UCI School of Social Sciences
Spring Magazine 2020
be BOLD
because breaking the mold is part of your Anteater legacy
featured stories
From couchsurfing to Columbia Law
How Alexander “Sasha” Yusuf, ’20 sociology, has overcome every obstacle thrown his way to realize his educational aspirations
Social change agent
An Thien Nguyen, ’20 political science, focuses her research, outreach, and empathy on the Southeast Asian community
Getting by with a little help from her friends
First-generation transfer student Amber Appling ’20 finds her fit in UCDC
Research inspired by a harsh reality
Spurred by personal experience, UCI graduate student Payton Huse researches gender and homelessness
Award-worthy work
Angela Jenks, UCI anthropology, earns an Academic Senate award for teaching in a field she almost didn’t pursue
Academic advocate
UCI professor Anita Casavantes Bradford receives Academic Senate Faculty Award for Mentorship in recognition of her work with firstgeneration students
Driven by diversity
Third-year international studies and poli sci major Nora Beik works to foster inclusion through donor-supported UCI community outreach program
Bridging the gap
UCI first-generation alumnus Oscar F. Rojas Perez is proof of the power of mentorship, and now he’s paying it forward
Poolside reflections
DLS member Ofer Horn turns lessons from an acclaimed UCI coach into business success
Dean’s Leadership Society
How to get involved and support scholarships, research, and initiatives
Leading change, no matter the distance
DLS member Claudia Bonilla Keller ’87 boldly advocates for brighter futures in L.A. and O.C.
Ahead of the curve
Race car driver Samantha Tan, ’20 economics, is an international role model
Retaining cognitive youth
UCI-led study finds online brain games can extend ingame ‘cognitive youth’ into old
age, enabling seniors to multitask mentally on par with those 50yrs younger
Beware: Fake Twitter accounts exploit emergencies to spread misinformation
Sociology graduate student Richard Gardner researching the phenomenon earns competitive National Science Foundation fellowship
Incentives to hire
Economists from UCI and the New York Federal Reserve are teaming up to study whether
a key California tax credit for businesses boosts job creation
A global perspective
Through teaching, research, and action, UCI global and international studies professor
and chair Eve Darian-Smith is an ardent advocate for globalizing public education
in the 21st century
The brain and language
UCI language scientist Judith Kroll finds that a diverse linguistic environment boosts brain sensitivity to new learning, and exposure alone may confer some benefits of bilinguality on single-language speakers
Where have all the moderates gone?
Political science assistant professor Danielle Thomsen studies whether primary voters prefer partisan polarization
Fat phobia
Book by UCI sociologist Sabrina Strings explores religious, racial origins of society’s
obsession with weight
Chasing the memory, not the high
UCI cognitive scientist Aaron Bornstein says memory, more than compulsion, could be
to blame for relapses among those addicted to drugs and/or alcohol
A commanding presence
Maj. Gen. Laura Yeager’s unwavering work ethic propelled her to unprecedented heights in the Army, making the ’86 UCI psychology alumna a role model for women and girls
Studying those who serve
UCI is 4th institution in nation to offer certificate program examining veteran community
International recognition
Kai Wehmeier, logic and philosophy of science professor, receives Humboldt Prize for outstanding academic research career
Holding court
UCI volleyball player and political science major Loryn Carter ’20 reflects on her
time at UCI
Alumni Network
Learn how you can get involved in a network more than 50,000 Anteaters strong
be BOLD
a publication of the
UCI School of Social Sciences
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writers, designers, editors, & photographers
Heather Ashbach, Christine Byrd, Luis Fonseca
Lilibeth Garcia, Pat Harriman,
Jill Kato,
Sheri Ledbetter, Kiali Wong Orlowski,
Kristin Baird Rattini, Kara Roberts, Steven Zylius
special thanks to contributing photographers from:
DIRHA, ST Racing
School Leadership
Bill Maurer, Dean
Michael McBride, Associate Dean
Jeanett Castellanos, Associate Dean
Belinda Robnett, Associate Dean
Rebecca Avila, Assistant Dean
Marketing & Communications
Heather Ashbach, Executive Director
Luis Fonseca, Digital Media Production
Development
Tracy Arcuri, Executive Director
Liz Codispoti, Director
Ian Delzer, Associate Director
Melissa Churlonis, Coordinator
featured on cover:
Samantha Tan ’20 economics is breaking ground internationally as one of the fastest
and youngest women in her racing class, and inspiring legions of young girls along
the way.
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Be Bold is offered this year digitally.
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