Press Releases

Santa Clara University Announces Alumna Dee Dee Myers as 2026 Undergraduate Commencement Speaker

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 PDT

The pioneering political communicator and bestselling author will address more than 1,500 graduates and receive an honorary doctorate of public service on June 13

Jesuit School of Theology to Relocate to Mission Campus from Berkeley

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:00:00 PST

A major move that will enhance the theological, global, and academic reach of Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University's Jesuit School of Theology Receives $10 Million Grant to Expand and Strengthen Pastorally Engaged Catholic Theology and Ministry

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 07:00:00 PST

A transformational grant from the Lilly Endowment will bring together Santa Clara’s rich theology, religious studies, and pastoral faculty and programming with partner organizations, to better form lay leaders and clergy serving diverse Catholic populations in the Western U.S. and beyond.

Santa Clara University Admits First Members of Class of 2030

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:40:00 PST

More than 12,100 students applied early admission or early decision this fall

"Camino de los Muertos" Celebration Nov. 1 at Santa Clara University

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:03:00 PDT

Community-wide event celebrates Day of the Dead with festivities and a special All Saints Day Mass in Spanish.

James Lyons, Santa Clara University Vice President for University Relations, to Retire

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 07:00:00 PDT

The VP who led Santa Clara's historic $1B campaign is retiring after a 40-year career.

College Track And Santa Clara University Forge Strategic Partnership To Promote Educational Equity

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:00:00 PDT

The University will welcome a cohort of College Track scholars each year

Santa Clara University Rises to 59th Best Nationally in U.S. News & World Report Best College Rankings

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 05:00:00 PDT

Santa Clara University rose to No. 59 in “U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges”

Santa Clara University Welcomes a Record Number of Transfer Students and Largest-Ever Incoming Class

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:34:00 PDT

Records set for the size of the Class of 2029, number of transfers, and percentage of first-generation students joining Santa Clara.

Santa Clara Law Launches Groundbreaking “PLEDGE Scholarship” for Fall 2026 Incoming Students

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 19:35:00 PDT

Guaranteed scholarship aims to offset recent federal loan changes to ensure that Santa Clara’s legal education will be accessible and affordable to all

Melissa Broome Ursin to Lead Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 06:00:00 PDT

Former Presentation HS vice principal takes helm Sept. 1.

Interdisciplinary Master’s in Social Impact Leadership to Begin Fall 2026

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:15:00 PDT

The program will equip students with knowledge and skills essential for effective leadership in mission- and values-driven organizations.

Thousands Celebrated the Class of 2025 at Santa Clara University’s Spring Commencement

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:00:00 PDT

Graduates now counted among 110,000+ strong alumni network

Santa Clara University Launches Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence to Prepare Ethical, Industry-Ready AI Leaders

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:00:00 PDT

First cohort of students will enroll this fall

Santa Clara Senior Awarded 2025 Fulbright; Two Alumnae Named Alternates

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:30:00 PDT

Ariana Yamasaki will teach English in Germany beginning this fall.

Leavey School of Business Dean Ed Grier to Step Down

Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 PDT

Veteran business dean and former Disney executive will retire at the end of 2025.

Samantha Lei Named 2025 Udall Scholar; Isabella Gomez Receives Honorable Mention

Mon, 12 May 2025 13:00:00 PDT

National award recognizes students for their leadership, public service, and commitment to environmental issues.

Two Broncos Named 2025 Goldwater Scholars

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:00:00 PDT

The award is one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for undergraduates in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering

Santa Clara University Student Johnathan Amidi ’27 Awarded Prestigious 2025 Critical Language Scholarship to Study Persian in Tajikistan

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:45:00 PDT

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 17, 2025—The U.S. Department of State has awarded Johnathan Amidi ’27 a 2025 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS). Amidi will study Persian in Tajikistan this summer as part of an intensive language and cultural immersion program recognized as one of the most prestigious and competitive scholarships for language study in the United States.

The CLS Program is an initiative aimed at expanding the number of Americans proficient in languages critical to global engagement. Each year, thousands of students apply for the scholarship, and only a select group is chosen for this fully funded opportunity to study one of 12 high-need languages abroad.

Amidi, a sophomore history and computer science double major from Saratoga, California, was selected based on his academic achievement, commitment to language learning, and demonstrated potential to contribute to cross-cultural understanding. He will spend eight weeks in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, where he will live with a host family and be expected to communicate exclusively in Persian (Farsi) throughout the program. In addition to intensive daily language instruction, he will participate in cultural activities designed to deepen mutual understanding between the United States and host communities.

“I’m honored to receive the Critical Language Scholarship and excited to deepen my understanding of the Persian language and culture,” said Amidi. “Reconnecting with my ancestral tongue as an Iranian American resonates deeply with me. It will also be incredibly valuable to me as a history major—I’ll be able to engage directly with primary sources in Persian, studying texts in their original form and gaining a more nuanced understanding of the region’s past. This experience will help me grow both intellectually and personally.”

The CLS Program plays a vital role in preparing American students for global careers in diplomacy, education, and international development. Alumni of the program often go on to receive other prestigious fellowships and pursue graduate study or careers in international affairs.

“We are thrilled to see Johnathan recognized with this incredible opportunity,” said Naomi Levy, professor of political science and the director of the Office of Student Fellowships at Santa Clara University. “His selection for the CLS reflects not only his academic and personal excellence but also Santa Clara University’s deep commitment to global engagement and intercultural learning.”

The Critical Language Scholarship Program is administered by the American Councils for International Education and is supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

About Santa Clara University
Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley—the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University’s stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information, see www.scu.edu.

Ainsley Zapata ’26 Awarded Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:00:00 PDT

Selected to attend the PPIA Junior Summer Institute at The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan

Santa Clara University Announces 2025 Commencement Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:00:00 PDT

Visionary tech leaders, a champion of compassionate care, and a member of the Vatican dicastery are among this year's speakers