Responsibility as a Minority Serving Institution
UCI is a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), designated as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). These federal designations align with UCI’s aspiration to be a national leader and global model of inclusive excellence. As a designated AANAPISI and HSI, UCI faculty, staff and students are eligible to apply for Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) grants, internships and partnerships.
The UCI Office of Inclusive Excellence LatinX Resource Center awards the annual Latino Excellence and Achievement Award in recognition of Graduate Student Excellence. Award recipients are honored at the Latino Excellence and Achievement Dinner (LEAD), the only awards ceremony in the UC system that elevates Hispanic and Latinx graduate student success. LEAD aims to raise awareness of challenges in the graduate community, increase visibility of success, and inspire the Latinx community to advance in graduate and postdoctoral programs.
UCI Physical Sciences LEAD Award Recipients
- 2022 Cindy Yañez, Ph.D. Candidate, UCI Earth System Science
- 2021 Francisco Mercado, Ph.D. Candidate, UCI Physics & Astronomy
- 2020 Katy Rodriguez Wimberly, Ph.D. Candidate, UCI Physics & Astronomy