Five faculty members in the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts at the University of California, Merced have been appointed to endowed chairs, recognizing their scholarship and contributions to research that serve underrepresented communities, advance human rights and shape the future of communications. Three of the five endowed chairs were established through philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s $20 million gift to the university in 2021.
“These five faculty members exemplify the caliber of scholarship that is advancing UC Merced’s rise as a national research university,” said Betsy Dumont, executive vice chancellor and provost. “Their work reflects the depth and breadth of research happening across our campus. Endowed chairs give our faculty the sustained support they need to pursue bold, community-engaged scholarship, and I congratulate each of them on this well-deserved recognition.”
Four of these appointments went to women.
Christina Baker was named to the Presidential Chair in African American Engagement. She is an associate professor and chair of the Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Program. Dr. Baker is the author of Contemporary Black Women Filmmakers and the Art of Resistance (Ohio State University Press, 2018). Professor Baker is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine.
Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz, a professor in the department of cognitive and information sciences, was appointed to the Presidential Chair in Chicano/a and LatinX Engagement. Her research interests include language and cognition, STEM education, bilingualism/biliteracy, equity-centered assessment, and teacher development. Dr. Aguirre-Muñoz completed bachelor’s degrees in psychology and Spanish from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She received her Ph.D. in psychological studies in education from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Courtenay Monroe, a political science professor, has been named to the MacArthur Endowed Chair in Human Rights and International Justice. Dr. Monroe’s research interests fall at the intersection of international relations and comparative politics. She is primarily interested in how domestic and international institutions affect political violence, including government repression and opposition dissent. Professor Monroe is a graduate of Clemson University in South Carolina, where she majored in political science. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in political science from Florida State University.
Jinah Kim, a professor in the department of global arts, media and writing studies, has been appointed to the McClatchy Chair in Communications, honoring her scholarship on how media practices shape public memory, political belonging, and struggles for human rights. Dr. Kim is a graduate of Columbia University in New York City, where she majored in English. She holds a master’s degree in cultural studies and a Ph.D. in world literatures and cultures from the University of California, San Diego.