José Quiñonez’s story starts in rural Mexico in 1971. The fifth of six siblings, Quiñonez lost both his father and mother by the age of nine—his father to violence, his mother to the ravages of poverty. Left with no family in Mexico, he and his siblings entered the United States on the Fourth of July, undocumented and facing an uncertain future.

In a world driven increasingly by information, Tim McCarthy (B.A., International Relations and Economics, '73) believes that what companies need most to succeed are more employees with liberal arts degrees.

Libby Balter Blume (B.A., art, 1971) has been awarded fellow status by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). She is a Certified Family Life Educator and professor of psychology at the University of Detroit Mercy. Fellow status is awarded to 3 percent or fewer members of the NCFR.
 

Jimmy Franco (Ph.D., chemistry, ’08) is an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. As assistant professor there since 2011, Franco was recently granted tenure and promoted. His research focuses on developing new treatments for tuberculosis, histoplasmosis and other diseases, and identifying engaging methods for teaching chemistry and biochemistry. Before joining Merrimack, Franco was a visiting professor at the University of Toledo in Ohio.
 

Tom Nesbitt (B.A., psychology, ’75, and M.D. ’79) is stepping in as interim vice chancellor of UC Davis Human Health Sciences while the university conducts a search for permanent leadership for UC Davis Health.