Dear Colleagues,
October has been a busy and engaging month for me and the entire campus. At the beginning of the month, I attended a two-day UC Regents and chancellors retreat where we discussed a range of issues impacting the future of the entire university. We held a UCR campus leadership and faculty retreat on graduate education. We also held our first campus AI summit and celebrated the opening of the new Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Facility at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This new facility adds significant instructional space as enrollment continues to grow toward our long-range development goal of 35,000 students by 2035.
I also traveled to Beijing, Chengdu, and Taipei for development and alumni engagements with our development and international affairs teams, including Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Engagement Travis Smith, Vice Provost for International Affairs Marko Princevac, and Assistant Provost Jun Wang, and attended an Ag-tech conference at the National Taiwan University with CNAS Dean Peter Atkinson, Marko, and Jun.
After two days of meeting with the presidents and chancellors of the Association of American Universities (AAU), I came back to campus to welcome the WASC Visiting Team for our accreditation reaffirmation.
Retreat Focusing on Graduate Student Success
Over the last two decades, much of UCR’s enrollment growth has been in undergraduate programs, which can be attributed to population growth in the Inland region, UCR’s rapid rise through rankings, focus on excellence, and, of course, the dedicated work of faculty, staff, students, and friends.
But as we develop strategies and plans to reach our long-term goal, we’ll need to examine all areas that impact growth.
Excellence in graduate education is a hallmark of a world-class research university. Our focus of the retreat discussions was on strategic enrollment management and graduate student success.
Research Spotlight: UCR AI Summit and Robotics Innovation
Another exciting event this past month was UC Riverside’s first-ever AI Summit. The keynote speeches by Google Chief Technologist Prabhakar Raghavan and Gaurav S. Sukhatme, USC’s inaugural director of the USC Stevens School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, along with panel discussions and poster exhibits, highlighted the rapid development in AI and reinforced UCR's important role in advancing AI innovation, preparing students for an AI-enabled world, and ensuring these technologies serve society safely.
Thank you to UCR’s AI Council, the RAISE Institute leadership, and the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development for organizing our inaugural summit.
The UC AI Steering Committee is organizing five AI summits over the coming months.
In late February, another event in partnership with UC San Diego will focus on Learning and Work. Additionally, you can learn more about AI events, news, and learning opportunities on UCOP’s AI website.
At UCR, our commitment to AI research is reflected in faculty like Dr. Jiachen Li, director of the Trustworthy Autonomous Systems Laboratory (TASL). His team at UCR is developing robots that can navigate complex environments and move alongside humans. Recently posted to UCR’s YouTube channel, you’ll find a fascinating video showing his students and robots at work.
Redlands Forum, November 5, 2026 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Regional economic development is central to my talk titled “The Geography of Innovation,” which I will give at the Redlands Forum. I invite you to join me at the Esri Conference Center, where I will explore whether the earth is flat or spiky, communities that build innovation centers, and UCR’s role in advancing opportunity in our region.
The event is free. You can register to attend either in person or online.
Alumni Homecoming, Nov. 7
All alumni, families, students, and their guests are invited back to campus on November 7 for UCR Homecoming! Experience college and department interactive booths, mix and mingle with alumni, and enjoy a day filled with activities.
Randall Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
On November 9, we’ll cut the ribbon on the UCR Randall Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, located in Orbach Library.
The new center, made possible through the generosity of Randall Lewis and his family, further reinforces our commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional economic development.
Coffee, Friday, November 20, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
This year, I’m continuing the tradition of hosting coffees to connect with faculty and staff informally. Please join me on the Hinderaker Patio for coffee, tea, a selection of pastries, and, most importantly, time to reconnect with colleagues.
If you’d like to attend, please register before November 13, 2026.
Cheering on the Highlanders at a Crosstown Showdown game
There’s a new rivalry in town. This year, as members of the Big West Athletic Conference, UCR and California Baptist University are competing for bragging rights and a championship trophy in the Crosstown Showdown, an event that celebrates Riverside’s two NCAA Division I athletics programs. Throughout the year, Highlanders and Lancers will compete across multiple sports.
Wear your blue and gold to cheer on the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams on December 5 in the SRC.
You can also support the Highlanders by participating in the Athletics Give Campaign on November 9th! Support the student-athletes across 17 sports programs.
Pick your team, make a gift, and cheer them on to victory. Every gift helps our student-athletes succeed in competition, in the classroom, and beyond. You can make your gift today.
As this newsletter shows, November is shaping up to be as busy as October. Thank you for the many ways you are supporting students, research, and public service while welcoming alumni, supporters, and guests to campus.