Nov. 2, 2026

The Phi Beta Kappa bridge stretches over a path leading to Aldrich Park. (Photo by Steve Zylius / UC Irvine)

UC IRVINE NEWS

Building a new future for women’s health

What does Orange County need to improve the health of women? For more than a decade, women’s health advocates, researchers, health professionals and community leaders have gathered around the same table to wrestle with that question and, just as importantly, to listen. Sora Park Tanjasiri, professor of health, society and behavior, served on the Orange County Women’s Health Project advisory board and strengthened its ties to the university. She helped bring the Women’s Health Summit to campus and, as the nonprofit looked for a way to sustain its work, helped pave the way for Wen Public Health to become its new home – carrying forward more than a decade of dialogues, partnerships and community relationships.

Ghosts in the classroom

When Delilah Miranda Rodriguez signed up for assistant professor of East Asian studies Xiao Rao’s course, “Ghosts and Fantasies,” she was expecting to learn about popular urban legends like Japan’s “Slit-Mouthed Woman” and “Hanako of the Toilet.” Instead, she was met with a story about a woman whose heartbreak was so strong it split her soul from her body. “My ideas of ghost stories were completely off,” said Rodriguez, a second-year criminology, law and society major who had previously equated ghosts with evil spirits. “Each tale contains bits and pieces of history, even when it’s not the most apparent.”

AI and local democracy

On Oct. 13, University of California researchers and leaders from local non-profits, community organizations, and city and state government convened at UC Irvine and online for Policy Innovation Day to share expertise and insights on municipal chatbots. Funded by the Social Science Research Council and the Engineering+Society Institute on AI at UC Irvine, and enabled by the Alliance for Local Leaders International, the campus and community collaborative is working to understand better and measure how interactions with AI-enabled tools on city and government websites help or hinder residents and their overall civic engagement.

Open Enrollment now open

Open Enrollment for 2027 benefits is now open. All UC Irvine and UCI Health employees should visit the Open Enrollment web page to learn more about plans and rates. You may also visit the UC Open Enrollment web section for more information. Consider utilizing ALEX, UC’s virtual benefits counselor, to help determine which plan is right for you. Enroll in benefits in UCPath before Nov. 20. Employees who complete Open Enrollment by Nov. 6 will be entered into a random opportunity drawing to win one of four $50 Amazon e-cards. Employees who complete Open Enrollment by Nov. 13 will be entered into a random drawing to win one of four $25 Amazon e-cards. Employees eligible for the Nov. 6 drawing will roll over to the Nov. 13 drawing.

UC NEWS

UC campuses earn top marks for affordability and quality

Eight University of California campuses are among The Princeton Review’s 2027 Best Value Colleges. UC Irvine made the 209-school list, which evaluates undergraduate universities on academics, affordability and career outcomes. It ranked 4th among the top 50 best value public universities and 15th among the top 20 public schools for career placement.

#IamUCI

Cory Olson’s big swing: better breakfasts

Cory Olson (right), former Anteater baseball player and social ecology alum, traded the diamond for the cereal aisle – and he's changing the game. His brand, Good Grains, is the first non-ultra-processed cereal on the market, and within days of its launch, it landed nationwide distribution at Sprouts, Target, and Whole Foods, among others. Not bad for a kid who learned time management juggling Division I baseball and upper-division coursework. “UC Irvine has a special place in my heart,” said Olson. “It gives you a purpose – to learn, figure out what makes you tick and discover what gets you excited. I’m just proud to have been a part of the program, and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

#UCIconnected spotlights interesting updates from the UC Irvine community. #IamUCI spotlights profiles of students, faculty, staff and alumni. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected or #IamUCI hashtags.

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