Social Justice & Community
Nancy Pascal has remained a dedicated supporter of the campus, giving back philanthropically to scholarships and programs that reflect her lifelong connection to the university
By Haneen Zain
Nancy and Roland Pascal at the Retirees Association Scholarship Event on April 22. Photo by Carolyn Lagattuta
Nancy Pascal joined UC Santa Cruz in 1966, just one year after the university opened its doors, and spent the next 32 years in service to the young campus. A dedicated staff member in the office of the Registrar and now an active member of the UCSC Retirees Association, Pascal has remained deeply connected to the university community, both through her service and her longstanding philanthropic support.
“I never really left UCSC,” Pascal said, referring to her ongoing work with the Retirees Association. “Because of my years on campus and my involvement with academic programs and the students, scholarships have always kind of stuck in my heart as the best way to make a gift and see it work.”
In honor of her retirement in 1998, Pascal, alongside her husband Roland Pascal, established the Nancy Pacal Field Study Scholarship intended to encourage and support students pursuing opportunities outside of a typical classroom setting. The scholarship is awarded annually, supporting multiple students gaining real-world experience that will benefit them throughout their lives.
In 2024, the Nancy Pascal Field Study Scholarship was awarded to seven students to pursue hands-on work in social justice, community organizing, and the arts. From empowering girls in Kenya and New York, to supporting Indigenous communities, launching a free music studio, and developing programs for LGBTQ+ and underrepresented artists, students gained experiential learning across the U.S. and beyond. The scholarship helped cover travel, supplies, and other key expenses, making these transformative opportunities possible.
Pascal decided to support the Field Study Program after witnessing just how impactful the program was for students. While serving in the Office of the Registrar, Pascal worked to process narrative evaluations—the non-traditional grading system from UCSC’s early days. Reading those evaluations was her favorite part of the job.
“Reading narratives from the Field Study Program was very inspiring, it was clearly life altering for the students,” Pascal said. “You could see in the narratives that the student either committed to the direction they were going, or they shifted direction because the experience had broadened their perspective. It was very satisfying to have been a part of that opportunity for the students—even on the administrative end of it. So field study always stuck with me as such a valuable addition to any academic program.”
In addition to her support of the Field Study Program, Pascal also directs her generosity to the Retirees Association, supporting scholarships like the Bruce Lane Memorial Scholarship and the Silver Slug Award.
Pascal joined the Retirees Association in 1999 and continues to volunteer today.
“It’s a lot more fun than working,” Pascal said about her participation with the Retirees Association. “The work is very rewarding, and I get to do it with lovely people.”
Pascal says that UC Santa Cruz was always more than just a job—it was a return to her roots. Raised in Santa Cruz, she spent her childhood playing on the old Cowell Ranch, long before it became a university. Her family eventually moved to Southern California, but years later, Nancy brought her husband and growing family back to the place that felt most like home. They lived on her parents’ ranch in Swanton before settling back in town, where Nancy reconnected with the community and eventually found her way to UCSC. Being part of the campus felt like an extension of her deep connection to the land and the town she loved.
That deep sense of belonging is what drives her to give back philanthropically, ensuring future generations of UCSC students have the opportunity to grow, explore, and thrive.
“UCSC feels like a very natural connection,” Pascal said. “I grew up on the hill where the campus is, so it’s like going home all the time. The number of years I was there, with people I met, my time at UCSC was very fulfilling— it still is.”
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