Dr. Felipe Mercado, assistant professor, Department of Social Work Education, has been selected as a Program Planning Committee member for the Mind and Life Summer Research Institute. The Program Planning Committee brings together interdisciplinary experts to shape the theme, structure and content of the prestigious weeklong immersive program, designed to foster deep dialogue between science, contemplative practice and social change.

Of the selection, Mercado said, "I feel incredibly blessed to join an extraordinary group of scholars, researchers, and contemplative leaders — including Linda Darling-Hammond (Learning Policy Institute), Dr. Mark Greenberg (Penn State), Dr. Michelle Chatman (UDC) and Monique Gray Smith (Royal Roads University) — as we engage in meaningful conversations about well-being, research and the evolution of contemplative education."

The Institute for Media and Public Trust has launched its groundbreaking health reporting fellowship. The initiative is dedicated to uncovering and documenting the persistent health inequities faced by residents of the San Joaquin Valley, one of California’s most underserved regions. By spotlighting these disparities, the fellowship seeks to drive awareness, inform public policy and empower the community with critical information about their health and well-being.

Veteran journalist Tim Sheehan, known for extensively reporting Central California’s most pressing issues, will serve as the inaugural fellow.

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