Farewell and Gratitude For Lina Mendez

We send our heartfelt thanks and best wishes to our colleague, Lina Mendez, the director of the Hispanic Serving Institution Initiative at UC Davis, as she transitions to a new position at UCSF. 

Luis Carvajal-Carmona, the associate vice chancellor of the Office of Academic Diversity, shares the following message: 

"Lina has been an integral part of the team and has made countless contributions to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at UC Davis. During her time here, Lina has shown unwavering dedication to supporting Chicanx/Latinx students, staff, and faculty. Her passion for ensuring the success of underrepresented communities has been truly inspiring, and her leadership has left a lasting impact on our campus. 

While we are sad to see Lina go, we also want to celebrate her many accomplishments and wish her the best in her new role. Lina's dedication, kindness, and expertise will be greatly missed, but we are excited to see her thrive in this new career chapter. She will move to UCSF as their Executive Director of Resource Centers and Climate and Belonging.  Please join us in expressing our gratitude to Lina for her hard work and commitment to fostering a more inclusive campus community. She will have a farewell event on June 13, 2024, to send Lina off with best wishes and celebrate her time with us. Please RSVP by June 10, 2024, if you would like to attend. If you can't attend, I encourage you to write something on her Kudo Board.

Transition plans are underway, and we will keep you updated as that information is available. In the meantime, for HSI-related matters, please contact Rosa Deniz (rdeniz@ucdavis.edu). 

Lina, thank you for everything you have done for us at UC Davis. Your presence will be greatly missed, but your legacy will continue to inspire us for years to come. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors."