
Support the Social Sciences
Through our innovative approaches to both research and education, the Social Sciences Division at UC Santa Cruz is uniquely well-positioned to produce tangible benefits for our society. Yet social sciences scholarship remains chronically underfunded worldwide, creating financial barriers to the transformative work we want to pursue.
The support that donors provide for our programs creates significant positive impact on our campus, in our broader community, and around the world. With your help, we’re nurturing the next generation of forward-thinking leaders and producing transformative research that advances social and environmental impact.
Our work is made possible by the generosity of individuals like you, who believe in the power of the social sciences to drive positive change. Explore the opportunities below to find what resonates with your passions. If you need help making a contribution, have questions, or want to learn more about our newest research and programs or upcoming initiatives, don’t hesitate to contact our dedicated philanthropy team.
Philanthropy team
Johan Lode Rubens
- Title
- Executive Director of Development
- Phone
- 831-459-5870
- Campus Email
Linda Marie Hunt
- Title
- Development Administrative Manager, Library & Social Sciences
- Phone
- 831-502-7552
- Campus Email
Giving opportunities
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Sociology
Your gift will support the Sociology Department as it prepares students to engage in the study of social groups, institutional structures and social interaction.
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Lionel Cantú Memorial Award
Your gift supports graduate students working in the areas of immigration studies, transnational/cross-border studies, Latino/Latina sociology, gender and sexuality, or gay men and masculinity.
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Francesca Guerra Undergraduate Student Research Fund
Honoring the memory of Dr. Francesca Guerra by supporting Sociology undergraduate student research.
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Jessica Roy Memorial Award
Your gift supports an award to a graduate students focusing on issues of equity and poverty in international development, especially in relation to women and the environment.
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Sociology of Race, Class, and Gender Awards
The Pamela Ann Roby Sociology of Race, Class, and Gender Endowment funds two annual awards in the Sociology Department.
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Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas
Your gift supports the Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas by providing ongoing programming and funding for research in the fields of Chicanx, Latinx, and Latin American studies.
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Science & Justice Research Center
The Science & Justice Research Center, co-led by Jenny Reardon and James Doucet-Battle, is a unique and world-renowned initiative that cultivates pedagogy and research capable of responding to moments where…
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Center for Critical Urban and Environmental Studies
Your gift helps us support and promote critical, public-facing urban-environmental research and action through community-engaged research and a graduate student working group, with a focus on the Central Coast region.
Donors making a difference

Breaking the cycle of poverty by supporting student success
MR Macgill and her husband Ho Nam are on a coast-to-coast philanthropic quest to alleviate poverty by strategically investing in college success for first-generation students. Those efforts led them to UC Santa Cruz’s Social Sciences Division, where they found a natural fit with their goals and have since supported the Everett Program and the Transforming Futures program.

Continuing a family legacy of social justice activism
Annette Marines was among the first donors to a crowdfunding campaign for the Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas. Marines’ family has long worked alongside Huerta in her social justice advocacy. Marines believes the center and its work will help Latino students feel a sense of belonging and will inspire all students to make a difference in their communities.

Investing in breakthroughs on high-impact issues
Alumnus Steve Bruce has always valued the education he got in UC Santa Cruz’s Social Sciences Division, and now, after a successful career, he enjoys giving back. Over the years, Bruce has supported innovative research in the social sciences through initiatives like the Center for Integrated Water Research and the Center for Analytical Finance.