The University of California, Irvine Alumni Association will honor 21 accomplished individuals at the 2025 Lauds & Laurels ceremony on Nov. 7, including three distinguished social sciences Anteaters:

• Jennifer Cabrera, M.A. ’21, Sociology Ph.D. Student – Outstanding Graduate Student
• Zeynep Karatas ’25, International Studies and Political Science – Outstanding Undergraduate Student
• Bob Cluck ’78, Economics - School of Social Sciences Distinguished Alumnus

The association’s highest honor, the Extraordinarius award, will go to Shelley Hoss, M.B.P.A. ’87, for her significant contributions to the university and the broader community.

This year’s event is doubly significant as it coincides with UC Irvine’s 60^th anniversary – a time to celebrate six decades of innovation, impact and excellence.

Since 1971, Lauds & Laurels has recognized more than 900 members of the UC Irvine community for their outstanding contributions to the university, their professions and society. The Extraordinarius award is the pinnacle of this tradition.

“Shelley Hoss exemplifies what it means to be an Anteater – visionary, compassionate and driven by purpose,” said Brian Hervey, vice chancellor for university advancement and alumni relations. “Her leadership in the philanthropic sector has not only transformed Orange County but also inspired a new standard for community impact. We are proud to recognize her with the Extraordinarius award.”

Hoss has dedicated her career to enhancing the quality of life in Orange County through strategic philanthropy and leadership. CEO of the Orange County Community Foundation since 2000, she has transformed the organization into one of the nation’s most impactful nonprofits. Under her tenure, OCCF’s annual grant and scholarship awards have surged from $5 million to over $100 million, with cumulative granting exceeding $1 billion. Its assets have grown from $42 million to to nearly $800 million, positioning OCCF among the top 7 percent of U.S. community foundations in asset size.

Hoss’ commitment to addressing critical needs is exemplified by her role in the 2025 Orange County Nonprofit Needs Assessment Report. Collaborating with the Samueli Foundation, Charitable Ventures and the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology, OCCF helped field a survey of more than 600 nonprofit leaders to identify challenges and opportunities within that sector. This effort led to a $15 million investment by the Samueli Foundation to support leadership development, infrastructure and financial sustainability for local charities.

A passionate advocate for education and mentorship, Hoss has maintained strong ties with UC Irvine. Her early career included leadership roles at the Orangewood Foundation and Girls Inc. of Orange County, where she developed programs connecting youth with higher education opportunities, including partnerships with UC Irvine’s ArtsBridge program.

“My experience at UC Irvine was foundational to a nearly 40-year career in philanthropic leadership,” Hoss said. “The exposure to best practices in both for-profit and nonprofit management sparked a passion for transformational leadership that continues to inspire me. I’m deeply honored to be recognized by the university that launched a lifelong journey of growing the good in Orange County and beyond.”

The holder of a joint master’s degree in business and public administration from UC Irvine and a Phi Beta Kappa scholar, she was the founding chair of Orange County Grantmakers and has chaired and served on the board of the League of California Community Foundations. Hoss is a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the philanthropic realm.

The 2025 Lauds & Laurels ceremony will also honor 15 distinguished alumni for their exceptional achievements and contributions – each representing a different UC Irvine school or unit:

• Bob Cluck ’78 – School of Social Sciences
• Steven D. Feinberg, M.D. ’72 – School of Medicine
• Neil Gleason ’71 – School of Physical Sciences
• Jai Krishan Hakhu, Ph.D. ’79 – Samueli School of Engineering
• Olivia Silva Hufnagel ’97 – School of Education
• Andrew Hwang ’05 – Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
• Linh Lee ’97 – School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Les McCabe ’80 – School of Social Ecology
• Kendra Leindecker Mirasol ’88 – School of Humanities
• Ramin Mousavi ’08, MBA ’11 – The Paul Merage School of Business
• Alison O’Daniel, M.F.A. ’10 – Claire Trevor School of the Arts
• Sandra Smart-Ashburn ’87 – Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences
• Cassidie Thomas ’13, D.N.P. ’24 – Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing
• Margaret D. Whitley, Ph.D. ’21 – Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health
• Jiaxiao Zhang, J.D. ’17 – School of Law

Additional honorees are:

• Mario L. Barnes – Outstanding Faculty Achievement
• Jennifer Cabrera, M.A. ’21 – Outstanding Graduate Student
• Patty Furukawa ’93 – Outstanding Staff Achievement
• Zeynep Karatas – Outstanding Undergraduate Student
• Shelby Lee Parker ’19, M.S. ’22 – Outstanding Alumni Athlete

For more information about the event and to view the list of awardees, please visit engage.alumni.uci.edu/lauds.

-adapted from feature by Robby Ray, UCI Alumni Association