A Message from the President

As summer winds down and we look forward to a new academic year, I am excited to welcome our Cal Alumni of Coachella Valley community into another year together.

It is an honor to once again serve as your Chapter President. As one of the chapter’s founding members, I have had the privilege of serving in many roles over the past 13 years, including as a co-chair. Each time I return to a leadership role, I am reminded of what makes this chapter special: the people who continue to show up, stay connected, and create a Cal community right here in the Coachella Valley.

This summer, we held our Annual Board Meeting and officially welcomed and approved our new board members for the 2026-2028 term. We are excited to bring new voices, ideas, and energy to the chapter while continuing the work that has made our alumni community strong. I am grateful to everyone who has stepped forward to serve, and I look forward to working alongside our new and returning board members.

We are also excited about the year ahead. As we move into fall, we will be planning new opportunities for alumni and students to connect, celebrate Cal, and build relationships throughout the Coachella Valley. Whether you are a longtime member of our alumni community, a recent graduate, a current Cal student, or simply someone who loves the Blue and Gold, there is a place for you here.

Our chapter is only as strong as the community that supports it. If you have been thinking about getting involved, attending an event, volunteering, or simply reconnecting with fellow Golden Bears, I encourage you to reach out. We would love to see you!

Here’s to a new year, a new board, and another chapter in the story of Cal Alumni of Coachella Valley.

Go Bears!

Rosemary Bautista, Esq. ’06
President, Cal Bears in the Desert | Cal Alumni of Coachella Valley

Meet Your 2026-2028 Board of Directors

A new chapter year brings new energy to Cal Alumni of Coachella Valley! At our Annual Board Meeting on August 23, 2026, the chapter welcomed its 2026-2028 Board of Directors. We are excited to have a mix of longtime chapter leaders, returning board members, and new voices helping guide the chapter forward.

We are grateful to every volunteer who has helped build this chapter over the years. Our board is powered by alumni and friends who believe that the Coachella Valley deserves a strong and connected Cal community. Welcome to the new board, and thank you for helping carry the chapter forward!

From the Valley to Berkeley: Summer Send-Off

Every year, we have the privilege of welcoming the newest Golden Bears from the Coachella Valley before they begin their Berkeley journey. On June 7, 2026, Cal Bears in the Desert hosted our annual Summer Send-Off at the Lift to Rise headquarters in Palm Desert, bringing together incoming first-year and transfer students, their families, and local alumni.

Students had the opportunity to meet fellow Golden Bears from the Valley, hear firsthand stories about life at Berkeley, learn from alumni, and receive Cal Berkeley shirts and welcome gift bags.

But the most important message of the afternoon was simple: you may be leaving the Valley for Berkeley, but you are never leaving your community behind.

Our students carry the Coachella Valley with them to campus, and we are proud to support them as they begin this next chapter. To the Class of 2030: welcome to the Cal family. We cannot wait to see what you accomplish.

Welcome Back, Golden Bears!

Berkeley is calling, and the fall semester is underway! To all of our UC Berkeley students from the Coachella Valley: wherever you are in your Berkeley journey, remember that you have a community back home cheering you on.

Cal Alumni of Coachella Valley is your support network helping to keep that connection alive. Make sure to connect with us online for announcements on scholarship, internship or job opportunities, as well as to attend our hosted events, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need guidance and support. We want to hear about all the amazing things you’re doing at Cal, and when you’re back in the Valley, we’d love to see you!

What’s Happening This Fall

September Board Meeting
Monday, September 21, 2026 | 5:00 PM | Zoom

Our first board meeting of the new board year! The board will come together to establish priorities, plan upcoming programs and events, and begin shaping the chapter’s year ahead. Alumni are welcome to attend. The agenda and Zoom information are shared through our Linktree and communications platforms.

Your Cal Community. Your Chapter.

Cal Alumni of Coachella Valley belongs to all of us. Wherever you are in your Cal journey, we’d love to have you involved. There are many ways to participate:

• Attend an event – Come meet fellow Golden Bears and bring a friend.
• Support students – Help us conduct outreach at local middle schools and high schools or welcome the next generation of students from the Coachella Valley admitted to Berkeley.
• Share your Cal story – We want to hear from all the great things our local alumni are doing throughout our community and across the country.
• Volunteer – Help with an event, outreach, communications, student programs, fundraising for scholarships, or chapter activities.
• Bring an idea – Have an event you’d love to see? Let us know.

You don’t have to join the board to make a difference. Even a few hours a year can help strengthen the Cal community here at home. Stay connected. Get involved. Go Bears.

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