Academic research in the USA and internationally is being challenged to more quickly and cost-effectively produce innovations with greater and more immediate community benefits. Community-engaged research is an approach to scientific and scholarly work that aims to improve the process and products of research through greater academic-community collaboration. Community partnerships have been critical to establish and grow UC Merced (UCM) in the San Joaquin Valley. UCM has established a strong foundation and leadership for community-engaged research in the UC system and nationally (especially among research universities). The ReCCES-Blum Center collaboration proposes Community-Engaged Research as a strategic academic focusing initiative for UCM. This theme will continue and strengthen UCM’s impact on its service region, attract faculty and graduate students drawn to this theme through the growing recognition of community-engaged research as “cutting-edge” in higher education, and distinguish UCM among grantmakers, legislators and key decision makers in higher education.