Our People
University of California, Riverside
Palm Desert Center
75080 Frank Sinatra Drive (Corner Cook and Frank Sinatra Drive)
Palm Desert, CA 92211
Tel: (760) 834-0800
Fax: (760) 834-0796
Conference and Events Information
palmdesert@ucr.edu
760-834-0585
Michelle Gonzales Bleza, Special Projects Manager
michelle.bleza@ucr.edu
760-834-0958
Amanda Bogorad, Events Manager
amanda.bogorad@ucr.edu
760-834-0585
Maggie Downs, Events and Marketing Coordinator
maggie.downs@ucr.edu
760-834-0800
Zelda Glenn, Administrative Office Manager
zelda.glenn@ucr.edu
760-834-0592
Tod Goldberg, Administrative Director, MFA Program
tod.goldberg@ucr.edu
760-834-0928
Tamara Hedges, Chief Operating Officer
tamara.hedges@ucr.edu
760-834-0582
Mike Lawrence, Facilities Manager
mike.lawrence@ucr.edu
760-834-0591
Paul Murie, Parking Manager
paul.murie@ucr.edu
760-834-0577
Agam Patel, MFA Program Coordinator
agam.patel@ucr.edu
760-834-0926
Raul Ruiz, MD, MPP, MPH
Senior Associate Dean, Community Engagement and Partnerships, School of Medicine
Please direct inquiries for Dr. Ruiz to:
Nastassia Valenzuela
nastassia.valenzuela@ucr.edu
760-834-0881
Richard Savich, Academic Director Executive MBA Program
richard.savich@ucr.edu
760-834-0593
Nastassia Valenzuela, Assistant to Dr. Raul Ruiz, School of Medicine
nastassia.valenzuela@ucr.edu
760-834-0881
Lars Walton, Assistant Vice Chancellor
lars.walton@ucr.edu
951-827-8324
The University of California has been active in the Coachella Valley for nearly 100 years, initially supporting the agriculture industry and more recently impacting modern growth issues through research in areas such as transportation, air quality, and energy and water conservation. The UCR Palm Desert Center, established in 2005, provides graduate education to the Coachella Valley through its innovative Executive MBA and MFA degrees.