Division of Equity and Inclusion, UC Berkeley

09/05/2026

Michael Battisto is an incoming English transfer student and Jack Kent Cooke Scholar whose love of reading and writing began as a child, and continued through years working in professional kitchens, including as a lead cook at Berkeley’s Chez Panisse.

After transferring from Berkeley City College, Michael is now pursuing his passion for poetry and literature at UC Berkeley, where he hopes to build a lifelong ecosystem for his work as a writer and, one day, a poetry professor.

Michael's story is a reminder of what transfer pathways can make possible: when students have access to resources, community and the space to pursue their passion, their journeys can take them somewhere extraordinary. 💙🥘

UC Berkeley transfer students: Please check out the UC Berkeley Transfer Student Center for resources and support.

Read Michael's story:

For one incoming transfer student, reading and writing poetry led to a career cooking at prestigious restaurants — and an opportunity to hone his craft in Berkeley's English department.

09/03/2026

🎙️ Why You Can’t Do It Alone: The Science of Happiness via The Greater Good Science Center

In a new episode of The Science of Happiness, Danny Murillo, Associate Director of UC Berkeley’s Underground Scholars Initiative, reflects on community, belonging, and the power of supporting people through their journeys in higher education.

Danny’s work centers the experiences and leadership of currently and formerly incarcerated students, creating pathways to college, connection, and opportunity.

🎧 Listen to the episode:

Can anyone truly succeed alone? We explore how role models, mentors, and strong social support make upward mobility far more possible than grit alone.

08/28/2026

What does it mean to truly thrive at UC Berkeley? 🌱

In this edition of What’s the Word?, Dr. Elisa Diana Huerta explores Thriving as more than a destination: it’s an approach, an invitation to generative interruption, and a praxis we put into practice every day.

Thriving asks us to stay curious, take action, and build toward possibility.
💭 What does it mean to Thrive?
💭 What is needed to Thrive?
💭 What if I/we Thrive?

🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/3Ug9MCR

What’s the Word? is a monthly column that introduces emerging language, concepts, and frameworks shaping equity and inclusion work. Each edition offers brief context, shared definitions, and practical insight to help our community build a common vocabulary and deepen understanding.

08/25/2026

🌱 CalFresh for College Students 2.0: A New Enrollment Era Begins

Join us in community on Mon. 9/14 from noon-1pm to celebrate the launch of a new publication focused on CalFresh access for college students.

Hear from community leaders across outreach, application assistance, research, data, and policy, and explore what’s ahead for college student CalFresh enrollment. All are welcome.

📅 Mon. 9/14 from noon-1pm
🔗 Register: tinyurl.com/CF4CCNEWERA

With Gabby Davidson, Gwen Chodur, PhD, MSPH, RDN, Aaron Kunst, M.A., and moderator Ruben E. Canedo.

Thank you to all of the community reviewers who helped make this publication possible. 💙

08/21/2026

Join us for the UC Berkeley campus premiere of A Job in the Shade: The Emily Vasquez Story on Saturday, September 26.

This inspiring documentary chronicles the remarkable life of Judge Emily Vasquez, the first Latina appointed to the Sacramento County Superior Court and a UC Berkeley alumna. From her childhood as the daughter of Mexican immigrant farmworkers in California’s Central Valley to her groundbreaking legal career, Judge Vasquez’s story demonstrates the transformative power of education, perseverance, mentorship and public service.

📅 Sat 9/26 from 6-9pm
📍 Chevron Auditorium, International House
🎟️ Free and open to the public; advance registration required.

Register: bit.ly/JudgeVasquezFilm

UC Berkeley School of Law Cal Alumni Association - UC Berkeley

Join us for the UC Berkeley premiere of Judge Vasquez’s remarkable journey from the Central Valley to the Sacramento County Superior Court

08/17/2026

Community is at the heart of Dr. Carmen Varela’s vision for Latinx Thriving. As a member of the UC Berkeley Latinx Thriving Initiatives Advisory Board and Executive Director of the Disabled Students’ Program & Disability Cultural Community Center, she believes thriving begins with finding connection and becoming part of something larger than yourself. 💙💛

Her message to students is simple but powerful: stay grounded in who you are, recognize how far you have come, and remember that you belong here.

✨ Carmen’s leadership continues to inspire belonging, care, and confidence across campus.

08/14/2026

✨ Meet Lauryn Valerio, Co-Director of the Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence (CE3)!

For Lauryn, the best part of working at UC Berkeley is simple: the people. 💙💛 From celebrating first-generation students to bringing the campus community together, she finds inspiration in the people who share her commitment to caring for the community and the work.

🔗 Learn more about Lauryn: https://ei.berkeley.edu/news/staff-spotlight-lauryn-valerio-sheher

08/11/2026

Yadira Hernandez Figueroa sees Latinx Thriving as making space for Latinx students and communities to grow, succeed, and receive meaningful investment. 💙💛

As a UC Berkeley Latinx Thriving Initiatives Student Advisory Board member, she has found some of her most meaningful experiences through communities where shared backgrounds and passions create genuine connection.

Learn more about LTI:https://lti.berkeley.edu/

08/03/2026

Beyond academics, Brandee Tovar Morales brings culture and creativity to the UC Berkeley Latinx Thriving Initiatives Student Advisory Board. 💙💛

As a folklórico dancer, Brandee stays connected to her identity and celebrates the parts of herself that cannot be captured on a transcript.
She reminds new students that uncertainty is normal, but their place at Berkeley is well-earned. 🏆

Learn more about LTI with the link in bio!