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Happy March, Triton Staff!

How lucky we are to have such an incredible community of staff here at UC San Diego! Last week, our new Chair-Elect, Dr. Amanda Corona, and I had the opportunity to attend the Council of University of California Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) 2026 Winter Quarterly Meeting at UC Merced. During the meeting, we engaged in meaningful conversations with campus leadership, including Chancellor Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz, CHRO Michelle Kincanon and VC CFO Kurt Schnier, as well as leaders from the UC Office of the President and representatives from all 13 UC campuses/locations. These conversations help ensure that the voices of UC San Diego staff are heard across the UC system.

We also hope you’ll join us for this month’s Triton Virtual Connect, hosted by our Chair-Elect Dr. Amanda Corona, where we’ll hear from Staff Education & Development Chair, Aracely Chavez about our staff scholarship opportunities. In addition, keep an eye out for details about our upcoming Power Hour: Triton Treats on April 1!

Be sure to scroll through this month’s newsletter to discover great opportunities to get involved across campus. If you’d like to be featured in a future newsletter, please submit through the form at the bottom for consideration.

Warm Regards, 
Maddie Martinez
Chair, UC San Diego Staff Association

Looking to grow your skills or explore your next career step?

Join this session to learn about professional development programs from Rady School of Management and the Division of Extended Studies, along with an overview of staff scholarship opportunities to help invest in your professional journey.

The Women's Center is excited to invite staff to attend programs for UC San Diego's 2026 Women's History Month. This year’s theme is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” and provides an opportunity to celebrate the diverse contributions of women who are leading sustainability efforts across environmental, economic, educational, and social justice movements. Some highlighted events include:

Ready to make Triton Days 2026 unforgettable?

Join Special Events and Protocol as a volunteer on Saturday, April 11 to help welcome newly admitted first-year and prospective transfer students with Triton pride, big smiles, and great energy. Volunteers play a key role in creating a warm, exciting experience for our future Tritons—plus you’ll receive a Triton Days t-shirt, food, and a special thank-you gift. Multiple shifts and roles are available.

Sign up by March 22. For any questions, email sep@ucsd.edu

Now in its 17th year, Early Academic Outreach Program and TRIO (CREATE) host Comienza, Saturday, March 14, 2026 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at LionTree Arena. Bringing together thousands of 6th - 11th grade students and their families for a bilingual college fair, STEM fair, hands-on workshops, and cultural celebration that inspires students to see themselves in higher education. 

Staff are encouraged to join as either participants or volunteers for this event.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to each of you for the work you do every day to advance the mission of this great university. Your dedication extends our impact far beyond campus, strengthening our community and reaching throughout the world.

I’d also like to briefly share more about our UC San Diego Health Sciences enterprise, which comprises three professional schools, UC San Diego Health and numerous diverse research institutes and centers.

We are a destination for learners and patients alike, and those who choose us are inspired by what they experience here. Our mission remains clear and resolute: to educate the next generation of leaders, to advance scientific discovery that improves lives, and to deliver exceptional, compassionate care to the communities we serve. 

Health Sciences is powered by more than 24,000 individuals across our academic and clinical enterprise. Each plays a vital role in this vibrant ecosystem that educates more than 3,700 trainees, produces more than $860 million in research expenditures each year and serves more than 1.4 million outpatient visits and surgeries annually. We are the only academic medical center in our region, and we carry that responsibility with pride.

We invite you to learn more about our Health Sciences and maintain a connection with us:

I believe it is the strength of our collective efforts within our campus that sets the stage for what’s to come. I recognize that this work unfolds during a particularly challenging period in our institution’s history, and I am deeply grateful to the faculty and staff who bring focus, care and commitment to this effort every day.

As we head into spring, may this academic year continue to be filled with new discoveries, meaningful connections and continued excellence in all you do!

The Pacific Islander & Asian American Staff Association (PASA) promotes the general well-being of Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) staff at UC San Diego. PASA is off to a great 2026, hosting three events to foster meaningful connection between staff and bring our community closer together.

In January, PASA hosted their first picnic of the year helping folks set good intentions and goals for the new year.  At February's picnic, they celebrated Lunar New Year! And they recently hosted a professional development session to showcase how networking is heavily rooted in community.

PASA invites staff to join them at their monthly picnics. All are welcome!

Campus Employee Wellness is performing an employee wellness survey, from March 1–31, 2026. This 5 - 10 minute survey will allow them to gain more insight as to where campus staff and faculty desire more support and programming. Take the survey for a chance to win a $65 Triton Cash Card! Updates about the survey will be in the Employee Wellness newsletter, so make sure you are subscribed!

Mark your calendars! Employee Wellness (EW) is hosting their 3rd annual Employee Wellfest, with over 20+ campus (and off-campus) partners in attendance, including Kaiser Permanente's Mobile Health Vehicle, doing FREE health screenings for all! This year, an RSVP is required. Follow EW Instagram for the most up-to-date info. 

Seeking Staff & Faculty Mystery Shoppers!

University Centers is seeking UC San Diego staff and faculty to apply to be mystery shoppers for University Centers vendors and services located at the Price Center, Student Center and Student Services Center.

Participants provide anonymous feedback on their dining and service experiences that University Centers will share with vendors to help make informed decisions and improvements. If selected to participate, you will receive a vendor assignment and Triton Cash to make your purchase. After making the purchase, shoppers will complete a survey, providing feedback about their experience. Participants who finish the survey within a week will receive an additional $20 in Triton Cash. 

The UC San Diego Retirement Association provides a way for staff to stay connected to the University and foster new and continued friendship among your fellow retiree members.

Additional member benefits:

For more information, visit retirement.ucsd.edu, call (858) 534-4724, or email at retireelink@ucsd.edu

The UC San Diego Staff Association is a campus-wide community dedicated to supporting, connecting, and advocating for non-represented staff. We work to enhance the staff experience through programs, events, and initiatives that promote professional growth, personal well-being, and a sense of belonging.

Our members represent diverse backgrounds and roles across campus, united by a common goal: to ensure staff voices are heard, valued, and empowered. Whether through networking opportunities, skill-building workshops, or advocacy efforts, the Staff Association is here to strengthen our campus community and make UC San Diego a place where staff thrive.

If you have content you'd like to share with the campus community, we’d love to hear from you! 

Monthly Submission Deadline: The deadline to submit content for each month is the 3rd. Each newsletter goes out around the 10th of each month. 

Please note: Submitting a request does not guarantee placement. We review all submissions and select a limited number of features each month that align with the Staff Association’s mission and goals.