The History of The Souza Leadership Center
In 2013, Margo F. Souza, former president and CEO of Turlock’s Circle H Dairy Ranch Inc., pledged $1 million to establish The Margo F. Souza Leadership Center housed within UC Merced’s Office of Leadership, Service and Career. Click Here to read the press release about her generous donation to the university. Margo, a distinguished leader herself, felt that “the leadership center will be the catalyst to guide students to become strong leaders and contributing members of society." On this page, you can learn about the history of The Souza Leadership Center. Explore this page to learn about how we got to where we are now. Please note, the Souza Leadership Center actively assesses student needs to ensure the Center continues to elevate the next generation of leaders.
"The leadership center will be the catalyst to guide students to become strong leaders and contributing members of society"- Margo
Timeline of The Souza Leadership Center
SPRING 2013
In April 2013, Margo F. Souza, former president and CEO of Turlock’s Circle H Dairy Ranch Inc., pledged $1 million to establish The Margo F. Souza Leadership Center housed within UC Merced’s Office of Leadership, Service and Career. Click here to read the press release about her generous donation to the university.
With Margo’s generous donation, The Souza Leadership Center evolved from what was then known as Leadership Programs in the Office of Student Involvement.
FALL 2013
In September 2013, The Bobcat Leadership Seminar (BLS), which was then a semester-long leader development program, launches for the first time. BLS is now a 4-week program that is beneficial to all leaders no matter their level of leadership. For more information, click here.
FALL 2015
In Fall 2015, UC Merced partners with Jr. Leadership Merced College Day. Learn more about The Souza Leadership Center’s most recent work with our partner. For more information, click here.
SPRING 2017
In June 2017, in effort to better guide students and provide a clear linear support model, The Souza Leadership Center merges with the Office of Service and Career to create the Office of Service, Leadership, and Career. With this merge, students could now find their voice as a leader through the Souza Leadership Center, then take it into their communities with the help the Office of Service, and finally carry the information into their professional careers with the help of the Office of Careers.
Steve Lerer is appointed as Associate Director of the Center (serving from 2017 to 2018).
Jacob Croasdale, UC Merced Alumnus c/o 2012 joins the team to co-lead Yosemite Leadership Program, and serve as the full-time Coordinator for the Center.
FALL 2018
In October 2019, Steve Lerer departs from UC Merced.
FALL 2019
In August 2019, Jess Évora is hired as the Associate Director of The Student Leadership Center
“Leadership development is so important for work and for life,” says Jess. “It is an honor to be working with my colleagues to prepare UC Merced Bobcats for leadership at UC Merced and beyond.”
SPRING 2020
In March 2020, EMPOWER: Womxn’s Leader Development Program Launched. The program was scheduled for in-person delivery, but was launched virtually due to COVID restrictions. For more information, click here.
FALL 2020
In October 2020, BOLD, curated by Cheyenne Tompkins, UC Merced Alumna (2021) is successfully launched. For more information, click here.
BOLD is a 4-session workshop interactive leader development program. Each workshop builds upon the others to create a universal understanding of (1) Identity (2) Leadership, (3) Unity and (4) Advocacy. The program priorities specific attention to the Black student community at UC Merced.
SPRING 2021
In January 2020, the Lead Pre-Health program was piloted in January as a semester-long program with the help of the Office of Medical Education and the Center for Career and Professional Advancement with the intention to launch the next semester as a year-long program.
Lead Pre-Health is a leadership program in which students prepare to engage as leaders in the healthcare professions. The program has a particular focus on equity in the healthcare system and takes a close look at healthcare in the Central Valley. For more information, click here.
In June, Jacob Croasdale leaves his position as Coordinator for The Souza Leadership Center to continue his own leadership journey.
SUMMER 2021
In June 2021, The Souza Leadership Center and the Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce collaborate for a leadership program for local entrepreneurs and business leaders in Merced.
The program was a great success and those involved discussed continued such efforts in the future.
FALL 2021
In Fall 2021, As part of the Lead Pre-Health relaunch the Lead Pre-Health, the program welcomed Erica Robbins, Director of Student Services & Pre-Health Advisor, School of Natural Sciences to the leadership team. In Fall 2021 The first and only Robert F. Kennedy Young Leaders chapter in California is launched at UC Merced. For more information, click here.
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