UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business

05/28/2026

Merage School economics professor Edward Coulson was recently featured in the Orange County Business Journal highlighting the growing barriers to homeownership across Southern California. 📉

Coulson attributes the low homeownership numbers in Orange and Los Angeles counties to rising home prices and the increasing challenge of saving for a down payment.

“It takes a lot to be able to put together a down payment, and that’s increasingly difficult for young people who don’t have a third party able to help,” Coulson said.

Read the full article 📲 https://bit.ly/4tGoSxM

Instead of buying, a new survey says, they are choosing to either rent or live with family or friends.

05/27/2026

Apply Now! 3 Paid Micro-Internships ⭐️

Help to support UC Irvine's submission to the Princeton Review Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Rankings while gaining experience in research, data collection, and innovation ecosystem mapping.

Each position is 25 hours of remote work & $450 paid 💼

Opportunities include:
Academic Entrepreneurship Data Intern
Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Programs Intern
Alumni Startups & Funding Intern

Perfect for students interested in entrepreneurship, research, innovation, startups, business, and higher education.

📲 Apply by signing in or signing up on our micro-internship platform

05/25/2026

Today, the Paul Merage School of Business honors and remembers the courageous service members who gave their lives in service to our country this . 🇺🇸

We reflect with gratitude on their sacrifice, bravery, and enduring legacy.

05/22/2026

Today, the Paul Merage School of Business celebrates ! 🌈

His advocacy for equality, inclusion, and representation continues to inspire meaningful change in workplaces, communities, and beyond. We proudly recognize the impact of LGBTQ+ voices and the importance of creating spaces where everyone can thrive. 👏

05/22/2026

Tonight, ten student entrepreneur teams pitched their startups to a panel of judges at the 22nd Stella Zhang New Venture Competition finale and awards ceremony, hosted by the Merage School’s Beall Center for Innovation and Excellence. The competition is an opportunity for students to create their own startup and compete over a seven month period for $100,000 in prizes.

Congratulations to all ten teams for making it to the competition finale. Most notably, congratulations to our competition winners!

Our first-place winner is Pipeline! Pipeline helps community college students transfer to four-year universities through personalized course planning.

Our second-place winner is NeuroStrat! NeuroStrat uses cognitive games to identify early signs of Alzheimer’s, leading to early intervention.

A huge thank you to Stella Zhang for her generosity and commitment to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Thank you also to our panel of judges; Isabelle Bart, Scott Joslyn, Jasmine Jiang, Matt Sand, and Charla Triplett.

05/21/2026

AI is reshaping the future of work and HR leaders are at the center of that transformation. 👥

The Merage School, in partnership with Konnect, is launching “The Future of HR: AI Strategy & Leadership,” a new executive education certification program designed to help CHROs and senior people leaders architect AI strategy that drives innovation while keeping the workplace human.

Blending academic insight with real-world HR practice, the program equips leaders with the tools to navigate workforce transformation, data-driven decision-making, and AI implementation with confidence.

📍 Program Dates: July 17 – Sept. 3, 2026

Learn more about Konnect 📲 https://bit.ly/4uUlTm4

05/21/2026

Congratulations to Manali Chavan on being named a Poets&Quants Best & Brightest MBA! 🌟

Recognized for her academic excellence, leadership, and impact, Manali exemplifies what it means to lead, mentor, and inspire. This honor celebrates individuals who not only excel in the classroom, but also uplift their communities and shape the future of business.

Read more about her Poets&Quants award 📲 https://bit.ly/4cTgmWU

05/20/2026

Assistant Professor of Teaching, Micheal Imerman was recently featured in a US News article on LendingClub’s transformation into digital-first “Happen Bank,” Imerman shared insight on the growing trend of fintech companies expanding into full-service banking.

“Over the past five years or so, we’ve seen this big trend of fintech lenders get a bank charter one way or another and actually expand their business model beyond just loans and into other banking products.”

The article also highlights how fintech companies are reshaping consumer banking, digital finance and the future of financial services.

Read the full story 📲 https://bit.ly/4dWKKiD

05/20/2026

Join us at TechCon SoCal as Dean Ian O. Williamson takes the stage for a powerful conversation on how universities are driving innovation, entrepreneurship and regional growth across Southern California.

This panel, “Regional Innovation Engines: Universities, Tech Transfer, and Ecosystem Building,” brings together leaders shaping the future of research and startup ecosystems.

📍 San Diego State University
📅 May 21–23, 2026

For more information visit 📲 www.techconglobal.com

05/19/2026

In a recent Medscape article by Marilynn Larkin, researchers at the UC Irvine School of Medicine unveiled promising results from a first-in-human trial of the Triton robotic colonoscopy system 🤖🔬

Led by EMBA 22 alumnus, Jason Samarasena, the CARE study achieved a 100% cecal intubation rate with no major adverse events, highlighting the potential for robotics to transform both patient care and physician experience in gastroenterology.

Innovation at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and research continues to drive impact across the UC Irvine community. 🚀

Read the full story 📲 https://bit.ly/3R9ly0B