University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education

DCE alumna Temre Beltz had a successful legal career, working as an associate attorney at the firm Latham & Watkins, before taking a long break to stay home and raise her two daughters. Sixteen years later, her teenage daughters have moved on to a new stage of their lives, and Temre decided to do the same. She returned to her alma mater UCI to relaunch her career with a DCE Contract Management certificate. “When the path opened up for me to begin looking for employment again, I was thrilled to find that the Division of Continuing Education offered a six-course certificate program,” she said. “The coursework was rigorous, reasonably priced, and I was happy to return to my alma mater. It is abundantly clear that the instructors in the Contract Management program want their students to succeed not just in the coursework but in their careers as a whole.” The program gave her a coveted new skillset and prepared her to pass the entry-level Certified Contract Management Associate (CCMA™) certification exam, a valued designation offered by the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) that gives applicants a notable edge when seeking employment. In Temre’s case, she quickly found a full-time position with a rapidly scaling software tech company, working remotely under the General Counsel. Read more about Temre's background and journey: https://lnkd.in/g9cYakaU

More than 200 Anteaters – 78 undergraduates and 129 graduate students – have participated in the Fulbright Program since 1992. Among them are Elizabeth Hafen ’22, who is in Madrid, researching Spain’s immigration policies. The international academic exchange offers students the chance to study, conduct research or teach in over 160 countries; about 8,000 grants are awarded each year. In 2023, UCI was designated as a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leader for the third year in a row. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gDMnhVPg

As a child, Dequina Nicholas, an assistant professor of molecular biology and biochemistry, saw her mother struggle with diabetes. Now she is examining a new way to combat the illness, which she also suffers. Her research into dietary lipids that contribute to the disease led to an innovator award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The honor comes as California contends with a diabetes rate exceeding the national average. Read more: https://bit.ly/47QdWm8

The Association for Computing Machinery recently recognized Amir Rahmani, a professor of nursing and computer science with UCI’s Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing, for his contributions to the field of health technology. Specifically, he was honored for groundbreaking research in leveraging Internet of Things data and artificial intelligence for health modeling and lifestyle recommendation systems. Rahmani’s work includes the invention of ZotCare, a mobile platform that can interact with smart watches and other personal devices to monitor patient health. Read more: https://bit.ly/49YVeu0

Meet Our Staff: Bradley Gilpin Bradley Gilpin is currently serving as the Interim Director of International Programs. Brad has been in the field of international education for over 30 years. He started his career as an ESL instructor and is also currently serving as the Director of English Language and Teacher Training Programs. He enjoys outdoor activities related to the ocean and mountains as well as fishing, boating, skiing, snowboarding, biking, and hiking.

A UCI-led research team has created 20 recombinant rabies viral vectors for neural circuit mapping that offer a range of significant advantages over existing tools, including the ability to detect microstructural changes in models of aging and Alzheimer’s disease brain neurons. Naturally occurring rabies infections target the nervous system. These new recombinant viral vectors are designed to target very specific components of neuron biology to analyze pathological changes that occur during Alzheimer’s disease and other brain ailments. Learn more: https://bit.ly/49GtISq

Forensic psychologist Kevin Booker ’93, psychology, works at the intersection of human behavior and the law, often helping courts understand how trauma contributed to someone’s actions. Booker developed his interest in psychology as a UCI undergraduate, when he was mentored by the late professor emeritus of psychology and psychiatry Joseph L. White and longtime administrator Thomas Parham. Through them, he learned the value of easing people’s psychological pain. Today, Booker runs a private practice and is on staff at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Traveling up and down the California coast, he works on cases that involve post-traumatic stress disorder. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gPg5QfhJ

Pacific Islander students at UC Irvine have taken it upon themselves to build community. The Pacific Islander Student Association – whose members identify as Native Hawaiian, Tongan, Samoan and Chamorro – was established last fall on campus, creating a safe harbor and a sense of belonging for students. More: https://bit.ly/3WlU5Ju

The ANTrepreneur Center, which helps UCI students explore the process of entrepreneurship, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with a luau at its offices. The center serves as a hub where student entrepreneurs, or “ANTrepreneurs,” develop the skills to start, operate or grow their businesses. Since its establishment in 2014, the ANTrepreneur Center has offered resources, events, programs and services to foster innovative thinking and an entrepreneurial spirit in UCI’s student body. To learn more about the hub visit: https://lnkd.in/dt9AbmQN

Happy Mothers Day to all of the Anteater moms and mother-figures! Thanks for all the love, encouragement and support.