - Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Jacob Rafati Heravi - Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Mo Kaze - Quantitative and Systems Biology
- Amanda Leong - Interdisciplinary Humanities
- Heather Stever - Quantitative and Systems Biology
- Leila Wahab - Environmental Systems
2017-2018 Council Members
- Lorenzo Booth - Environmental Systems
- Johannes Brust - Applied Mathematics
- Rachel Hatano - Biological Engineering and Small-Scale Technologies
- Kavita Kumar - Mechanical Engineering
- Maria Ramirez Loyola - Psychological Sciences
- Daniel Mello - Psychological Sciences
- Daniel Rios - Interdisciplinary Humanities
- Tashelle Wright - Public Health
2016-2017 Council Members
- Jasmine Armstrong - Interdisciplinary Humanities
- Ashley Baker - Psychological Sciences
- Danielle Bermudez - Interdisciplinary Humanities
- Johannes Brust - Applied Mathematics
- Patricia Cabral - Psychological Sciences
- Geraldy Eisman - Psychological Sciences
- Rachel Hatano - Biological Engineering and Small-Scale Technologies
- James Kupihea - Environmental Systems
- Jamin Shih - Interdisciplinary Humanities
- Tashelle Wright - Public Health
2015-2016 Council Members
- Arghavan Alamatasz - Mechanical Engineering
- Jasmine Armstrong - Interdisciplinary Humanities
- Violet Barton - Interdisciplinary Humanities
- Johannes Brust - Applied Mathematics
- Patricia Cabral - Psychological Sciences
- Rachel Hatano - Biological Engineering and Small-Scale Technologies
- Nicole Madfis - Quantitative and Systems Biology
- Benigno Merlin - Sociology
- Sage Perdue - Interdisciplinary Humanities
- Jamin Shih - Interdisciplinary Humanities
- Maryam Tabatabaeian - Cognitive and Information Sciences
Email council members with questions or to suggest agenda items for the next meeting. Alternately, you may email Cassie Gunter for more information.
