Alumni
If you’re a UC Santa Cruz alum, there’s a good chance you’re a Division of Social Sciences alum too! Our division awards about 40% of all UC Santa Cruz degrees through our popular undergraduate and graduate programs, including Psychology, Economics, Sociology, Environmental Studies, Politics, Legal Studies, and many more.
Alumni from the Division of Social Sciences are successful and engaged global citizens who go on to lead and innovate in their fields, uplift their communities, and work to build a brighter future for people and the planet. We’re so proud of their impact and grateful that they choose to stay connected with each other and with our campus community.
Alumni stories
Abel Pineda (Oakes ’14, Sociology) received UC Santa Cruz’s Outstanding Recent Alumni Award in 2023. Pineda is the youngest person to serve as Council Member, Vice Mayor, and Mayor on the San Pablo City Council and is among the youngest mayors in the state and the country.
Allison Nguyen (‘23, Psychology Ph.D., Linguistics M.A.) is now an assistant professor of Cognitive and Experimental Psychology at Illinois State University. Her research has helped to identify the linguistic characteristics of hyperpartisan online echo chambers.
Ricky Bluthenthal (Merrill ’86, History and Sociology) received the 2022 Distinguished Social Sciences Alumni Award for his advocacy in health equity. He is an Associate Dean, Vice Chair, and Professor at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine.
Peter Bratt (Cowell ’86, Politics) received the 2023 Distinguished Social Sciences Alumni Award. Bratt is a Rockefeller Fellow, a Peabody Award winner, and an Emmy-nominated film producer, writer, and director who champions underrepresented communities.
Jake Kendall (’08, Economics Ph.D.) received the 2023 UC Santa Cruz Distinguished Graduate Student Alumni Award. Kendall is a co-founder of the DFS Lab, an early stage investor and accelerator for companies building a modern digital economy in Africa.
Explore more alumni stories >>
Update your contact information
Social Sciences Slugs travel far and wide after graduation, but they’ll always have a home with us here in the redwoods. Update your contact information so that we can keep you in the loop on alumni events and resources, celebrate your achievements, and share opportunities to connect with the next generation of students.
Alumni services
We care deeply about the success of our graduates, and there are an abundance of professional, career, and networking resources available to help you achieve your goals. Explore some of the options below and contact the Alumni Engagement team with any questions.
Support the Social Sciences
Shape the future of the Social Sciences Division by contributing your time, expertise, or financial support. You can forge meaningful connections with the next generation of students, support your favorite faculty members and initiatives, or take on a leadership role in our campus community. It’s a great way to celebrate and share your banana slug pride!
