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Lunar New Year, Black History Month,
APIMED Symposium, and more

February 7, 2025

Dear Student Affairs and Campus Life Colleagues and Friends,

January 29 was the Lunar New Year, celebrating the year of the snake, a symbol of transformation, renewal and wisdom. These are reminders of our opportunities to celebrate growth, change and experience.

As you read on, consider how our colleagues transformed themselves or others, how our teams constantly renew our commitment to support our students and communities, and the wisdom gained from our individual and collective experiences.

I also encourage you to explore your own opportunities to practice these virtues through upcoming events for Black History Month, professional development, the arts, and personal growth. 

Case Management Services will again facilitate training sessions for “Creating a Culture of Care: Supporting Students in Distress” on Feb. 13 (in-person) and Mar. 13 (virtual).

These free, interactive trainings are designed to assist staff in recognizing and supporting students in distress – defined as: a student whose academic progress or functioning in the university environment is adversely affected due to a number of indicators that are impacting their well-being and/or the well-being of others.

To complete the training, individuals only need to attend one of the scheduled dates.

For more information, please contact Chrystian Smith at cas014@ucsd.edu.

The SACL Professional Development Committee hosts Triton Time every Thursday from 10–11 a.m. via online video platforms during the academic year. For more information on these informative sessions and how to register, visit the Triton Time website. 

If you'd like to suggest ideas or have questions, please contact Shannon Milligan. 

All UC San Diego professional staff and student employees are required to take online training courses via the UC Learning Center within 30 days of hire and renew them regularly.

Completion of these trainings is critical to fostering a healthy, positive, and supportive workplace. To check your status on compliance courses, please login to UCLearning.ucsd.edu. 

For more information:

If you have questions about these essential trainings or have difficulty accessing them, please email VCSACL@ucsd.edu, and we’ll get you connected to colleagues leading this important effort.

Bright Breaks is a FREE employee wellness program that provides online sessions on topics such as yoga, fitness, stress-reduction, mindfulness and meditation, nutrition, and more. ALSO, Bright Breaks is now available en Español through live sessions with a Spanish-speaking instructor, or choose Spanish closed-captions for any on-demand session. Lastly, participate in our Quest running from Feb. 3–14, to be entered to win one of five employee wellness swag bags!

February 11–13

You are invited to take part in the Symposium on Enhancing the Experiences of Students of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern Descent.

This in-person symposium is a multi-day learning opportunity, curated exclusively for staff and faculty to engage with UC San Diego's Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) designation.

The theme this year is: "AANAPISI: Transforming from simply serving students to creating an environment in which students can thrive," and attendees will leave with a plethora of resources, a network of committed practitioners, and a plan for continued action.

Throughout February, UC San Diego invites you to join in a campus wide celebration of Black History Month. This year’s theme is "Black Contributions to Labor: Honoring Our Legacy, Inspiring the Future." Below are a few of the upcoming events: 

Women's Basketball vs Cal State Bakersfield - Celebrating Black Excellence Game

Feb. 13 | 7 p.m. | LionTree Arena | No additional cost with student ID | Tickets start at $8

Celebrating Black Excellence at the women's basketball game on February 13 at 7 p.m. as the Tritons take on Cal State Bakersfield. This game will feature different in-game elements highlighting Black culture as well as t-shirts for the first 250 fans.

Men's Basketball vs UC Davis - Celebrating Black Excellence Game

Feb. 15 | 4 p.m. | LionTree Arena | No additional cost with student ID | Tickets start at $12

Celebrating Black Excellence at the men's basketball game on February 15 at 4 p.m. as the Tritons take on UC Davis. This game will feature different in-game elements highlighting Black culture as well as t-shirts for the first 750 fans.

Piya Bose, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, was awarded a Fulbright-Nehru grant to attend the International Education Administrators Seminar in New Delhi, India, from March 8–23. She will gain first-hand knowledge of a cross-section of Indian institutions and meet with high ranking university administrators and public sector officials who play key roles in the planning and administration of higher education in India.

Andrew Hua, Director of Student Affairs Case Management Services, was honored with the 2025 NASPA Doris Michiko Ching Award for Excellence as a Student Affairs Professional by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). As specified by NASPA, this award honors professionals with an “outstanding commitment to the profession including development of programs that address the needs of students, creation of a campus environment that promotes student learning and development, and support of and active engagement in NASPA.” 

Read more about Andrew’s accomplishment: Doris Michiko Ching Award for Excellence as a Student Affairs Professional

The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Day of Service Coordinators put together great events to honor Dr. King’s legacy of service and activism. Congrats to:

Student Coordinators:

The Online Student Experience (OSE) department coordinated National Mentoring Month in January to celebrate mentorship’s positive impact on the student experience. The Mentoring for All Initiative sponsored six events that raised awareness of mentorship opportunities. Also, more than 100 guests attended “The Mentoring Ripple Effect: Stories of Growth and Success,” the inaugural Mentorship Awards at the 3rd annual luncheon. The awards recognized 15 outstanding undergraduate and graduate students, staff, faculty, and alumni for their remarkable contributions to mentorship at UC San Diego. Learn more about how to serve as a mentor, or for more information, email mentoring@ucsd.edu. 

Congratulations to the Assessment, Evaluation and Organizational Development (AEOD) department for being highlighted in the January 30, UC San Diego Today article, "Empowered to Thrive," about the Student Centeredness Awards. 

Ashleigh J. Wade joined us as the new Director for the Center of Student Accountability, Growth, & Education (SAGE) on Feb. 3.

Ashleigh has extensive experience supporting students through roles in residence life, student conduct, and community standards. She is active in numerous professional associations, conducts training, presents at conferences, and is an avid researcher, who enjoys benchmarking best practices. Outside of work, Ashleigh enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, watching television, and baking. Please help us welcome Ashleigh to the Triton community. 

Mar. 16 | 7 p.m. (Gates open at 6 p.m.) | Epstein Family Amphitheater

Anoushka Shankar is an eleven-time Grammy nominee who has spent her career redefining the conventions of the sitar alongside an ensemble celebrated for their endless virtuosity, sensitivity and ear for improvisation. 

Reserved Seating: Tickets start at $45 | UCSD Student: Limited Free Tickets via SSO

Mar. 24 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Warren Mall

The 2nd Annual Employee Wellfest will be on Warren Mall, and will have many campus and off-campus partners in attendance, including Kaiser’s Mobile Health Vehicle providing FREE health screenings for all! Come enjoy giveaways and activities.

Subscribe and follow the UC San Diego Employee Wellness Newsletter and Instagram for more information.

I encourage you to find ways this month to practice transformation, renew yourself, and grow in your wisdom. As always, please make time to take care of yourself!

Please let me know if you would like to take a walk on campus, grab a cup of coffee together, or hop on a Zoom to connect – just send me an email at VCSACL@ucsd.edu. 

Happy Black History Month,

Alysson
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Alysson M. Satterlund
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life