Valerie Grimaldo, left, and Diana Hernandez are the first students to earn the Labor Studies Certificate.
UC Irvine Labor Center and School of Social Sciences offer new program
The UC Irvine Labor Center and the School of Social Sciences are celebrating the first students to successfully complete the new Labor Studies Certificate, a milestone that marks an exciting new chapter in UCI's commitment to preparing the next generation of labor organizers, advocates, and policy leaders.
The Labor Center formally partnered with the School of Social Sciences to take joint ownership of the Labor Studies Certificate, expanding course offerings and deepening the program's reach across campus. The certificate takes a broad, interdisciplinary approach to labor — one that centers the individual worker and explores the social, cultural, political and historical forces that shape the labor movement.
Students who complete four qualifying courses with a grade of C or better earn the certificate, gaining foundational knowledge in labor history, collective bargaining, labor law and the relationship between unions and multiracial and multicultural communities.Among the course offerings are “Introduction to Labor Studies,” “The Green New Deal,” “Urban Inequality,” “Gentrification,” and “Urban Politics & Policy,” taught by faculty in the Urban Planning and Public Policy Department.
“The Labor Studies Certificate establishes a pedagogical stronghold for students committed to working-class collective action, rights recognition, and fair wages,” said Walter Nicholls, professor and chair of urban planning and public policy and director of the UCI Labor Center. “We will build toward a minor and major, deepening our pipeline between campus and Orange County’s labor movement.”
Two graduating seniors — Valerie Grimaldo and Diana Hernandez — have become the first students to earn the certificate, and their stories speak volumes about the kind of impact the program is designed to inspire, he said.
Grimaldo, a double major in political science and social policy & public service, has built an impressive record of labor engagement throughout her time at UCI.
“Labor issues have been at the center of both my academic interests and personal experiences throughout my life,” she said. “Growing up, my parents worked alongside unions without fully realizing the significant role they played in protecting workers' rights and improving working conditions. Over time, both of my parents chose to dedicate their careers to meaningful work within the labor movement. My mother now works at the Central Labor Council in California's Central Valley, and my father works for the Fresno Teachers Association.”
Grimaldo completed a Field Study at the Orange County Labor Federation, where she authored a research paper examining the psychological, social and cultural factors that influence workers' union engagement. Through the Labor Summer 2025 program, she was placed at the Orange County Employees Association, where she gained hands-on experience in contract negotiations, delegate meetings and workplace dispute resolution. She also completed an independent 65-page research study examining labor unions, member engagement and the psychological, social and cultural factors that influence union participation through a year-long field study course.
Grimaldo also participated in the prestigious UCDC program, working in the office of Congressman Lou Correa, and she currently serves as the research administrative assistant to the UCI Labor Center's Research Director Iza Camarillo, supporting several ongoing labor-related projects in Orange County.
“The Labor Studies Certificate provided me with a stronger interdisciplinary understanding of labor, workers’ rights and the role that unions play in shaping workplaces and communities,” she said. “It helped connect my academic studies with my real-world experiences and reinforced my commitment to advocating for working people. Beyond the knowledge I gained, the certificate validated years of research, internships and community engagement that shaped my professional goals. Through my experiences, I developed a deeper appreciation for the challenges workers face, the importance of collective action, and the impact that labor organizations can have on improving people's lives. These lessons have directly influenced my decision to pursue a career in labor and employment law, where I hope to continue advocating for workers and labor organizations in the future.”
Hernandez, a double major in political science and sociology, has demonstrated a deep commitment to immigrant and worker justice.
She completed a Labor Summer 2024 placement at the Harbor Institute for Immigrant & Economic Justice in Santa Ana.
Her work in the major inspired her to join workers at her job who were organizing a union. Hernandez saw it as an opportunity to help and also get on the ground organizing experience.
“Valerie and Diana exemplify the spirit of the Labor Studies Certificate: students who don't just study labor in the classroom, but step into communities, build power alongside workers, and help shape a more just economy,” Nicholls said.
Students interested in earning the Labor Studies Certificate can learn more and apply online.
— Mimi Ko Cruz