Mexico’s most visionary leaders, vibrant culture, past accomplishments and future goals will be the focus of the University of California, San Diego’s Mexico Moving Forward symposium, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 6. The symposium, hosted by the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, will focus on Mexico’s progress and future goals 20 years after the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It also will feature University of California President Janet Napolitano, UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla and the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies Dean Peter Cowhey, as well as experts from both sides of the border.
The University of California, San Diego will host a special tribute to James Avery, the late acclaimed actor, poet and UC San Diego graduate of 1976, on Saturday, March 1 at 2 p.m., at the campus’s Mandell Weiss Forum. The event, which is open to the public, will include an afternoon of theater, live music, personal reflections and poetry readings in Avery’s honor. Best known for his portrayal as the charismatic Uncle Phil Banks on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Avery was a classically trained UC San Diego actor and scholar. He died on December 31, 2013, due to complications from heart surgery. He was 68.
Five winners have been selected to receive two free tickets to attend Eastbound: Home, a special concert at UC San Diego, featuring world-renowned jazz bassist and alumnus Nathan East, ’78 on Feb. 1. The 10 contest tickets were donated by Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla.
The University of California, San Diego will honor the history and accomplishments of African-Americans during the university’s annual celebration of Black History Month. The theme for 2014 is “Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Civil Rights: The journey is not complete, we can and must do more.”
Thousands of UC San Diego’s video game enthusiasts are expected to participate in the campus’s ninth annual Winter Game Fest, one of the largest free video game festivals in Southern California. The event will be held from noon to 10 p.m. on Jan. 17 and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Jan. 18 and 19. The three-day festival, taking place in the Price Center East and West Ballrooms, has become a growing tradition at UC San Diego, each year offering more games, sponsors, prizes and fun.
Chances are you have listened to UC San Diego alumnus Nathan East, ’78, all of your life. You just may not know it—yet. East is one of the world’s best bass guitarists, a Grammy nominee who has played with the likes of jazz, rock and pop royalty from Michael Jackson and Beyoncé, to Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton. On Feb. 1, East will return to his alma mater for a one-time public performance entitled “Eastbound: Home.” All proceeds will benefit scholarships for UC San Diego students.
