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Happy April UC San Diego Staff!

I hope the Spring Quarter is treating you all well! We are officially in the home stretch of the academic year. I know for many of you, the start of a new quarter can be incredibly busy, it certainly has been for me, but I encourage everyone to take a moment for themselves and enjoy the season.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Triton Virtual Connect in March and Triton Treats on April 1st. Both events were a great success, and we’re excited to continue offering opportunities like these for UC San Diego Staff. The Staff Association is hard at work planning the remaining events for the year, so please keep an eye out for upcoming announcements.

Our Staff Scholarship is now live, be sure to check it out! In addition, Staff Association elections will be taking place soon. If you’re interested in getting more involved, we encourage you to stay tuned for details.

It has truly been a privilege to serve as your Staff Association Chair this year. I am incredibly grateful to the Executive Board for their dedication and support, it would not have been possible without them.

I hope you all had a chance to see the Artemis II spacecraft land off the coast of San Diego over the weekend, it was an incredible experience to witness! I remember watching NASA launch the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-120) in Florida when I was much younger, and now getting to see the Artemis II return and land feels just as amazing! 

Thank you, 
Maddie Martinez
Chair, UC San Diego Staff Association

A big thank you to all the staff who joined us at our March events. We truly appreciate you taking the time to connect, learn, and celebrate with us.

Your feedback helps us continue to improve and create meaningful experiences. We encourage you to share your thoughts, suggest ideas, and submit topics for future Triton Virtual Connect sessions using our submission link. You can also always reach out to our inbox or connect with a member of the Staff Association Executive Board — we’d love to hear from you!

At our third Triton Virtual Connect session, staff explored opportunities across UC San Diego to continue their education and build new skills. Speakers included Rady School of Management and Division of Extended Studies, along with an overview of funding available to staff to apply towards professional development programs. If you missed it or want to rewatch, resources and recordings are available on our website.

We also hosted our first-ever RSVP ticketed Triton Treats featuring boba drinks and pastries. While we experienced an unexpected delay with the boba delivery, we are incredibly grateful for the flexibility, patience, and grace staff showed throughout. Your understanding and positive energy did not go unnoticed, and we hope you enjoyed the treats once they arrived.

A huge shoutout to our amazing volunteers for the time and effort they put into making these events possible. From planning to on-site support, your work helps bring these experiences to life for staff across campus.

Our next Triton Treats will take place in late May and late June. Keep an eye out for more details, and we hope to see you there!

Congratulations to all staff, faculty, students, and departments recognized as recipients of this year’s Inclusive Excellence Awards! This annual program honors those who demonstrate outstanding leadership in fostering a more equitable, welcoming, and supportive UC San Diego community, and a strong commitment to the Principles of Community.

A special congratulations to the Black Staff Association Co-Chairs, Anthony Singleton and Taura Gentry on being recognized as the Vice Chancellor Area and Staff Recipient respectively. Well deserved!

SAAM has been recognized at UC San Diego since 2007 with efforts led by CARE at the Sexual Assault Resource Center and campus partners. This year’s theme, Power in Prevention: A Love Letter to the Future, is centered on the premise that it is within all of our power to re-imagine the world into one free of sexual and relationship violence; we can create a safer and more joyful future for our communities.

Visit saam.ucsd.edu to see the 2026 poster, Zoom background and calendar of events. There is also a staff training on Friday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. - How to Support a Student Survivor via UC Learning Center.

Autism Acceptance Month celebrates and honors the experiences and identities of Autistic individuals. It emphasizes understanding, inclusion, and support, moving beyond awareness towards meaningful acceptance. Awareness increases with time, understanding increases with effort, and acceptance requires both.

The Faculty  &  Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) is offering a two‑part Neuro‑affirming Workshop Series designed to deepen understanding of neurodiversity and equip us to create more inclusive workplaces. Register for Part 1 and Part 2 on UC Learning Center. 

Arab American Heritage Month at UC San Diego highlights the diverse identities, cultures and experiences of Arab Americans from 22 nations while celebrating their shared values, unity and resilience within the United States.

View the full calendar of events at Arab American Heritage Month website. Two hours of administrative leave with pay have been approved for employees to attend a UC San Diego Arab American Heritage Month event.

The UC San Diego Staff Association scholarship program supports career advancement efforts by providing an opportunity to be reimbursed up to a maximum of $500.00 for any career employee. The scholarship is open to all UC San Diego Career employees now through April 30th, 2026. 

The scholarship can be used toward a professional development activity which requires a fee. Professional development activities could include, but are not limited to:

Full details and application requirements can be found on our website. Questions and completed applications can be emailed to SAScholarship@ucsd.edu.

The Chicanx/Latinx Staff Association (CLSA) is hosting a book club! Join them as they read The Broposal by Sonora Reyes. 

The Employee Wellness survey has been extended through April 17th! This 5-10 minute survey will allow Campus Employee Wellness 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!

In collaboration with the San Diego Food Bank, UC San Diego is now a Neighborhood Distribution Partner! Starting in April 2026, the Basic Needs Center will host a free food distribution on the last Friday of the month from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Open to students, staff, faculty and community members! Distributions will include shelf stable pantry items (e.g., canned goods, pasta) along with fresh seasonal produce.

Attendees are highly encouraged to bring their own reusable grocery bags to carry their items.

For any questions, please contact Assistant Director of Food Security Programs, Haley Okamoto at hokamoto@ucsd.edu 

Curious about what CUCSA delegates do and how you can get involved?

Join the CUCSA Executive Board Friday, April 17th from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. for a brief overview of the organization, followed by a panel of current and former delegates who will discuss their experiences and answer questions about serving in the role.

This session is scheduled ahead of many local Staff Assembly elections, making it a great opportunity for individuals considering serving as a delegate or running for chair-elect of their local staff assembly to learn more about the role and responsibilities.

The LBGT Resource Center is hosting a two week series of programming focusing theme “Becoming a Spark: Weathering Storms Together” in order to bring awareness to LGBTQIA+ issues during challenging times, strengthen our connections to each other across intersectional lines, and inspire hope through action.

Events are open to all and the Pride Staff Association is hosting a Staff Lunch and Craft Tuesday, April 14th from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. at Geisel Library, Seuss Room. View the full calendar of events for Out and Proud here. 

The San Diego Book Crawl is an opportunity for readers to explore the diversity of San Diego's local indie bookstores and, hopefully, discover a new favorite read along the way! 15 independent bookstores, including the UC San Diego Bookstore, are participating to encourage San Diegans to visit as many bookstores as possible in one weekend. The more bookstores you visit, the more prizes you can earn!

Follow the crawl on Instagram (@sdbookcrawl and @ucsdbookstore) for updates and tips.

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.