Georg Michels, a professor of history at UC Riverside, has won the 2026 Richard F. Gustafson Guggenheim Fellowship in Slavic Studies, one of only three named fellowships awarded by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
Allison Benis White’s most recent poetry collection, “A Magnificent Loneliness,” was awarded the 2025 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Poetry. “This recognition of ‘A Magnificent Loneliness’ is what writers dream about," White said. "And I’m grateful to represent UC Riverside, and our Creative Writing Department, with this honor.”
Ronald Loveridge, associate professor of political science at UC Riverside, was presented with a 2026 Poppy Award from the California Association of Councils of Governments for his efforts to support UCR students and advocate for good regional governance.
Cristina Gomez-Vidal, an assistant professor of society, environment, and health equity at UC Riverside, has been awarded a $100,000 grant to study how counties in Greater Los Angeles can improve the political representation and participation of residents in unincorporated communities.
Cambra Sklarz, who earned a doctorate in art history at UC Riverside in 2024, was named a finalist for the 2026 McNeil Center for Early American Studies Dissertation Prize.
Dana Simmons, an associate professor of society, environment, and health equity at UC Riverside, is the winner of the 2025 Emory Elliott Book Award for her latest work, “On Hunger: Violence and Craving in America, from Starvation to Ozempic,” which is available free online.
Tod Goldberg’s latest crime novel, “Only Way Out,” has been nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Fiction. “I am surprised, honored, and humbled,” said Goldberg, founder and director of the Low-Residency MFA program at UC Riverside’s Palm Desert Center. “This is my second time being a finalist, but the first time in over 20 years!”
