At UC Merced, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging are essential to ensuring that everyone feels welcomed, valued, and part of our campus community. Through open and honest conversations, we aim to celebrate our unique identities, foster a culture where our differences are seen as strengths, and create an environment where all of us -students, faculty, staff, and alumni-can thrive.
Below, you'll find personal testimonies from memebers of our community who are engaging with these important topics. Some contributors have chosen to remain anonymous.
We invite you to join the conversation by sharing your own story. Submit your personal testimony to have your experience added to this page.
Ashley Alvarado-Barragan (she/her/ella)
Undergraduate Student, Student Assistant, First-Gen, Latina
"I am a 21-year-old first-generation Latina, a proud Mexican-America woman, and the eldest and only daughter. I am a sister to two younger brothers who will never have to navigate upper-education school systems alone."
