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UC Irvine’s Community and Government Relations serves as the central resource for campus relationships with elected officials and key community stakeholders in support of the University’s mission and priorities. The Office of Community and Government Relations, a department of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs serves as the central resource for campus and unit-based relationships with Orange County’s elected officials, as well as business, community and opinion leaders. The Community and Government Relations staff is dedicated to creating awareness, building relationships, and generating support for the University of California, Irvine and UC Irvine Medical Center. The Office of Community and Government Relations generates support by creating opportunities for UC Irvine friends to advocate on behalf of the University of California. Anteater Advocates assist us in engaging with our policy makers locally and in Sacramento and Washington, DC to ensure federal and state funding for higher education and to sustain UC’s mission of teaching, research, and public service.

10/16/2026

University of California, Irvine was glad to attend the Greater Irvine Chamber’s recent City Council Candidates Forum, bringing together local leaders, candidates and community members for important conversations about the future of Irvine.

UC Irvine recognizes the importance of civic engagement and collaboration in shaping a city. The forum offered an opportunity to hear candidates share their perspectives on local issues, discuss community priorities and highlight the vision and leadership that will help guide Irvine’s continued growth.

We look forward to continuing to work alongside community partners toward a vibrant, connected and prosperous future for Irvine and the greater Orange County region.

Image Descriptions:
Slide 1: Two candidates for Irvine Mayor sit on stage.

Slide 2: Three candidates for Council District 1 sit on stage.

Slide 3: Five candidates for Council District 5 sit on stage with moderator.

Slide 4: Two candidates for Council District 6 sit on stage.

10/14/2026

Celebrating 25 years of culture, connection and community at the Irvine Global Village Festival!

University of California, Irvine is proud to be a presenting partner of this community tradition alongside UCI Health, bringing people together to celebrate the rich cultures, traditions and experiences that make our community unique.

The Festival welcomed families, friends and neighbors to experience cultures from around the world through live music and dance, international cuisine, art and hands-on cultural activities.

Also in attendance were many elected officials including Senator Steven Choi, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, City of Irvine - Mayor Larry Agran, Vice Mayor James Mai, Councilmember Melinda Liu, Irvine Councilmember William Go, and Councilmember Betty Martinez Franco.

UC Irvine is proud to support events that foster community, celebrate cultural heritage and strengthen connections throughout Irvine and Orange County.

City of Irvine City Hall

Image Descriptions:
Slide 1: An anteater mascot stands on stage with a backdrop that reads “25th Anniversary Irvine Global Village Festival”.

Slide 2: 3 UC Irvine Representatives sit and smile for a photo.

Slide 3: Guests spin prize wheels at the UCI Health table and tent.

Slide 4: A UC Irvine and a UCI Health Representative smile with Councilmember William Go on stage with an award.

Slide 5: A UC Irvine and a UCI Health Representative smile with Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris

Slide 6: Guests gather under the UC Irvine tent.

Slide 7: Two UC Irvine representatives hold up the Anteater “Zot” symbol with Councilmember William Go.

Slide 8: A UC Irvine representative talks on stage, with other people and electeds sitting behind.

10/12/2026

UCI Health is bringing a new approach to stroke rehabilitation to Orange County through Harmonizing Healing, a music-based program inspired by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s “Strokestra.”

The week-long residency and workshop was a collaboration between the SeniorHealth Center and the UC Irvine Center for Medical Humanities, UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts, and UC Irvine School of Medicine, whose support made the project possible.

“It’s a way to involve our stroke patients in creating and playing music; to help recover some of the function which has been lost, in a very targeted way through playing instruments," says UCI Health geriatrician Dr. Lisa Gibbs.

The six-week pilot program is set to launch this November, highlighting how creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration can open new possibilities in patient recovery.

Read more about how UCI Health is harmonizing music and medicine at this link: https://www.ucihealth.org/about-us/news/2026/09/harmonizing-healing-program-for-stroke-patients

University of California, Irvine

Image Description: Tim Steiner, creator and director of “Strokestra”, plays an instrument in a hospital room with two other people on a bass trombone and violin.

10/09/2026

University of California, Irvine proudly welcomed Chief Paul Cooper during his official swearing-in ceremony to the UCI Police Department, marking an important moment of leadership and service for our campus community.

The ceremony also recognized Chief Cooper’s commitment to service, with Congressman Dave Min presenting a Certificate of Congressional Recognition and staff from Senator Steven Choi’s office presenting a special acknowledgment.

Congratulations to Chief Cooper as he begins this new role, and thank you for your commitment to serving the Anteater community!

Image Descriptions:
Slide 1: Chief Cooper stands with one hand raised, being sworn in front of a blue UC Irvine Police Department backdrop.

Slide 2: Congressman Dave Min presents Chief Cooper with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition.

Slide 3: Staff from the office of Senator Steven Choi presents Chief Cooper with a Senate certificate.

10/07/2026

University of California, Irvine was proud to attend the Hispanic 100 Foundation’s 16th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award Gala, celebrating leadership, achievement and the continued impact of the Hispanic community across our region.

A highlight of the evening was the Foundation’s commitment to investing in the next generation. This year, the Hispanic 100 Foundation awarded $300,000 in scholarships to 30 first-generation students, helping support their educational journeys and future success. The Foundation also continues to provide mentorship, leadership development, and career training through its Emilio Rivera “Forward Always” Mentorship Program.

Irvine Vice Mayor James Mai was also in attendance as community leaders came together to celebrate achievement, mentorship and the Foundation’s investment in future generations.

Thank you to the Hispanic 100 Foundation for bringing our community together and championing education, mentorship and opportunity for the next generation.

Image Descriptions:

Slide 1: A welcome sign reads “Hispanic 100 Foundation 16th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award Gala Welcome”.

Slide 2: Scholarship recipients stand onstage in formal attire, many wearing pink sashes and holding flowers. American flags line the stage, while a large screen displays the scholarship ceremony information.

Slide 3: Nine people smile for a photo at a banquet table. One is Irvine Vice Mayor James Mai.

Slide 4: A group of young people in formalwear stand in a line near a stage, with American flags and a presentation screen behind them.

10/06/2026

Join the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce for its annual 2027 Economic Forecast, featuring UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business Professor of Finance Christopher Schwarz.

The event will bring together Orange County business leaders and government officials for a look at the economic and financial forecast covering key topics including budgeting, finance, and investments.

The event will take place on October 9, this Friday, from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm at Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA, 92663.

Register for the event at this link: https://www.newportbeach.com/events/2027-economic-forecast-featuring-uc-irvines-paul-merage-school-of-business/

University of California, Irvine

Image Description: Infographic showing the 2027 Econonic Forecast by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business on Friday, October 9 from 11:30am to 1:30pm.

10/02/2026

UC Irvine was glad to attend the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Update and Candidates Forum, an event bringing together community leaders, local businesses and residents for conversations about the issues shaping Fountain Valley and the surrounding region.

UCI Health was proud to sponsor the event, supporting opportunities that connect our community and foster dialogue around the region’s future.

Thank you to the Fountain Valley Chamber for bringing local leaders and community members together!

Image Descriptions:
Slide 1: A city council candidates forum in a meeting room. Several panelists sit at a long table facing the audience, with a speaker standing near a projected screen. In the foreground, a table has American flag decorations, flowers, and a sign thanking gold sponsor UCI Health.

Slide 2: A close-up of an event sign for the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce’s “Legislative Update & Candidates Breakfast”. It lists UCI Health as a gold sponsor.

09/30/2026

What if we treated physical health the way we often treat mental health?

UC Irvine School of Medicine psychiatry resident Deven Patel, MD, is using storytelling and social media to challenge mental health stigma and misinformation. His 30-second video illustrating this double standard has reached hundreds of thousands of viewers.

As Adrian Preda, MD, professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, explains, “We are seeing an explosion of misinformation in the mental health domain.”

Preda is advocating for greater involvement from medical and academic experts in the social media conversation, emphasizing the value of “public scholarship” to make evidence-based mental health information more accessible.

Patel puts it simply: “You can improve healthcare literacy by lowering the barrier for access.”

At University of California, Irvine, faculty and trainees are exploring how public-facing storytelling can help bring trusted mental health information to broader audiences.

Read more at this link: https://medschool.uci.edu/news/battling-mental-health-misinformation-meeting-people-where-they-are

Image description: Professor Adrian Preda, MD

09/27/2026

UC Irvine - with the UCI School of Social Ecology, and the Social Impact Hub - was proud to be a part of Supervisor Don Wagner’s Wildfire Preparedness Town Hall, bringing community members and local leaders together to discuss wildfire readiness, prevention and resources.

The event featured insights from UCI Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy Professor Nicola Ulibarri, who highlighted the important role of research and expertise in helping communities better understand and prepare for wildfire risks. Other participants included the Orange County Fire Authority, Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA Emergency Management Division, and Southern California Edison.

Thank you to Supervisor Wagner for hosting this important community event, and everyone who joined the conversation to help build a safer, more resilient Orange County.

University of California, Irvine

Image Descriptions:
Slide 1: Audience sits and watches as Dr. Ulibarri presents a slideshow, with a title slide that reads “Planning and Policy for Wildfire Resilience”.

Slide 2: Dr. Ulibarri stands at a UC Irvine table while a person reads a pamphlet.

Slide 3: Audience is seated as three professional representatives sit at the front, and Supervisor Don Wagner stands at the podium.

Slide 4: A slide from Dr. Ulibarri’s presentation which depicts a visual explanation of Compound and Cascading Hazards in four stages: Drought, Rain and fuel growth, Drying and big fires, and Rain and debris flows.

09/24/2026

Backed by a $2.6 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, University of California, Irvine will launch a countywide four-year initiative that brings together UC Irvine faculty, clinicians, students, researchers, and community partners to identify youth and young adults — ages 15 to 25 — who are showing early warning signs of psychosis, connect them with support and intervene before a first episode ever occurs.

“Research suggests that approximately 2-4% of young people meet criteria for clinical high risk for psychosis,” said Jason Schiffman, UC Irvine professor of psychology and associate dean for research and faculty welfare for the UCI School of Social Ecology, who is co-leading the effort with Dr. Cameron S. Carter, UC Irvine Distinguished Professor and chair of psychiatry and human behavior in the UC Irvine School of Medicine. “Applied broadly to a county our size, that suggests thousands of young people could benefit from specialized assessment and support.”

Read more at this link: https://socialecology.uci.edu/news/psychosis-strikes?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=

Image Description: From left to right, Professor Jason Schiffman and Dr. Cameron S. Carter

Address

515 Aldrich Hall
Irvine, CA
92617

Telephone

+19498240061

Website

https://linktr.ee/ucirvinecgr

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