News

The Co-benefits of Health and Health Systems for Democracy

November 8, 2024

Assistant Professor Anil Menon participated as a keynote on research at the intersection of health and politics to a global audience of policy makers and healthcare professionals on October 29, 2024. This keynote grew out of a policy memo Dr. Menon wrote for the World...

What it means if the GOP controls House, Senate, and White House

November 7, 2024

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Ballots are still being counted around the country in many tight races, but ABC News has projected Donald Trump will return to the White House and Republicans will take control of the Senate. The GOP could also retain control of the House of Representatives...

Study Finds Election-Related Stress & 'Incivility' Has Cost Employers $2 Billion A Day In Lost Productivity

November 6, 2024

If there’s one emotion we all associate with an election, it’s anxiety. We’re all eager to see our chosen candidate win and afraid of what will happen if they don’t. In a high stakes election like the 2024 presidential race, these emotions are only heightened. This,...

Receive a lot of campaign texts? This might be why

November 3, 2024

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – As the election gets even closer, a lot of us are receiving many text messages from candidates and campaigns about wanting our vote. “Irritated, very irritated,” voter Katie Tkac said. “It’s on TV, it’s on the radio, it...

Stressed Out by the Election? Political Scientists Explain Why and Offer Tips

November 1, 2024

If it seems anxiety around elections is at an all-time high, then political groups have done their jobs. "It's very conscious, it's very calculated," said UC Merced political science Professor Anil Menon, displaying a pile of negative campaign mailers during a panel discussion on campus Wednesday...

The Sad Citizen: If politics is making you depressed, you aren’t alone

October 30, 2024

UC Merced Assistant Professor Christopher Ojeda recently guested on Grief Journeys, a Philadelphia based G-Town radio program that focuses on stories of grief and loss. Professor Ojeda studies how citizens think about and engage with politics, with an interest in how poverty and...

Making Sense of the Election & Staying Well

October 28, 2024

Elections are stressful and confusing. Join the UC Merced Library, Political Science department, and Health Promotion for “Making Sense of the Election & Staying Well” on Wednesday, October 30th 3:30-4:30pm in KL 232. This panel, followed by a Q&A, highlights faculty...

U.C. Merced professor emphasizes importance of popular vote in shaping policy

October 25, 2024

FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — With less than 2 weeks before election day, the race for the White House remains neck-and-neck. The headlines coming from the campaigns of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump show no signs of slowing down. FOX26 Great Day Anchor...

Public Health Grad Student Selected for Prestigious Award

October 24, 2024

Second-year public health Ph.D. student Sarina Rodriguez was named as a Health Policy Research Scholar by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The HPRS program supports doctoral students from underserved and underrepresented demographics and brings together students from various fields to apply...

Register Now: Political Science Graduate Program Virtual Information Sessions