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Women’s History Month, Basketball Champions,
SACL AVC Quarterly Updates, and more

March 10, 2025

Dear Student Affairs and Campus Life Friends,

This year’s Women’s History Month theme is Empowerment Echoes: Celebrating Women Who Advocate and Educate. I am reminded of Alice Walker, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Color Purple and We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For: Inner Light in a Time of Darkness. ‘We Are the Ones’ is a collection of speeches, thoughts, and meditations on the universal struggles for peace, wisdom and justice in challenging times. It reminds us of our strength and power to create change.

Alice Walker was inspired to title the work “We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For” from a line in the ‘Poem for South African Women’, by her friend, June Jordan. Jordan presented the poem at The United Nations on August 9, 1978. The poem was inspired by the 40,000 women and children who, on August 9, 1956, protested apartheid in South Africa. These women are all echoes of each other's struggle and work, and they represent bright lights shining in dark times, which continues with each generation.

Please remember that we are the ones we’ve been waiting for, and we will move through these challenging times together. However, we can’t take care of others if we don’t also take care of ourselves, so remember to utilize our numerous well-being resources, programs and events including the Employee Wellfest on March 24. 

March 13 | 9–10:30 a.m. | Creating a Culture of Care: Supporting Students in Distress

Student Affairs Case Management Services (SACM) is offering this virtual training session to assist staff in recognizing and supporting students 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.

Register through UC Learning (login required). For more information, please contact Chrystian Smith at cas014@ucsd.edu.

Sunday, March 16 | 7 p.m. | Anoushka Shankar Chapter III - We Return to Light

Thursday, April 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Corinne Bailey Rae - Black Rainbows

Saturday, April 5 | 2 p.m. | Okee Dokee Brothers 

Thursday, April 10 | 7:30 p.m. | The Second City 65th Anniversary Show 

March 24 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The 2nd Annual Employee Wellfest will take place on Warren Mall with 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.

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 Dwayne Mosbey. 

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 this essential training or have difficulty accessing them, please email VCSACL@uscd.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. 

As part of our monthly communications to the division of Student Affairs and Campus Life, we are excited to share quarterly updates and relevant information from our Assistant Vice Chancellors.

AVC Piya Bose

Student Affairs Case Management Services (SACM)
The 2025 Student Well Fest was rescheduled for April 15. We are eager to share this event with the community and look forward to its success. 

The new SACM staff listserv, sacmstaff@ucsd.edu, is designed to enhance communication and email notifications between our teams. Please utilize this listserv to share announcements, professional development opportunities, resources, or events that you would like our team to consider participating in or sharing with students. 

Center for Student Accountability, Growth, and Education (SAGE)
Medical Amnesty Program (MAP) cases increased 26% in Fall 2024, as compared to Fall 2023 as a result of targeted outreach, tabling and programming.

90 colleagues from the Colleges in student, academic and faculty affairs received training on de-escalation techniques. In addition, SAGE co-facilitated with Student Legal Services a student conduct training for the Associated Students Office of Student Advocacy.

28 Student Conduct Reviews were facilitated in February, which is equal to the amount typically coordinated over the period of one academic year.

AVC Patty Mahaffey

Dialogue 4 Peace
Launching this spring quarter in collaboration with the VC-EDI, Dialogue 4 Peace is a new, four-week fellowship program and professional development opportunity to empower student staff to become compassionate listeners and conflict resolution facilitators.

Acts of Kindness
The Center for Student Involvement, in collaboration with the Community Specialists, lead pop-up events around campus to activate students in simple and meaningful activities to spread kindness and joy. Examples included bracelet making, a positivTEA party and a kindness wall to leave notes to peers. 

U-Pass Referendum
Associated Students led record-breaking voter turnout in support of the Student Transportation Fee and continuing to fund the U-Pass program, which provides fee-paying students a transit pass for unlimited rides on fixed-route bus, trolley and light rail routes operated by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and the North County Transit District (NCTD). 

Student Life Handbook
The Student Life Business Office completed a multi-year project to launch a new Student Life Handbook for students to better understand their roles as leaders. 

AVC Maruth Figueroa

Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services (OASIS)
Hope Scholars collaborated with Eight16 Culinary Therapy to host a two-part workshop designed for students seeking alternative ways to support their mental health. This hands-on experience combined cooking and wellness practices to promote self-care, mindfulness and stress management. Students learned basic kitchen skills, explored how physical health connects to emotional resilience and removed the stigma associated with therapy.

TRIO Student Support Services Program (SSSP)
The team submitted their 2023-2024 Annual Performance Review with the following outcomes: 99% Persistence Rate (from one year to the next), 94% in Good Academic Standing,  88% Graduation Rate (6-year).

Student Success Programs 
The Student Success Coaching Program (SSCP) concluded the pilot mentor program with the School of Medicine. Ten SSCP students were paired with a first-generation grad or supported current medical students. In addition to mentorship, the program leaders held workshops on the application process, mastering the MCAT, personal statements and more.   

The Triton Firsts: First Stories program received art submissions from First-Generation undergraduate students that reflected their journeys as first-generation students. They included the experiences, memories, cultural narratives and stories from their past that spoke to resilience, strength and the complexity of being a first-generation student.

Chancellor’s Associates Scholars Program (CASP)
Congratulations to CASP scholar Isaac Castillo for speaking at the Chancellor's Colloquium. He told his story of achievement and empowerment through the community he created within the CASP program. The CASP team is very proud of Isaac and look forward to seeing him graduate this spring and go on to medical school.

Career Center 
The Career Center hosted the STEM Showcase, which provided an opportunity for students to receive preparation through virtual presentations, one-on-one appointments and digital resources before presenting their projects to a diverse audience. The event featured 30 research projects, including video game design, robot development and environmental research. They welcomed 100 attendees, including students, employers, campus partners, alumni and community members.

Online Student Experience 
As part of the Mentoring for All strategic plan, OSE successfully trained two student cohorts in NASPA’s Certification Peer Educator training with a goal of 200 students by the end of the academic year. Through the CPE training, students received a certification that recognized their competency in key areas such as peer education roles, behavior change strategies, communication, intervention techniques and diversity and inclusion.

AVC Tamara Cunningham

Non-Violent and Compassionate Communication Workshop Series
The International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) launched an 8-week, in-person workshop series, funded by the Tritons Belong grant, that teaches non-violent and compassionate communication skills to students and scholars. Facilitated by Azzam Talhami, Certified Trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC), and in partnership with Triton CORE and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) to provide wraparound support.

Scam Prevention and Awareness Resources Toolkit
ISEO created a Scam Prevention and Awareness Resources Toolkit to help campus partners and student organizations spread awareness of the sophisticated scams impacting our international community. The toolkit includes informative templates for social media, email and newsletters, and outlines common scams, prevention tips and support resources. 

Future Innovator Global Internship Program Scholarships
Study Abroad awarded 41 new, first-year and transfer, Pell-eligible students with full funding to participate in the Future Innovators Global Internship Program in Berlin, Cape Town, London or Singapore this summer. Selected students will participate in the Essentials of Entrepreneurship course this spring to gain foundational exposure to innovation and design thinking, and gain hands-on experience testing innovative ideas in real-world environments during their internship. 

AVC John Hughes

Recreation

Men’s Club Water Polo
The Men’s Club Water Polo team claimed its third consecutive national championship with a 17-10 victory over California Maritime Academy in Gainesville, Florida, on November 10, 2024. 

RIMAC Updates
The RIMAC Expansion entered the construction drawing phase, and will break ground in July 2025 with an anticipated opening date of Fall 2026.

RISE Under the Sea 
The RISE Under the Sea event was part of the Tritons Flourish collective initiative and a highlight of the RISE Program workshops and offerings for students. This collaboration between Recreation, CAPS and the Birch Aquarium brought more than 200 Tritons together to engage in creative-based reflection activities, sunset yoga, community building and the healing elements of the ocean as a restorative experience for students. 

Please join me in welcoming Ti'Shaun (Tee) Allen as the new Assistant Director of Case Management Services (SACM).

Prior to UC San Diego, Tee collaborated with staff, students, faculty and campus administrators to design and implement community service-learning initiatives and retention strategies at the University of San Diego. In May 2024, Tee received her M.A. in Higher Education Leadership and a Restorative Justice Certificate. She also received her B.A. at San Diego State University and was a transfer student from San Diego Mesa College. Now, she is pursuing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the joint (JDP) program at UC San Diego and California State University, San Marcos. 

Tee is passionate about serving students and providing holistic support services as they navigate their academic trajectory. Outside of work, Tee enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing tennis, shooting archery and trying new restaurants!

Please join me in celebrating these teams and individuals who earned awards and recognition for their achievements.

Triton Men’s Basketball are the 2024-2025 BIG WEST REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS!

UC San Diego men's basketball clinched its first-ever Big West regular season championship and now advances to the Big West Championship tournament in Henderson, Nevada starting on Friday, March 14 at 6 p.m., in the semifinal round of the championship event. The Tritons must win the tournament to earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Single-session Big West Championship tickets are now available. Triton men's basketball will play its first game in Session 6 (men's semifinal).

Women's Basketball 
Triton Women’s Basketball will head to their first Big West Championship tournament next week in Henderson, Nev. The Tritons are ranked #4 in the tournament and will face the winner between #8 Cal Poly or #5 UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, March 13 at 12 p.m.

Tickets are now available to cheer on women’s basketball at the Big West Championship in Session 3.

Alicia Magallanes, Director of The Hub Basic Needs Center received the NASPA 2025 APIKC Ajay Nair Outstanding Allyship Award.

Named after Dr. Ajay Nair, one of the APIDA community’s most notable advocates, this award honors an individual who has demonstrated a significant commitment to building bridges, coalitions and allyship for the Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American community in the student affairs profession and higher education. 

Congratulations to Maricela Alvarado, Director of Online Student Experience for receiving a 2024 Inclusive Excellence Award. These annual awards recognize faculty, staff, students and departments or groups for their leadership in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion, and for their strong commitment to the UC San Diego Principles of Community.

You are invited to join in recognizing awardees and their remarkable contributions on April 16, from 2–3 p.m. at Price Center East Ballroom, with a reception immediately following until 3:30 p.m. To attend the ceremony in person, please register on Eventbrite. For guests who are unable to attend in person, the ceremony will also be streamed online via Zoom. For a full list of award recipients, visit the February 10, Chancellor’s Campus Notice. 

The inaugural Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) Awards celebrated individuals who champion equitable access to graduate education and postdoctoral training, support student success, advance diversity and inclusion through research and advocate for systemic change.

Congratulations to Nallely Garcia, Senior International Scholar Advisor at the International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) on receiving the “Staff Who Advances Equity in Postdoctoral Training” award. 

Dwayne Mosbey (they/he) started as the Interim Assistant Director for Assessment, Evaluation & Organizational Development (AEOD) on February 10.

Dwayne is a UC Santa Barbara alumnus and current Master’s student at UC San Diego Rady School of Management. They have worked in the UC system throughout their career, including supporting the LGBTQIA+ community and leading multiple clinical studies linking mindfulness and acute pain in the UC San Diego Health Neuroscience department. They will continue to work in supporting AVC-SA Piya Bose in their new role and are excited to delve further into operations, organizational development and identifying reasons for student persistence to create programs for retention. In their spare time, they have a passion for harm reduction, community building and finding matching outfits for their dog.

We are thrilled to officially announce Tonia Pizer as the new Assistant Director of Program Development for Study Abroad.

In this role, Tonia will collaborate with faculty, university administrators and providers to develop and manage the annual portfolio of faculty-led Global Seminars. With more than 25 years of experience in international higher education, Tonia has served in this role in an interim capacity since July 2024. We are excited that she can continue her amazing work and stewardship of the Global Seminars program. 

On February 3, Andrew Hua was welcomed back as the Director of Student Affairs Case Management Services (SACM), after spending several months supporting GEPA as the Interim Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.

Andrew’s previous experience at the University of California, Berkeley and Washington State University were in Crisis Management, Behavioral Threat Assessment, Non-Clinical Case Management, Residential Life, Greek Life, Student Conduct, Conference Services and Student Government. And as a huge fan of Disney and photography, he loves to go to Disneyland and take pictures in addition to playing volleyball, board/video games, going on foodie adventures and hiking. 

Thursday, April 3

The 24th Annual César E. Chávez Celebration begins on Thursday, April 3, with a Kickoff and Awards Luncheon to honor individuals for furthering Chávez’s ideals in their communities. This year's theme "Revolution of Mind and Heart" highlights a series of events and opportunities for the campus and the community. 

March 30 – June 30

Please be on the lookout for the Impact Report and Commitments to Anti-Blackness submissions form. Submissions will be accepted on an ongoing basis for the annual Impact Report – a collection of submissions, accolades, achievements and recognitions that highlight your work.

I am constantly impressed with your ability to use your strengths and power to advocate, educate and create change by focusing on supporting students and each other. 

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 March Madness Tritons!

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