Vice Chancellor Manuel N. Gómez is Retiring

Messages to Vice Chancellor Gómez

From Julie C. Abril
Thank you for all your efforts to make education at UCIrvine open and accessable for me and people like me. Your work will not be forgotten. Julie C. Abril

From Kathryn Van Ness
Manuel, I thought of you all week leading to your fabulous celebration as I tended to my 95 year old mother in Wisconsin. It made me think of your mother's passing and the thoughts you shared with me. Launch the next stage well, my friend! Lunch is on me!

From Connie Ho
Thank you for serving the UC Irvine community. I have enjoyed my experience at Irvine because of all the campus involvements available on campus and I believe that you have made a tremendous impact on making the student community as involved as it is. Best wishes!

From Mary Roosevelt
Buena Serte, Manuel. Thanks for being such a wonderful colleague for so many years.

From Anita Estrada Tapia
I was privileged to work under you as a work study student when you were in EOP. You were always encouraging, caring and accessible to all of us. Thank you for all you have done for students. You have truly made an impact on many of us. May God bless you as you begin the "next" chapter.

From M. Mahboob Akhter
Dear Manuel, It is great to know you as a great human being. You have been a friend, courteous, kind and warm. I wish you great retirement and hope that you will stay active in the local community. All the best to you and Genette. I am there to call upon as a friend.

From Karen Ricketts
I am one of the lucky ones who saw your most recent performance last Friday, Aug. 13th, in Dance Studio 120, with Dance Professor, Sheron Wray. Thank you so much for that and for all your support in the past!

From Ed Carrillo
From social activist poet to activist vice chancellor. Thank you for putting "La Gente " first.

From Shauntay V. Larkins
Dear Vice Chancellor Gomez, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your leadership and to congratulate you on this amazing achievement. Best wishes, Shauntay Larkins Assignments Supervisor Palo Verde Housing

From Dan Stokols
Manuel, Best wishes on your retirement and thank you for your contributions to UCI from your days as a student in Social Ecology to your service over the past several years as Vice Chancellor.

From Carmel Myers
Congratulations, Manuel! It will be great fun to share in the celebration of your many accomplishments at UCI and in the UC system.

From Mario Torres-Gil
Best mentor I ever had!

From Nahian Taha
Vice-Chancellor Gomez, Your support has been invaluable towards improving student life and in promoting harmony within the student body. As a member of the Olive Tree Initiative, I have seen your devotion to these goals first-hand. I wish you the best in your future endeavors

From CLGSC
From the Chican@/Latin@ Grad Student Collective at UCI we want to thank you for your support in helping us get started and grow. We will miss your dedication and support to Chican@ Latin@ students and our issues... but we wish you the best in retirement.

From Frank Montalvo
Manny, I remember the early years at UCI. What challenges we faced but it was all worth it. Congratulations on a wonderful and extended career at UCI and may your second professional life be as rewarding as the first. Tu amigo como siempre, Frank Montalvo

From Randy Lewis
Manuel: I am on Semester at Sea and will be unable to attend your send-off gala. Perhaps Dylan said it best: "a song is anything that can walk by itself." For 38 years, you have walked down many hot and dusty roads. You have earned the right to rest under the shade of the Bodi tree.

From Vivien Larsen
Manuel..there are not enough words to thank you for the many years of dedication and advocacy for our youth. You have been a role model in your many paths and your legacy is unmeasurable. Desde lejos te admiro y te agradezco todos los momentos de valiosa entrega.

From Jim Danziger
Manuel I have just left Morocco on Semester at Sea and unfortunately will miss the celebration of your exceptional and extensive and invaluable service to UCI. It was always a wonderful pleasure to work with you or to listen to your poetic and inspirational comments. Shantih.

From Cecelia Lynch
I will be in Ghana but will be celebrating all of the amazing accomplishments of the Vice Chancellor with the students during our trip. He is an amazing inspiration and authentic voice for all of us at UCI and will be missed very, very much.

From Theresa Blasingame
Thanks for all your involvement with the campus and the community. I enjoyed seeing you smile in all the events. Have fun in your retirement!!! Theresa Blasingame

From Dan Tsang
Hope you continue to wave the Black Flag...

From Randy Black
Your spirit, humility, and warmth helped shape UCI and will remain an inspiration even as you enjoy a much deserved retirement.

From Alexis Allen
Thank you Vice Chancellor Gomez for all your support for the African Black Coalition. We appreciate it very much and learned a lot to bring back to the UC Irvine campus!

From Carol Booth Olson
Manuel: As an administrator, a humanist, a tireless advocate for students, especially those who are underrepresented at UC, an accomplished poet, and just a genuinely nice person, you have been, and will continue to be an inspiration!

From Robin Jeffers
Dear Manuel, I cannot imagine a UCI without you. Thank you for all you have done to improve the lives of students and the professionals who serve them. You are leaving ginormous shoes to fill! Best to you on your retirement!

From Carol Jun
Best wishes for this new phase of your career. It has been a pleasure working with you and seeing the impact you have made on students and their experience at UCI.

From Darryl Taylor
How I wish I could be present to celebrate your many achievements. I am in Europe through the rest of the year. I began this year by teaching students in Italy, thanks in no small part to your support!!

From Ellen Druffel
Thank you and good luck in your well-earned retirement. Ellen Druffel and Steve Rodriguez

From Duran Bell
I am sorry to be so far away that I can't throw a few tomatoes. In years now very long past, I treasured our active relationship. We always fought, shoulder to shoulder. Best luck for the future. duran

From Lynn Rahn
Congratulations! We will miss you, please keep in touch...

From John Carlos Rowe
Dear Manuel, You are one of UCI's Greats! It was such a pleasure to work with you and share your commitment to diversity and the quality of education for all UCI's students.

From Otto Reyer
Dear Manuel, Congratulations on your retirement. After 38 years of service you deserve to enjoy your remaining years. Congratulations again, Otto

From Ronald J Stern
A highlight of my career was to work with you as PI on FOCUS! and to work with you to make UCI the university of choice for the best and brightest of California. Now it is indeed time to grow up. It takes only 10,000 hours to become an expert in most anything. Work hard and enjoy your next career.

From Betty Yamashiro
Best wishes to Vice Chancellor Gomez on his retirement! I'm sorry we will not be able to attend.

From Susan Wampler
Manuel, Jon and I can't join you but wish you all the best in retirement!

From Carolyn Stirling
All best wishes to you, Manuel, as you enter the next phase of your life! Congratulations on a wonderful career. :-)

From Cathy Lawhon
Manuel, We are losing our poet-administrator. You have a unique combination of talents that include a sense of spirituality, fairness, social justice, common sense, academic learning and life wisdom so well-suited to serving students. I will miss you.

From Andy Lam
Hi Vice Chancellor Gomez! It was great working with you and I had a great time listening to your jokes! I wish you well for the future and I will see you at the celebration!

From Karina Hamilton
Manuel: thank you for your inspirational leadership. You are the quintessential compassionate leader! Enjoy your retirement!

From Ramon Munoz
Manuel, Thank you for your dedication to and years of service to UCI, UC, y a nuestra comunidad desde los dias de EOP y La Raza Association hasta hoy. You have been the Chicano face of UCI. Best wishes on a well-deserved retirement.

From Jane F. Lawrence
Manuel, All my colleagues at UC Merced join me in congratulating you on your long and exemplary career at UC! Thank you for your advice and support for the creation of the 10th campus. You will be so missed! Your grateful colleague, Jane Lawrence

From Rosalyn Kempf
Congratulations on your retirement Manuel! You have been such an amazing mentor and support to me throughout the years. Thank you for everything! You will be greatly missed but your passion for education lives on in each of us whose lives you touched! Enjoy!

From Elena Putian-Dawson
Felicitaciones Manuel!!!....bien hecho!! LENA :)

From Sue Bryant
Manuel, I am so sorry - I am out of town for your celebration ... not Maui, but a stem cell meeting! You have done so much to improve the student experience at UCI, and have dealt with so many crises with a calm head and gentle manner. I wish you a long and enjoyable retirement. All best wishes, Sue

From Eileen Ulwelling
You helped my daughter out when she was selected to receive an award in Philidelphia. You interceded and handled the situation with fairness to all parties involved. You are an inspiration and role model for compassion and fairness.

From Senator Marian Bergeson
Manuel, I first observed your talents when participating on a panel addressing young people. You connected and truly inspired those kids. Keep on "connecting"!

From Nawang Phuntsog
Thank you for serving UCI and the community with such grace, integrity, love, and elegance. We will all miss you dearly. Thanks for your unwavering commitment to help improve schooling conditions including those in the Diaspora.

From Katharine Keith
Thank you for all you have done for the university and for me personally. You were a wonderful mentor. And many thanks for all your support with the Olive Tree Initiative. You will be missed.

From Cheryll and Richard Ruszat
UCI has benefitted and will miss all the enthusiasm and dedication that you have demonstrated for the students and all those you have touched. Best wishes - we will miss you.

From Marikyo Adams
It has been a wonderful experience working with you all these years. You have made a difference in the lives of so many students and definitely enriched the working environment of staff and faculty. May your next journey bring you the peace and happiness you deserve.

From Alice Parsons
Congratulations! Best of luck in your new career - retirement. Alice

From Dr. Jessica Ortega
Dr. Gómez, you've been a great asset to the UCI community. Your connection & dedication to the Latino/a community has been invaluable. I have dearly appreciated your mentorship since my arrival to UCI 5 yrs ago. I send you many blessings upon your retirement. Gracias siempre!

From Michelle Drouse
Congratulations Vice Chancellor Gomez! It was great working with you while I was serving as AGS President (2002-2003) and I wish you all the best in this next chapter in your life! Take care!

From John Palacio
Best wishes on your retirement. Many thanks for the thousands of students that you have helped throughout your career.

From Mary Roosevelt
I cannot believe that you are retiring! I can remember the first time that I met you. It was at a Dan Aldrich event on the basement floor of the administration building. You were SOO young. I hope that you enjoy a wonderful retirement. Every good wish. Mary

From Cathi Medearis
Just last week I was thinking of you, and wondering if you were pondering retirement. Congratulations, Manuel...I enjoyed working for you as your Exec Secty at UCOP in Oakland. I assume you have some wonderful retirement plans in place. Here's wishing the best to you and your family.

From Cyd Jenefsky
I'll be with you in spirit. Wishing you a heart-filled celebration in your honor! Cyd

From Yesenia Velez Ochoa
You have been an inspiration to many along the way - we will treasure your contributions for many years to come.

From Kenneth Millett
Dear Manuel, Janis and I thank you for all you done for the youth of California and for being an inspiring friend and colleague. We wish you the very best, Kenneth Millett Professor of Mathematics UCSB

From William R. Schonfeld
Manuel: We are in Spain and cannot attend. Your years of outstanding service and integrity made fundamental contributions to UCI. To say that you will be deeply missed, is a serious understatement. In appreciation for all that you have done for all of us, my warmest regards, Willie

From Terry Shanahan
Thank you for your leadership in promoting diversity on the UCI campus. Your vision and passion will be missed!

From Karl Pister
Manuel, While I cannot be present at your celebration, I cannot pass by the event without stating what a pleasure it was to work with you over the years. If ever poetic justice was rendered to outreach, you did it. You were a great role model. I wish you peace and all good on your retirement. Karl

From Penny
What will we do? The best of everything to you!

From Cecilia P. Burciaga
Manuel- sorry I can't join you but now that you are retired- come to visit your home in Carmel. Te cuidas. Cecilia Burciaga

From Tannia Robles
1st time I heard you speak was at CASA 2001, blown away by your poetry, presence, & leadership. Thank you for always encouraging us to become more than what we imagined we could be. You impacted my educational & career choices & have inspired me from afar without you knowing it.

From Iris Adam
Congratulations on your promotion to Retiree! We will miss you. Smiles, Iris Adam

From Leo Chavez
Thanks for all the years of helping make UCI a great place!

From Ramona Rapley
Wishing you the best in your retirement............BLESSINGS!!

From Francisco Hernandez
I join your many admirers in congratulating you on a job well done. You managed to serve the university with great skill and the students with greater passion. Simply said, the University of California is losing a leader without peer.

From Carol Olson
It will not be the same here without you :(. But congratulations :)

From Margaret
It has been a pleasure working for you within Undergraduate Admissions for most of my 11 years of service with UC! You will be missed and I wish you a happy retirement!

From Babs Sandeen
Thank you for your service and dedication to UC Irvine over the years. The students have benefitted from your wisdom, passion, and leadership!

From Adrienne Grayson
Thank you for showing me what true leadership can look like. Best wishes, Adrienne Grayson

From Leda Albright
Hi Manuel, Congratulations on your retirement. It has been fun following your career over the years. Enjoy!

From Carol Potter
Congratulations Manuel Gomez on your much deserved Retirement. It was truly a pleasure to know you and work with you. I have many happy memories at UC Irvine. Thank you for the opportunity to make the New U a success.

From Linda Sullivan
I was age 12 when you started working at UCI. I remember being in high school and so proud of my brother, the guest speaker. I earned extra points that day from the teachers and the students. You have worked so hard, I hope you enjoy being retired and take time to smell the flowers.

From Belinda
I remember I met Manuel at a HEEF outreach camp that was held at UCI. The poems he read to us were so full of life and passion and it made me proud to be a Mexican-American. Thank you for sharing your passion to us that day! I will never forget that time in my life. Best wishes in your retirement.

From Dave Leinen
Manuel- your exceptional vision has allowed so many others to see clearly. We'll certainly miss you. All the best in your retirement!

From Jim Earthman
Dear Manuel, I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with you on occasion. Thank you for the graceful collegiality. Warm regards and best wishes, Jim

From Cathereen
where are we going to find a better Vice Chancellor? You have done so much for the school and sponsored so many events that otherwise would not be possible. thank you for all the opportunities. UCI will not be he same without you!

From Suzanne Frias
Thank you for the role model you have been to our community. Felicidades, Que Dios te Bendiga.

From Modesto Sevilla
Wishing you the best in your retirement. Gracias por todo.

From Tim K
Chancellor Gomez! Thank you SO much for all you have provided in the years you have served our campus and community. I just graduated and I always will remember your friendliness and your commitment to promoting a vibrant student life here at UCI.

From Julia Hoigaard
Your Alpha Waves are awesome! Yes, on manifesting wisdom in the administration! And, please do teach the course you're dreaming about! I'll even take it! From the Heart

From David Flores
From the entire Flores Family: my parents, Fred Flores and his wife Bonnie, from all the Flores children who went UCI, me, Diana, Lisa,Leah and Alan, We truly Thank You Manuel. The opportunity you have given us to receive a world-class education will never be forgotten.

From Gilbert G. Gonzalez
Manuel, Celebramos los anos en donde trabajaste para los intereses de los estudiantes y la comunidad. Gilberto