Alumni News
Alumna Tonje Switzer receives Green Heart Award for CZU complex fire and Santa Cruz storm recovery efforts
Santa Cruz Long Term Recovery Group Executive Director Tonje Switzer (Oakes ’16, sociology) was awarded the Mountain Affair’s Green Heart Award in October.
Leading marine conservation across the Pacific
Alumna Stacy Jupiter (Ph.D. ’06, ecology and evolutionary biology) is the Executive Director of Marine Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Redefining systems of care: Alumna works to advance health equity across California
Alumna and co-CEO of Essential Access Health Dr. Nomsa Khalfani (Kresge ’91, sociology) works to advance sexual and reproductive health equity across California and is a public health leader in her community.
Cal Teach at 20: Striving to continue sending much-needed STEM educators into underserved communities
UC Santa Cruz program marks 20 years of putting service-minded STEM majors on a path to helping public schools students embrace math and science
Porter alum Cuauhtemoc Martinez and a life in sound
From East Los Angeles to UC Santa Cruz to leading sound production at Warner Bros., Porter alum Cuauhtemoc Martinez has built a life in sound.
From KZSC to national acclaim
How Jesse Thorn built a radio empire from his roots at the UCSC campus station
Breaking barriers and guiding others
As an outreach specialist with UC Santa Cruz’s Underground Scholars Program, Sammy Chavez (Rachel Carson ’25, Latin American and Latino studies and sociology) supports students navigating complex challenges in higher education. While completing his own degree, he was recognized with the Silver Slug Scholarship as a staff member pursuing his studies.
Rooted in education, expanding opportunity
Inspired by a shared love of learning and a family of educators, alumnus Roger Koopmann (Stevenson ’80, economics) and his late husband, Tom Bullen (Ph.D. ’86, Earth sciences), established scholarships that give UC Santa Cruz students the chance to pursue research and study abroad experiences.
UC Santa Cruz Alumnus Marty O’Reilly takes the stage on The Voice
Marty O’Reilly (Kresge ’12, environmental studies) turned three out of four judges’ chairs during The Voice blind auditions.