UCGPC Student Advocates Campaign
2026
About the Campaign
On January 20th, UCGPC, in partnership with Federal Governmental Relations (FGR) at the UC Office of the President, launched a two-month, campaign to elevate the voices of graduate and professional students across all 10 UC campuses. systemwide advocacy campaign to elevate the voices of graduate and professional students across all 10 UC campuses. These testimonials were collected for the purpose of communication and advocacy, including meet- ings between FGR staff and lawmakers on Capitol Hill, to ensure federal deci- sion-makers understand what the UC, and the nation, stand to lose if graduate research and education are weakened.
10 Graduate Student Advocates (one from each UC campus) spent two months gathering testimonials from graduate students about:
• The importance of their research, teaching, and studies
• The real-world impacts of their work on the UC and the nation
• And what is at stake if harmful federal policies undermine graduate educa- tion, research funding, and academic freedom
This initiative aligns with the broader “Speak Up for Science” and “Stand Up for the UC” efforts to defend public higher education by showcasing: the diversity of UC graduate students; the excellence and impact of their research; the competence and commitment they bring to solving society’s most pressing challenges.
Through the campaign, the Graduate Student Advocates:
• Collected written and video testimonials from graduate students on their campuses
• Highlighted how federal policy decisions directly affect research, education, and innovation
• Helped connect campus-level experiences to national policy debates
This campaign culminated in a book of testimonials gathered by graduate student advocates. Through stories shared in their own words and collected by their peers, this highlights the vital role graduate students play in advancing research, teaching, innovation, and public service across the UC system and the nation.
Meet the Student Advocates
UC Berkeley - Daniel Gonzales
PhD Student, Mathematical Logic
I am a researcher in mathematical logic at UC Berkeley. My research includes finding when a mathematical statement is provable or disprovable, and how proofs relate to the complexity of solving problems. Over the past year I have become more involved in advocating for graduate student researchers, especially international researchers, through our Union and most recently this campaign.
UC Davis - Sophia Green
PhD Student, Political Science
I’m a third-year Ph.D. student in Political Science at UC Davis. My research focuses on state and local politics with a focus on policy and intergovernmental relations. Prior to graduate school, I was involved in advocacy work with a non-profit organization and a political campaign. I’m excited to bring my skills to this campaign to help elevate graduate student voices and experiences.
UC Irvine - Onwodi Ifejeokwu
PhD Student, Anatomy & Neurobiology
I’m a 4th year PhD student in the department of Anatomy & Neurobiology at UCI School of Medicine. My research focus is neuroimmunology, specifically looking at mecha- nisms underlying immune related adverse events and mitigation strategies. My passion for pursuing a career in research has led me to found a grassroots effort to advocate for underrepresented minorities in academia and strongly advocate for improving the overall quality of life for cancer survivors. As someone who has perof life for cancer sur- vivors. Assomeone who has personally been affected by the ongoing budget cuts, I am incredibly excited to provide a voice for so many of us on campus who have felt helpless during this time.
UC Los Angeles - Jocelyn Rodriguez
PhD Student, Molecular Biology
I am a 5th year PhD candidate in the Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Pro- gram researching lung cancer metabolism at UCLA David Geffen’s School of Medicine under the mentorship of Dr. David Shackelford. I am passionate about science advocacy, science communication and building community and inclusive spaces for all students. I am excited to be part of the “Stand up for UC” Campaign to advocate for the needs of students on our campus and across the UCs and amplifying student voices.
UC Riverside - Daisy R. Herrera
PhD Student, Public History
I am a PhD student in the Public History program at UC Riverside. As a historian focusing on the 20th century labor and social experiences of subaltern commu- nities in the Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, advocacy and representation is extremely important to me as a scholar. I combine my experience from the 2022 UC-wide academic worker strike, my exposure as the graduate student repre- sentative for the campus’ Hispanic Serving Institution committee, and oral his- tory to the project. I am excited to locate graduate students whose intersectional experiences across personal backgrounds and disciplines not only tell a story of diversity of our campus but can help shed light on the policies hindering our educational journeys and research commitments to our communities.
UC San Diego - Talia Baddour
PhD Student, Bioengineering
I am a fifth-year Bioengineering PhD student at UCSD. My research primarily focuses on sex differences in heart disease, and my previous advocacy efforts have centered on bringing women and other gender minorities to the forefront of bioengineering. As a student advocate, I am excited to highlight the importance of continuing to fund women’s health researchers like myself who are advancing health equity.
UC San Francisco - Sneha Rao
PhD Student, Developmental & Stem Cell Biology
I am a PhD candidate in the Developmental and Stem Cell Biology program at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) studying how the embryo prepares for implantation in the uterus. My policy interests center on reproductive health equity and building adaptable frameworks to regulate emerging stem cell and gene editing technologies. As a leader of the Science Policy Group at UCSF, advocate for research funding in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and organize events on bioethics, community engagement, and science communication. As part of the UCGPC Student Advocates campaign, I am excited to continue bridging the gap between researchers and policymakers by uplifting the voices of researchers across UC and highlighting the impact of their vital work.
UC Santa Cruz - Alex Stokes
PhD Student, Education
Alex Stokes is a fourth year PhD candidate in the Education department at UC Santa Cruz. Her work focuses on supporting the ways of teaching, learning, and knowing that marginalized communities are already practicing. She has a back- ground in comparative and international education, and is involved in tenant and union organizing on UCSC’s campus. She looks forward to highlighting the richness of the experiences and work of her graduate student colleagues through this UCGPC campaign. She hopes this work will contribute to shaping a different world for her children.
UC Santa Barbara - Akira Swan
PhD Student, Global Studies
Akira Swan (she/her) is originally from San Diego, and earned dual bachelors from UC Santa Cruz. Her interdisciplinary background in legal studies and pol- itics has informed her interest in racial capitalism, abolitionist and decolonial theory, carceral states, law and society, and social movements. Akira has worked in University development at UC San Diego, where she witnessed first hand the impact of federal funding cuts. improving the overall quality of life for cancer survivors. As someone who has personally been affected by the ongoing budget cuts, I am incredibly excited to provide a voice for so many of us on campus who have felt helpless during this time.
Student Tesimonials
Read a selected curation of the student testimonials collected from the Student Advocates. In total, 49 students provided testimonials and were featured in “UCGPC 2026 Student Advocates” booklet.
Amelie Delcourt - UC San Francisco
4th year PhD, Biology
Amelie’s research focuses on stem cell biology and geriatric care. She is funded by an NSF grant.
“For me, having my own graduate student funding through the NSF secures my position as a student here at UCSF, and gives me the confidence and morale to conduct research during these troubling times.”
“Time is not on our side. We cannot afford to lose progress in research and healthcare in this country, especially for our growing aging population. We want to take care of our aged individuals, so we need the funding and support to do so.”
Rayyan Gorashi - UC San Diego
5th-year PhD, Bioengineering (Aguado Lab)
Rayyan’s research focuses on how sex chromosomes impact heart health. She receives a F31 grant (NIH).
“For me, [the diversity] funding was not just about supporting a research project. It was also about supporting the applicant as a whole person. The NIH seemed to value candidates who were engaged in community work, mentorship, and outreach. Without being able to talk about those experiences directly, the application would lose an important dimension of who I am and what I contribute beyond the bench.”
Amanda Haab - UC Davis
1st-year PhD, Microbiology
Amanda’s research focuses on germs, pathogens, and infectious diseases. She is a recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
“The NSF GRFP allowed me to choose the school that would be best suited for my future. Because I joined with my own funding, [...] I got to start my graduate education where I wanted and with the projects/problems I would be most effective at solving.”
“[...] reductions in NSF GRFP awardees this year significantly impacted a number of my highly qualified colleagues, leading them to enter industry rather than research.”
Emily Kracht - UC Santa Barbara
4th-year PhD, Anthropology
Emily’s research is at the intersection of archeology, inequality, and climate change. She is an NSF Graduate Student Fellow.
“I personally experienced [the impact of funding cuts] when I was supposed to work on a project with the California National Park Service. The fieldwork was scheduled to begin on February 18, but on February 14 I received a call saying that the park employees involved in the project had been fired. As a result, the field component was disrupted and the project never happened. [...] The project would have involved identifying sites for preservation and working with local tribes, but because it was cancelled those places were never identified. That means cultural history may be lost, and relationships with local communities were disrupted.”
Elle Rathbun - UC Los Angeles
6th-year PhD, Neurology
Elle’s research focuses on stroke treatments, thanks to a F31 diversity grant.
“Cardiovascular diseases disproportionately affect rural communities more so than individuals who live in urban or suburban areas. My research and potential therapeutics for stroke would most benefit stroke survivors who were not able to get to a hospital in time for immediate intervention. Grants and federal funding directly allow us as students to be trained as experts in these fields and conduct high-impact, cutting-edge research. Without funding, graduate students would not pursue research or continue this career path that is so crucial for the health of our society.”
Matthew Sandoval - UC Irvine
3rd-year PhD, Anatomy & Neurobiology
Matthew’s research focuses on genetic disruptions associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. He is mostly funded by federal grants.
“Loss of funding nationwide has caused many laboratories to lose valuable scientific members or to shut down entirely. Likewise, the United States has seen an efflux of brilliant minds while preventing the stewardship of international talent in our laboratory spaces. Combined, the consequences of slashed federal funding not only halt our continued rise as a haven for scientific discovery, but also severely damage the ability of science to benefit society. Without good scientists, there is no progress.”
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