Spring 2021
Homecoming
Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson ’88 felt an urge to come back and serve the city she loves.
Beware The COVID-19 Influencer
‘Hot-take’ culture has turned public health debate into a battlefield strewn with misinformation.
Barbershop Walk
Black alumni, students, and faculty members gather for morning hikes during the pandemic.
‘Low Desert’ Lowdown
A journey through author Tod Goldberg’s world of crime fiction.
Hear Me Roar?
Experts discuss the rumor that mountain lions roam the UC Riverside campus.
Breaking Biofuel Barriers
Researchers want to make it easier to convert plants into fuel.
HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHT
Mind Game
Ari Gerber wants student-athletes to feel comfortable talking about mental health.
OFFICE HOURS
Key Change
Writing an opera about the Kardashians led Dana Kaufman to transform the art form into a more inclusive space.
ALUMNI PROFILE
The Soldier’s Voice
Christine Sato-Yamazaki ensures the stories of Japanese American World War II veterans are not forgotten.
BELL TOWER BUZZ
Here’s the Buzz On: Vanessa Buckley
This alumna and future medical student helped Riverside County battle COVID-19 as a contact tracer.