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Happy February, Triton Staff!

I hope you have had a great start to 2026 so far. As we move further into the winter quarter, I want to thank you for the work you do every day to support UC San Diego and one another.

I’m excited to welcome our new Chair-Elect, Amanda Corona, Director of Corporate Partnerships within Academic Affairs at the Rady School of Management. The Staff Association is thrilled to have Amanda join our officer team, and we are very much looking forward to working with her.

Amanda and the rest of the Staff Association hope to see many of you at Triton Treats next week, and she is also working on our next Triton Virtual Connect in March, which will focus on Professional Development. During that session, we will also be announcing our Staff Scholarship, along with details on how to apply.

The UC San Diego Staff Association is a campus-wide community dedicated to supporting, connecting, and advocating for non-represented staff, while working to enhance the staff experience through programs, events, and initiatives that promote professional growth, personal well-being, and a strong sense of belonging. In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find opportunities to engage, connect, and stay informed about upcoming events and resources designed to help UC San Diego staff thrive.

We encourage you to stay connected and take advantage of the opportunities shared here. Your voices and contributions matter, and we are grateful to be part of such a dedicated staff community.

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

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Amanda J. Corona on her selection as the next Staff Association Chair Elect! We’re excited to welcome Amanda into this leadership role and look forward to the perspective, experience, and energy she will bring to the Staff Association in the year ahead.

Celebrate the season of love with Staff Association at Triton Treats: Pasta & Amore! This staff appreciation event invites staff to the Faculty Club to enjoy Italian-inspired treats including pasta, focaccia, and lemonade.

Treats available for the first 200 attendees (first-come, first-served; while supplies last). On-site registration and check-in required to claim treat. 

Join us for the Winter Staff Town Hall, a quarterly event designed to keep UC San Diego staff informed, connected, and engaged. Hear timely updates from Campus Human Resources, Staff Association, Wellness, along with other campus leaders sharing news and initiatives that impact our community.

Staff are encouraged to submit questions in advance to help shape the conversation and ensure the topics that matter most to you are addressed.

Each year, UC San Diego honors the history and accomplishments of African-Americans for the University’s annual celebration of Black History Month. February marks the beginning of Black History Month, a federally recognized, nationwide celebration that provides the opportunity for all Americans to reflect on the significant roles that African Americans have played in the shaping of U.S. history. 

We encourage staff to attend campus events throughout the month and engage with the UC San Diego Black Staff Association (BSA). The BSA serves as an advocate for progress through the promotion of critical dialogue, upward mobility, networking, and programs that uplift and celebrate the rich Black culture of our ancestors. 

More than 70+ museums throughout San Diego County are offering half-priced admission with the San Diego Museum Month Pass throughout February! You can pick up your pass at participating San Diego-area libraries in February, or download it directly to your phone.

Visit the San Diego Museum Council website for more information and details on how to pick up or download your pass. 

Editor's note: I highly recommend The Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista! 

As we begin a new year of discovery and impact at UC San Diego, I want to express my sincere appreciation to every staff member who helps advance research and thought leadership on our campus. Whether you work directly in research, support our researchers, or contribute through essential administrative and operational services, your efforts ensure our research enterprise is well-supported and impactful. Thank you for everything you do.

Despite disruptions in federal funding, UC San Diego remained one of the nation’s leading research and innovation universities. We received 1,923 new external awards in fiscal year 2025 and currently have more than 5,600 active awards, each advancing knowledge and discovery. We launched 14 startups, and successfully applied for 235 patents in the U.S. and abroad. Our research contributions help solve some of today's most complex and compelling challenges, advance our understanding of the world, and improve our quality of life.

I encourage you to stay connected with the many programs, opportunities, and discoveries shaping our research and innovation ecosystem. You can sign up for several of our newsletters; each tailored to different interests across our community:

Finally, I want to highlight the outstanding work across our innovation ecosystem, from the Chancellor’s Innovation Awards to the Convene and Influence initiatives, research Faculty Ambassadors, and campuswide recognition of research excellence. Together, we continue to elevate UC San Diego’s impact locally, nationally, and globally. I hope you’ll be inspired to join us at an event this year.

Warm Regards, 
Corinne Peek-Asa
Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation

Submitted by Julia Nemeth, Graduate Program Manager, Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute

"This team SHOWS UP turning lemons into lemonade ALL DAY LONG! Spanning multiple generations (Gen X to Gen Z), this team works so well that problems are managed and solved even before they cause any major disruptions. We are highly student focused and when we lean into this value we are able to support students, whether they are with us for a year or six!

Nurit Mandel manages the undergrad team, with Martín Saldaña as a powerhouse Undergrad Advisor - whose dedication shines commuting to work over 100 miles each way just to make it here and serve our students in person 3x a week! Julia Nemeth manages the grad team, with Laura Whitmee striving to recruit & admit the best & brightest while supporting the MS Advisor Lauren Brunson, whose strength in process improvement has led to seamlessly managing cohorts of 200+, while also supporting the undergraduate team. Kimber Worthy advises PhD students, building community and guiding them through HDSI curriculum to dissertation, while also serving as a part-time Navy Reservist and full-time parent!

And at the helm, our inexhaustible leader Sonlong Nguyen, who protects our peace and supports our needs, while managing an ever-growing and ever-changing dynamic with faculty and administrators. We have yet to face a situation we can't figure out, and I'm grateful to be here with them through thick and thin."

Mark your calendars! Employee Wellness is hosting their 3rd annual Employee Wellfest on Monday, March 23rd, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. This event will be on Warren Mall, and will have 20+ campus (and off-campus) partners in attendance. Kaiser will also be in attendance with their Mobile Health Vehicle, doing FREE health screenings for all! This year, an RSVP is required. Make sure to subscribe to the Employee Wellness newsletter, and follow them Instagram for the most up-to-date info. 

The Black Resource Center is accepting gently used professional clothing for an upcoming student Business Clothing Swap during Black History Month. Donations can be made at the following four campus locations: 

Blazers, dress shirts, polos, pants, skirts, dresses, and shoes are encouraged donations. Email brc@ucsd.edu for more information or questions. 

Lucky’s Hair Design Studio is a modern, full-service hair salon with a team of expert stylists committed to creating personalized, confidence-boosting transformations for every guest. Offering a variety of hair care and self-care services including haircuts, hairstyling, coloring, facials, waxing and more! All conveniently located on campus.

Lucky's is open six days a week located on Level 2 of Price Center East (up from the Triton steps on the left).

Use code ‘UCSDSTAFF26’ to receive 50% off your first visit, plus 20% off all future services - added to your account indefinitely. Follow Lucky's Hair Design on Instagram.

The Rady Exchange is a quarterly, in-person conversation series designed for the UC San Diego community. Listen to Rady faculty unpack the trends shaping today’s economy and translate them into practical, actionable takeaways for your organization. The next session is The Impact of Generative AI on Business with Program Director Thomas Beyer and Professor Vincent Nijs. Use promo code RADY75 to save $25 on your registration. 

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.