The UCI Podcast

“Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth.” That's a memorable line from the 2013 tune “Happy,” by Pharrell Williams – a song that reached No. 1 in the charts in over 20 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada and was the most played song of the 2010s. One truth about happiness: It's among the many positive emotions that people can use to counter stress, which affects thoughts, feelings, behaviors and physical health. Unchecked stress can lead to myriad health problems like hypertension, heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes. Sarah Pressman, UC Irvine professor of psychological science, has made examining the health benefits of positive emotions her life's work. In this episode of The UC Irvine Podcast, Pressman explains how researchers analyze the protective properties of positivity, relates their findings and suggests simple steps people can take to improve their own happiness. “High Life,” the music for this episode, was provided by The Mini Vandals, featuring Mamadou Koita and Lasso, via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

Social movements – and the protests they give rise to – have happened on American soil since before the country's establishment as an independent nation. On Dec. 16, 1773, American colonists demonstrated their dissatisfaction with British tax policies by dressing in disguise and dumping 342 chests – around 92,000 pounds – of valuable tea into Boston Harbor. Originally known as “the Destruction of the Tea,” the event was later nicknamed “the Boston Tea Party.” In this century, we've seen part of that moniker repurposed by the tea party movement, a group interested in lower taxes and decreased government spending who staged protests in over 750 U.S. cities on April 15, 2009 – Tax Day. Social injustices, environmental issues and political concerns are just a few of myriad reasons people have organized protests over the course of history. David S. Meyer, UC Irvine professor of sociology, political science, and urban planning and public policy, is one of the nation's top scholars on social movements. In this episode of The UC Irvine Podcast, Meyer leans on years of study to put today's realities into historical perspective, analyze the current state of polarization and share what he's learned about how action can spark change. “Downpour,” the music for this episode, was provided by Patiño via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

In 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as “Women's History Month,” intended to honor “women of every race, class, and ethnic background” who have made “historical contributions to the growth and strength of the Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways.” One academic discipline where the contributions of women have been overlooked and undervalued is science. Cailin O'Connor, UC Irvine Chancellor's Professor of logic and philosophy of science, has spent significant time studying scientific communities and how they learn about the world together – and how cultures evolve unfair rules around characterizations like race and gender. Because O'Connor is a female working in science herself, she has paid special attention to the unique histories, challenges and successes of women who have chosen career paths in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In this episode of The UCI Podcast, O'Connor addresses why women have been historically underrepresented in science and the barriers that still exist, how the accessibility of science careers for women has changed, and what can be done to increase female representation. “Divine Life Society,” the music for this episode, was provided by Jesse Gallagher via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

With a focus on early childhood education, Andres Bustamante and his team at the STEM Learning Lab are busy developing interactive learning spaces to enhance science, technology, engineering and math education in places where families gather – parks, playgrounds, grocery stores, even bus stops. Through collaborative partnerships with schools and community organizations – and by integrating the thoughtful input of local families in their design process – members of Bustamante's group are creating opportunities for young children to learn in ways that are powerful and effective because they are also engaging, joyful and fun. In this episode of The UCI Podcast, the associate professor of education and faculty director of UC Irvine's Orange County Educational Advancement Network guides us on a tour of the playful learning landscapes he has helped install in schools and community locations throughout the city of Santa Ana and explains how and why they're already making a difference. “Skedaddle Back,” the music for this episode, was provided by Nathan Moore via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

According to poll results from the American Psychological Association last November, 89 percent of adults in the United States were overwhelmed as the holidays approached by concerns such as not having enough money, missing loved ones and anticipating family conflict. The goal of this episode of The UCI Podcast is to help you develop some strategies to manage the added stressors of this time of year – particularly when it comes to having challenging conversations with loved ones. Our guest today is Naomi Tabak, a licensed and board-certified clinical psychologist and director of UC Irvine's Psychological Services Center. She'll share tips to help listeners mitigate holiday stress and prioritize their well-being at a time of year when self-care is crucial. Community members over 18 who are interested in learning more about the UC Irvine's Psychological Services Center can check out its webpage at https://sites.uci.edu/psychologyclinic. The center is NOT affiliated with UCI Health or the UCI Counseling Center. If you're currently enrolled as a student at UC Irvine and are seeking campus counseling and clinical services, please visit the Counseling Center website at https://counseling.uci.edu. “Soft Feeling,” the music for this episode, was provided by Cheel via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

The much-loved and eclectic campus radio station KUCI, 88.9 FM, turns 55 this year, and it has been quite a ride. What started as an underground station was among the first to embrace the internet. With an audience that now spans the globe, KUCI continues to air a diverse schedule of music and voices.

Chang Liu, UC Irvine professor of biomedical engineering, is a leader in the field of directed evolution, an effort to train genes to evolve in a laboratory in order to perform desired functions. Through this method of gene engineering, researchers hope to create new biological substances for use in pharmaceuticals and as cheaper and more environmentally responsible industrial catalysts. The work is also helping the scientific community build genetic knowledge for the benefit of bioengineering. Liu's research group has a new paper out in the journal Science in which they discuss improvements to their OrthoRep gene evolution platform. The system allows mutations to happen a million times faster than natural evolutionary time frames. In this episode of the UCI Podcast, speaks with UC Irvine communicator Brian Bell about the findings detailed in the paper. Musical accompaniment to this podcast episode is Bach's E Major Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier Book 2, played by Professor Liu.

Research released in June by the Berkeley Institute for Young Americans revealed that younger voters had a broad, decisive impact on the 2020 presidential election and on congressional elections in 2018 and 2022 – with the same being expected this year. In the latest episode of The UCI Podcast, we'll speak with Kylie Jones, Khushi Patel and Evelyn Rodriguez – three UC Irvine undergraduates who are passionate about participating in the political process. They'll tell us why voting is important to them, offer their thoughts on voter turnout and share key issues that younger voters are focusing on in this election cycle. “Believe (Instrumental),” the music for this episode, was provided by NEFFEX via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

On the UCI Podcast, the law professor shares how the Korematsu Center and his students can make a difference

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the U.S. from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year. The theme for 2024 is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” Belinda Campos relishes that idea. Between her work as chair of UC Irvine's Department of Chicano/Latino Studies and a faculty member with the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community in the School of Medicine, Campos takes the future of the Latino population very seriously. She helps lead a network of colleagues who endeavor to foster in students an understanding of Latino history – and how to apply that knowledge in building a brighter future. Campos' research examines how people develop the high-quality relationships associated with better health and longer life. Her team's work has revealed that some classic Latino cultural components, such as an emphasis on positivity and tight-knit families, create a connectivity that can help individuals endure difficult, stressful times. Some of their findings are shared in a recent article in "Greater Good" magazine titled “How to Fully Appreciate Your Loving Relationships,” a collaboration with Jessica Borelli, UC Irvine professor of psychological science. This multifaceted episode of The UCI Podcast includes detailed descriptions of Campos' research and other undertakings in the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies and discussions on the history and future of PRIME-LC and its new offshoot, UC PRIME Pre-Health Pathways; how culture can influence our interpretation of social support in times of stress; and why connecting to our families and communities is good for one's health. “Pioneers,” the music for this episode, was provided by Audionautix via the audio library in YouTube Studio. “Pioneers” is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

Mark Deppe goes on The UCI Podcast to talk about the program he built and his new team of superstar gamers.

According to a 2023 analysis by the Pew Research Center, new school years across the United States begin from as early as late July until after Labor Day. Regardless of when families prepare for the academic year, the process often looks the same: purchasing needed supplies, finishing a summer reading list, adjusting sleep schedules and adapting to a new routine. The phrase “back to school” can catalyze a spectrum of emotional responses for both students and parents. In the latest episode of The UCI Podcast, Jessica Borelli, UC Irvine professor of psychological science, offers insight on the array of reactions that accompany this time of year, and she shares tips on how families can embrace the change together and make it as smooth as possible for all involved. “For Time to Disappear,” the music for this episode, was provided by Ocean/Ryan McCaffery via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

On Thursday, June 27, in Atlanta, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off in the first debate of the 2024 presidential election. The event marked the first debate in U.S. history between a sitting and former president and was the first time the presumptive nominees for their respective parties had been on a debate stage since 2020. Held months earlier than the usual tradition, it was also the first not coordinated by the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, bringing with it a new set of rules and guidelines. No studio audience was present for the 90-minute affair, which featured a pair of commercial breaks – another first. Candidates' microphones were muted unless they were directed to speak by a moderator, and they were not allowed to bring any prewritten notes or props to their lecterns. What debate moments stood out, what happened that wasn't expected, and where do the campaigns go from here? These are some of the questions asked of UC Irvine political scientists Louis DeSipio and Tony Smith in this episode of The UCI Podcast. “American Frontiers,” the music for this episode, was provided by Aaron Kenny via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

Every June, the United States celebrates Pride Month, commemorating the 1969 uprising at the Stonewall Inn that inspired a global movement toward LGBTQ+ equality. The rich history of gay bars leading up to and since the Stonewall Riots is thoroughly explored in "The Bars Are Ours: Histories and Cultures of Gay Bars in America, 1960 and After," written by Lucas Hilderbrand, UC Irvine professor and chair of film and media studies. The combination of a dearth of books investigating the history of gay bars and the closure of many gay bars around the nation catalyzed Hilderbrand's motivation to tackle what he calls an “ambitious project” to “look at the role of gay bars in shaping community politics, subcultures and the ways in which we imagine what queer public life could be in the United States.” In this episode of The UCI Podcast, Hilderbrand shares how bars are powerful community cornerstones; what he learned on his extensive research journey examining archival accounts in all corners of the U.S.; and why he chose to inform this unique history with anecdotes, stories and even musical references. Playlists to accompany the book can be found on both YouTube and Spotify. The music for this episode, titled “The Gentlemen,” was provided by DivKid via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

In 2021, UC Irvine officially became a health-promoting university through the adoption of the Okanagan Charter. In this edition of the UCI Podcast, Doug Everhart, director of Student Wellness and Health Promotion, will discuss what it means to adopt the Okanagan Charter, how it enables UC Irvine to be a health-promoting university and explore the creation of its comprehensive wellbeing initiative.

Each May, the U.S. recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month, established 75 years ago to highlight the importance of this essential issue in Americans' lives. It's also a time to recognize the resilience of people who live with mental health conditions and honor all those who stand by them – a group that includes both family and friends, and the dedicated mental health care professionals providing services to improve their well-being. Psychologist Jason Schiffman is deeply committed to assisting others. The professor of psychological science heads a research team that has published over 200 scientific articles and acquired over $15 million in funding for their work on psychosis. He also trains and consults for clinics across the county on best practices for supporting people on the psychosis continuum. As the director of UCI's Clinical Psychology Program, he helps guide cohorts of graduate students who are similarly compelled to provide mental health care for others. What is psychosis and what do we know about it? Why do mental health challenges like psychosis still have a pervasive stigma and how can our community come together to change that? How is UC Irvine playing its part in providing mental health services with its new Psychological Services Center, and how can community members access care? What are some simple steps we can all take to protect and improve our own well-being? Schiffman answers these questions and more in this episode of the UCI Podcast. The music for this episode, titled “A Quiet Thought,” was provided by Wayne Jones via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

Various researchers in UC Irvine's School of Education are studying the wide range of technological innovations available to enhance education, including assistant professors Shayan Doroudi and Nia Nixon. One facet of Doroudi's research focuses on how different technologies improve learning. A segment of Nixon's work centers on developing AI-based interventions to promote inclusivity in team problem-solving environments. How are artificial intelligence tools currently affecting teaching and learning? What are some of the most promising applications that have been developed so far? How are AI tools being used to personalize learning experiences – and what are the benefits and drawbacks of that approach? What's next? These are some of the questions Nixon and Doroudi address in this episode of the UCI Podcast. The music for this episode, titled “Computer Bounce,” was provided by Geographer via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

March is Women's History Month, an opportunity to celebrate the numerous contributions that women have made to American society. In this episode of the UCI Podcast, we'll shine a spotlight on women who have worked tirelessly to bring attention to injustice via the Black Lives Matter movement and others like it. Begun in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, BLM encompasses yearslong campaigns across several anti-carceral organizations striving to end state violence against African Americans. Jordie Davies, UCI assistant professor of political science, pays special attention to BLM as she examines the foundations of social movements that have emerged in response to anti-Blackness for a new book. She'll teach us the history behind BLM and anti-carceral groups catalyzed by women, forecast what may be on the horizon, and discuss her recent publication on the process of building solidarity and sharing power in multiracial coalitions. The music for this episode, titled “Awake,” was provided by Emmit Fenn via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

In this special episode of the UCI Insider podcast, director of Financial Aid & Scholarships, Becki Sanchez, and senior associate director of Financial Aid & Scholarships, Crystal Maudale, explain the changes found in the simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Bridget R. Cooks, UC Irvine professor and Chancellor's Fellow of art history and African American studies, was invited to participate on the advisory committee for an upcoming six-month exhibition at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art titled “The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism.” She also wrote a piece detailing the history of Harlem Renaissance shows for the event's official catalogue. What is the Harlem Renaissance? Cooks will answer that question in this episode of the UCI Podcast. In addition, she'll tell us what it's like to serve alongside some of her heroes, why her career is exactly what she's “supposed to be doing” and how time spent at a museum can benefit everyone. This episode was recorded in the podcast studio at UCI's ANTrepreneur Center. The music, titled “Don't Fret,” was provided by Quincas Moreira via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

Who are UCI's Underground Scholars? In 2018, students established the Underground Scholars Initiative to create pathways into higher education for incarcerated, formerly incarcerated and system-impacted individuals. After three years, USI members advocated for a staff-led program, leading to the formation of the Underground Scholars Program in October 2021. The two groups are separate but aligned in their mission to provide support services for such students. Shawn Khalifa – an undergraduate with a compelling story – is one of 44 participants currently in UCI's Underground Scholars Program. He began serving a life sentence for first-degree murder at the age of 15. Released 16 years later, Khalifa is now on track to graduate in June with a degree in sociology. His journey highlights the transformative power of education and support in changing lives and trajectories. In this UCI Podcast, Khalifa candidly opens up about his personal history and reveals how his lived experiences ignited a passion for a future career in which he helps develop policies promoting systemic transformation in education. This episode was recorded in the podcast studio at UCI's ANTrepreneur Center. The music, titled “Road Home,” was provided by VYEN via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

Supported by funding from the National Science Foundation since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Roxane Cohen Silver focuses her research on how major tragedies – both mass violence and natural disasters – are depicted in the media and how this may affect the health – physical and mental – of consumers. After the events of 9/11, there have been a series of events that have allowed the Distinguished Professor of psychological science, medicine and public health and her research team to continue their important work: the war in Iraq, which began in March 2003; the bombing at the Boston Marathon in April 2013; the Ebola virus outbreak in 2014; the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in June 2016; and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic and then the war between Russia and Ukraine. In this UCI Podcast, we talk to Professor Silver about her findings and why graphic images leave an indelible mark on those who see them, how social media adds a new layer to the availability of that content, and what people can do to decrease the negative consequences that too much exposure to gruesome photos and videos can have on their health. This episode was recorded in the podcast studio in the ANTrepreneur Center. The music, titled “Invisible Beauty,” was provided by Aakash Gandhi via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

In this episode of the UCI Podcast, Sheri Ledbetter, UCI's director of internal and critical communications, speaks with Dale Leaman, the executive director of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The discussion centers on requirements prospective students should keep in mind when applying to UCI and the other UC campuses. There is also some information about the emerging role of artificial intelligence in the admissions process, from the perspective of students and admissions office staff who are processing thousands of applications. Leaman brings an extensive background to higher education with 28 total years with the University of California and the last 11 with UCI. He's been the executive director of undergraduate admissions for the past five years.

Schools shape the lives of students in many ways. Along with teaching the basic skills that will help them function in and contribute to a society – such as reading, writing and arithmetic – ideally, a school will also help young people identify their strengths in order to reach their full potential. In addition, schools educate students about identities. From early labels like “kindergartner” or “English-language learner” to later designations such as “honor roll student,” how do assigned categories affect a young person's life? This is the topic of "Schooled and Sorted: How Educational Categories Create Inequality," a new book by Andrew M. Penner, UCI professor of sociology; Emily K. Penner, UCI associate professor of education; and Thurston Domina, professor of educational policy and organizational leadership at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In this UCI Podcast, we talk to the Penners about the challenges and opportunities presented by educational categorizations. The married co-authors also offer examples of how we can create categories that help instead of harm students. Music for this episode, titled “Metamorphosis,” was provided by Quincas Moreira via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

In this episode of the Anteater Insider podcast, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Patty Morales and fourth-year Education Sciences student Ella Lee discuss the barriers UCI students face along the way to graduation and how the university is working to address those barriers through analytics and data partnerships to support student progress.

Ian O. Williamson, dean of UCI's Paul Merage School of Business, is a globally recognized expert in the field of human resource management, a reputation earned by traveling the world over to examine how talent pipelines affect organizational and community outcomes. In this UCI Podcast, Williamson identifies significant changes in business during the last decade, analyzes how the pandemic altered business education and forecasts the future of work for employers and employees. This episode was recorded in the podcast studio in the ANTrepreneur Center. The music, titled “Swimming Lessons,” was provided by Bail Bonds via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

What makes a hit? That's a question that Noah Askin has devoted his career to answering. The assistant professor of teaching in the academic area of organization and management in UCI's Paul Merage School of Business focuses his research on the production and consumption of culture. In this UCI Podcast, Askin describes how he scoured the Billboard charts to investigate which characteristics of songs lead to their being a “hit” and examined why bands were able to demonstrate sustained success over long-running careers. He also shares how general themes of creativity and collaboration seamlessly cross over from pop culture into professional networks and community relationships. This episode of the UCI Podcast was recorded in the podcast studio in the ANTrepreneur Center. Music for this episode of the UCI Podcast, titled “Stars Align,” provided by The 126ers via the Audio Library in YouTube Studio.

Dean of UCI's School of Social Sciences for the past decade, anthropology professor Bill Maurer recently agreed to five more years at the helm of the school with the largest percentage of undergraduates majoring in their departments. In this UCI Podcast, Maurer describes how he morphed from reluctant leader to a third term as dean, reflects on his first decade in the role and looks ahead to what's next as the School of Social Sciences continues its mission to “create positive change and improve the human condition.” Maurer also shares why he was drawn to anthropology and offers a quick Cryptocurrency 101 lesson, including the potential benefits and drawbacks of digital currency. This episode of the UCI Podcast was recorded in the podcast studio in the ANTrepreneur Center. Music for this episode of the UCI Podcast, titled “Wide Awake,” provided by The 126ers via the Audio Library in YouTube Studio.

People all over the world are taking notice of "Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity," a new book by UCI's Gloria Mark, Chancellor's Professor of Informatics. For over two decades, Mark has studied human-computer interaction, examining how the increase in our society's use of technology has altered people's attention spans. In this UCI Podcast, Mark explains different types of attention and various myths about it. She also offers suggestions on how to find better balance, which could lead to improved productivity and well-being. This episode of the UCI Podcast was recorded in the podcast studio in the ANTrepreneur Center. Music for this episode of the UCI Podcast, titled “Socialite Mugshot,” provided by Verified Picasso via the Audio Library in YouTube Studio.

Arash Kheradvar, UC Irvine professor of biomedical engineering, is co-principal investigator on a project to study congenital heart defects. As part of the National Science Foundation-funded initiative, Dr. Kheradvar invited local area high school students into his laboratory on the UCI campus. The students got first-hand exposure to cardiovascular research activities, experts in the field and the latest medical research technologies. The outcome was a group of students well-prepared to pursue further education in biomedical engineering.

With the 53rd annual Earth Week set to begin on Monday, April 17, we'll ask one of UCI's strongest student advocates for sustainability - UC Climate Action Fellow Joy Seo - to share what the concept means, how it shaped her future and for actions we can all take to better care of Earth and each other. This episode of the UCI Podcast was recorded in the podcast studio in the ANTrepreneur Center. Music for this episode of the UCI Podcast, titled “A Long Cold,” provided by Riot via the Audio Library in YouTube Studio.

In this episode of the UCI Podcast, we're going to dive into undergraduate admissions and discuss what the process is once offers of admissions go out and how a waitlist works. Joining Sheri Ledbetter is Dale Leaman, the executive director of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Leaman brings an extensive background to higher education with 27 total years with the University of California and the last 10 with UCI. He's been the executive director of undergraduate admissions for the past four years. This episode of the UCI Podcast was recorded in the podcast studio in the ANTrepreneur Center. Music for this episode of the UCI Podcast, titled "Building Blocks," provided by Nate Blaze via the Audio Library in YouTube Studio.

As March Madness in college basketball begins this week, it's a great time to talk with Victoria E. Johnson, UCI professor of film and media studies and African American studies and the author of the recently-published Sports TV, an introductory guide to the history of sports television in the United States. What are some of the biggest transformations sports TV has experienced in the decades that it transitioned from the classic network era to the multichannel network era to its current state of streaming TV? How has the expansion of viewing opportunities affected sports coverage? Which production changes and new technologies worked well and what might fans expect to see in the future? Music for this episode of the UCI Podcast, titled “Airborne,” provided by Quincas Moreira via the Audio Library in YouTube Studio.

In this episode of the Anteater Insider, vice provost for enrollment management, Patricia Morales, and director of undergraduate advising for social ecology, Danielle Primavera, discuss how they collaborate on lifting the student experience to meet students where they are in their academic journey. Together, they reflect on how their partnership is helping advisors to navigate a successful path to graduation for social ecology students.

Brett Sanders, UC Irvine professor of civil and environmental engineering, has been focusing his research efforts on understanding flood risk in Southern California, with a significant emphasis on the impact of climate change-caused sea level rise on coastal communities. Lately he has been examining flood risk to populations living further inland, in many cases affecting people of lower socioeconomic status. In this episode of the UCI Podcast, Professor Sanders talks about his research and its relevance in this season of substantial rain and snowfall in the U.S. West.

In this episode of the UCI Podcast, we're going to dive into the applications process with an insight into undergraduate admissions. Joining Sheri Ledbetter is Dale Leaman, the executive director of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Leaman brings an extensive background to higher education with 27 total years with the University of California and the last 10 with UCI. He's been the executive director of undergraduate admissions for the past four years.

If you haven't heard, there's been big news recently about Alzheimer's disease. Over the past year, the Food and Drug Administration has approved two new treatments that may slow the cognitive decline in people with dementia, and studies are under way to see if these treatments possibly delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's. To help us understand these developments, Dr. Joshua Grill is joining the UCI Podcast. Dr. Grill is the director of the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders at UCI, better known as UCI MIND.

What are the major conversations happening around education right now, and why is research significant in these conversations? How will technology continue to shape the future of education? What is it going to take for teachers to feel supported in their craft? How do today's students differ from those of past generations? These are some of the many questions we pose to Frances Contreras, dean of UCI's School of Education, in the latest episode of the UCI Podcast. Music for this episode of the UCI Podcast, titled “When We Found the Horizon,” provided by Late Night Feeler via the Audio Library in YouTube Studio.

In February of 1978, the University of California, Irvine named Linda Dempsay as its director of athletics – the first woman ever to lead an NCAA Division I athletic program. At the time, she was only 39 years old. Now Dempsay is 84 years old. Host Cara Capuano met Dempsay during a session of Rams Training Camp on campus and talked her into sharing her experiences with the UCI Podcast. In this episode, Dempsay reflects on her time leading Anteaters athletics in those early days of UCI's existence and the incredible changes she has seen in collegiate athletics – and the world - over the course of her life. Music for this episode of the UCI Podcast, titled “First Time Experience,” provided by Nate Blaze via the Audio Library in YouTube Studio.

Tiffany López joined the Claire Trevor School of the Arts on July 1, and she has spent the past whirlwind four months learning about her school and developing a new vision for it. And she's now on the UCI Podcast to tell us about it … and much more – like the importance of the arts in higher education, the need for diversity, and why it's necessary to invest into arts and music education for economically disadvantaged students in California's public schools. Plus, she shares her own amazing story.

The Latinx Resource Center opened in late 2019, and quickly moved to virtual because of the pandemic, so not many were familiar with one of UCI's newest centers. With UCI as a Hispanic-Serving Institution for five years, with a steady growth in UCI's Latino student population over the past decade – not to mention throughout the state of California – the time was right to dedicate a center where students can build community, while accessing programs and resources that celebrate their heritage. On the UCI Podcast, Latinx Resource Center director adelí durón shares insights into how students can effectively use and engage with the center, as well as shares some big plans for the future.

Program director Dr. Charles Vega and 2016graduate Dr. Michelle Crespo join the UCI Podcast to talk about the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community's vast influence on improving healthcare in California and on UC Irvine's status as an Hispanic-Serving Institution.

In 1992, the University of California Regents formally approved UCI's School of Social Ecology - the first of its kind in the U.S. But what, exactly, is social ecology? To answer that question, we welcome Jon B. Gould, Dean of the School of Social Ecology, to the UCI Podcast. Gould breaks down what is being done in his school's three departments, how their groups collaborate on programs to solve social problems in the community, and why social ecology Anteaters can see how they can affect change before they even graduate.

James Bullock, dean of UCI's School of Physical Sciences, was one of the earliest proponents of a multidisciplinary initiative called Solutions That Scale. The project was created to bring researchers from nearly every academic unit on campus together to come up with ways to mitigate the effects of climate change. In this episode of the UCI Podcast, Dean Bullock discusses the origin of Solutions That Scale, what its researchers are doing now, and what they plan to do in the future.

With the inflation up and the GNP and stock prices down, UCI economist Eric Swanson explains that there's nothing yet to fear … at least for now.

On June 23, 2022, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX. In this episode of the UCI Podcast, Cara Capuano talks to the co-authors of the first biography of longtime Congresswoman and Title IX pioneer Patsy Mink - UCI professor Judy Tzu-Chun Wu and Gwendolyn “Wendy” Mink, Patsy's daughter and only child. They discuss the book's unique structure, the inspiration for Title IX, the challenges to get it passed into law, and what's next for the landmark legislation.

In honor of Juneteenth, the UCI Podcast is bringing back a June 2020 podcast with Jessica Millward, an associate professor of African American studies and history at UCI. Here, Millward discusses this important day in the context of the thousands of Black Lives Matter rallies across the world protesting the police murder of George Floyd.

Jonathan Alexander says he has been “privileged to be a writing teacher for a very long time.” He always tells his students to be honest and frank - and found the process of writing his latest book with that advice in mind liberating. In this episode of the UCI Podcast, the Chancellor's Professor of English and informatics talks with Cara Capuano about the genre of creative nonfiction and the role each book in The Creep Trilogy held on his personal journey, with a special focus on the latest installment, Dear Queer Self: An Experiment in Memoir. He also shares advice for others who may find themselves on the outside looking in, and details why he finds Pride Month both aspirational and hopeful.

How does nursing intersect with philosophy? What are some of the tools in a philosopher's toolbox that would serve a nurse? What changes can be made to the language of health care to make it more understandable for a larger audience? These are some of the questions Cara Capuano asks of Mark Lazenby and Tyrus Miller, deans of two schools with disciplines very attuned to people – nursing and humanities – in this edition of the UCI Podcast.

With recent announcements of Native Americans eligible to have their UC tuition waived beginning this fall and adding Native Hawaiians to the heritage month that historically honored Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, we checked in with Assistant Professor Na'puti in the Department of Global and International Studies to help break down these massive identify groups and their cultures. Broadcasting from the island of Guam, Na'puti shares about her work with indigenous populations in the Pacific Islands and how that translates to better understanding of global indigeneity.

Professor Iryna Zenyuk, associate director of UCI's National Fuel Cell Research Center, was born in Ukraine and lived there until age 15. As an academic, she felt duty bound to help her fellow Ukrainian researchers when Russia invaded her home country earlier this year. Through the Ukraine Relief Fund she helped launch at UCI, Zenyuk is raising money to help Ukrainian academics come to the United States to work while the war rages on in Central Europe. In this episode of the UCI Podcast, Prof. Zenyuk provides an update on the Ukdraine Relief Fund.