NEW FACES, NEW LEADERS

NICOLE POLLACK

Nicole Pollack, a longtime Turlock resident, has returned to the San Joaquin Valley as UC Merced’s Chief Human Resources Officer and Assistant Vice Chancellor of Human Resources. “I like the connectedness of the valley,” Pollack said. “I like the family values, I like the community and the spirit.” Pollack, a graduate of California State University, Stanislaus, comes to UC Merced from the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was director of San Mateo County’s Human Services Agency and previously served as its Workforce and Economic Development director. She also worked for government agencies in Merced, Stanislaus and Nevada counties.

DANIA MATOS

As UC Merced’s first Associate Chancellor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dania Matos is charged with advising Interim Chancellor Nathan Brostrom’s senior leadership team and with campus diversity initiatives. Matos came to the San Joaquin Valley from the College of William & Mary, where she served as Deputy Chief Diversity Officer. "It is an honor and privilege to join the UC Merced family,” she said. “I look forward to engendering access, inclusion and excellence at every level of what we do and who we are."

It was an opportunity to be part of a new initiative that really resonates with my passion, which is to improve healthcare in rural, high-needs communities and underserved communities.

THELMA HURD

Dr. Thelma Hurd’s journey in medicine has taken her from New Jersey to Nigeria, with stops in Texas and Buffalo. Along the way, she gathered experience as a clinician, public health researcher and translational scientist. Hurd has brought this broad background to the San Joaquin Valley as UC Merced’s Director of Medical Education.

BIANCA KHANONA

Bianca Khanona has joined UC Merced as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Financial Planning and Analysis. She comes to the university after nearly 15 years with E. & J. Gallo Winery, where she served as the company’s senior financial analyst of operation finance. Khanona earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University, Stanislaus. With extensive experience in financial planning, analysis and review, Khanona brings the talents needed to guide growth of systematic process improvement.

LAURA RODRIGUEZ-MASCORRO

Laura Rodriguez-Mascorro is UC Merced’s first Emergency Manager. Emergencies can come in many forms, from a burst pipe to a threat of violence. No matter its character, Rodriguez-Mascorro will make sure the campus is ready. She brings years of experience with the CSU Stanislaus police department to the new role. As the campus expands, Rodriguez-Mascorro will ensure emergency planning happens for every building, division and department. “Emergencies can happen anywhere,” she said. “I want everyone to know what their role would be and how they should respond in advance."

WELCOME NEW STAFF

AUGUST - NOVEMBER 2019

  • Javier B. Alcantar
  • Meshell N.C. Alcantar
  • Giovanni L. Alejo
  • Kayla M. Alvarado
  • Emilio B. Barbosa
  • Dennise R. Barrios
  • Jaskaran S. Batther
  • Yesenia L. Bautista
  • Amy K. Bigg
  • Evelyn L. Cardona
  • Monica A.L. Castillo
  • Francisco Cazares-Moreno
  • Jessica L. Evora
  • Sara R. Fitzpatrick
  • Jose A. Gallegos Jr.
  • Joseph A. Garcia
  • Ulices L. Garcia
  • Anthony J. Garrison-Engbrecht
  • Mariah M. Gonsalez
  • Virginia E. Hargrave
  • Maria G. Soto Haro
  • Adam M. Jensen
  • Dustin J. Johnson
  • William L. Johnson
  • Naoko Kada
  • Bianca Khanona
  • Gabriel M. Zamudio Leal
  • Rado Lee
  • Shaozhuan Li
  • Stacy M. Lima
  • Javier G. Lopez
  • Lai Lor
  • Omar C. Maravilla
  • Arturo Marroquin
  • Laura Rodriguez-Mascorro
  • Theresa E. Mason
  • Mary K. McCray
  • Rene Moreno
  • Michelle S. Morgante
  • Pete Y. Moua
  • Jody Murray
  • Sarah K. Naumes
  • Maria Nishanian
  • Alaina D. Nugent
  • Patricia L. Nunes
  • Leticia G. Oceguera
  • Cesar Ochoa
  • Sean W. Pamer
  • Michael R. Pearson
  • Amanda M. Peterson
  • Nicole D. Pollack
  • Jonathan J. Ramos
  • Julie A. Rayno
  • Laura L. Reyno
  • Alan P. Reynolds
  • Tammia K. Rosselot
  • Chai J. Saephan
  • Christina R. Saxton
  • Linda K. Sheehan
  • Margaret K. Silva
  • Andrea P. Tafolla
  • Pakou Thao
  • Jessica A. Torres
  • Sandra C. Tufts
  • Viviana M. Vasquez
  • Larissa L.L. Vejar
  • Isabell Virrey
  • Noel J. Whitehead
  • Jonathan J. Wilcox
  • Linda Yang
  • Maria D.R. Zaragoza
  • Luis G. Figueroa Zavala