Dr. Claudine Michel, Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars, addresses workshop participants. Credit: Patricia MarroquinA recent half-day workshop hosted by the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) illuminated a variety of issues surrounding this international community at UC Santa Barbara, from adaptation and employment challenges to mobility and enrollment trends. The annual OISS event aims to inform campus administrators, faculty, and staff about new developments to assist them in serving the growing UCSB community of international students and scholars.

“We really need to understand and value the diversity and the richness that the international students and scholars bring to us,” Dr. Claudine Michel, OISS Director and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, told the group in welcoming them to the workshop. “It makes us a better campus, it makes us a stronger campus, it enriches the intellectual exchanges and the perspective and ideas that our campus is able to engage with.”

The three-part workshop consisted of overviews of trends, challenges, and regulations; followed by breakout sessions on individual topics; and concluded with a presentation and question-and-answer session featuring a panel of international students.

Dr. Garay Menicucci, Associate Director of OISS, presented the latest statistics – national, state, and specifically at UCSB – on international students and scholars.

Last year, Menicucci said, there were a record number of international students coming to the United States. The U.S. Institute for International Education and the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs reported that the number of international students at colleges and universities in the U.S. in 2011-12 rose by 5.7% to 764,495. China is the top sender country for students and scholars to the U.S., which also holds true for our campus, he said.

Graphic: Patricia MarroquinFor 2011-12, 194,029 Chinese students were studying in the United States. That’s almost double the next largest sender country, India, at 100,270 students.

Noting a “striking trend,” Menicucci said that for the last few years there has been on average an annual increase of 23% to 29% over the previous year of Chinese students coming to the U.S.  This trend, he said, “is going to affect higher education in every institution in the U.S.”

California hosted the largest number of international students in the country, he said, at 102,789.

Of note in the chart pictured here is the 50.4% increase in students from Saudi Arabia to the U.S., to 34,139 for 2011-12. “Their students are fully funded through government scholarships,” explained Menicucci. “That’s different from any other country in the world.” At UCSB, there is a negligible increase in the number of Saudi students, he said. The traditional sending countries (Japan, Taiwan, Canada) are all in decline, said Menicucci, who added that the only rising countries are China, Vietnam, and Iran.

OISS Associate Director Dr. Garay Menicucci presented statistics on nation, state, and UCSB trends. Credit: Patricia MarroquinMenicucci said UCSB’s largest single group of international students from the Middle East come from Iran. “This may seem counter-intuitive,” he added, “because the U.S. doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Iran and there is also an economic embargo. And it means that very simple international transactions like bank transfers are forbidden.”

As with international students, China is also the largest sending country of visiting scholars to the U.S. It sends almost three times as many scholars as the next largest visiting scholar country, India, Menicucci said. California hosted the largest number of visiting scholars in the country, and at UCSB, there are on average about 800 visiting scholars during the course of the year.

The largest receiving institutions in California in 2012 were: USC, 9,269; UCLA, 6,703; UC Berkeley, 5,004; Stanford, 4,426; and the Academy of Art (San Francisco), 4,414. UCSB – at 1,584 visiting scholars – is in the mid-level range of receiving institutions both in California and nationally.

Menicucci projected these 2013 trends for UCSB: 50% of all international students are coming from China; 84% of all incoming international undergrads are from China; and 40% of all international graduate students are from China.

As of late August, Menicucci said, there were a total of 361 incoming undergraduate international students to UCSB, up 13% from the previous year; and 181 graduate students, no increase.

UC Santa Barbara’s reputation as a highly regarded and highly ranked research institution plays a big role in rising enrollments of international students and scholars, Menicucci said.  “There’s a buzz about UCSB among international students, especially from China,” he said. Spreading the word through informal student and alumni social networks creates a “snowball effect,” he said.

“For example,” he said, “there is a special Mandarin-language social network site just for people who want to come to UCSB. Most of us don’t know about that because we don’t speak Mandarin. But there are these hidden networks that increase our enrollments that we don’t even know about.”

To meet some of the challenges facing international students and scholars, OISS initiated a program four years ago called the English Oral Proficiency and American Culture Workshop, held in the month of August, Menicucci said.

“We found that especially graduate students from non-English-speaking countries were often failing their oral proficiency exams that guaranteed their funding as TAs,” he said. “So we began our own program to try to get them a jump-start on English before they come in the fall.”

“Our campus is light years ahead of other campuses in the U.S. in having Mandarin-speaking psychologists. There’s almost no other campus in the U.S. that has a team like we have in our counseling services.”
–Dr. Garay Menicucci, OISS Associate Director

Read on for more about the OISS workshop. …

Because of the large numbers of Chinese international students and scholars at UCSB, the next portion of the workshop addressed adaptation challenges that this community faces.

Psychologist Dr. Isabella Lin-Roark discussed challenges faced by international students from China. Credit: Patricia MarroquinDr. Isabella Lin-Roark, a native of Taiwan who has worked at UCSB for two years as a psychologist at Counseling and Psychological Services  (CAPS), discussed the common stressors experienced by all international students. They include accommodation difficulties, dietary concerns, homesickness, lack of social support, perceived discrimination, academic pressures, and English-language difficulties.

In a campus survey conducted last year by Lin-Roark and Dr. Jeremy Roark, also a psychologist at CAPS, they found these major stressors identified by UCSB international students: difficulties in social integration, cultural adaptation, and language.

There is a huge difference in communication styles between Chinese and Americans, Dr. Lin-Roark noted. She said Chinese communication style is very philosophical, holistic, and contextual; there is less emphasis on being scientific, analytical, or logical. Also, being reserved and polite are highly valued traits in China, she said, but here in the U.S. that behavior can have negative connotations. 

There are times, she said, when Americans overestimate the ability of Chinese students to speak or understand English. The Chinese student may not understand what is being said, but because they show respect through a reserved demeanor, they may appear to understand.

To help in these situations, Dr. Lin-Roark suggested, look for cues of misunderstanding. Check the accuracy of understanding or interpretation. And if problems persist, consult or use a competent translator.

OISS Immigration Counselor Tanya Plant told the workshop participants how the Supreme Court’s ruling in June striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) affects international students and scholars. The same day of this ruling, she said, Immigration issued a directive stating that it would immediately recognize same-sex marriages for immigration purposes. All that is needed for immigration is a legal marriage document from the jurisdiction in which the marriage took place, she said.

In an informal breakout session conversation, topics ranged from socialization efforts to mentoring opportunities.

A representative from Housing & Residential Services told participants about its annual Thanksgiving get-together for those who remain on campus through the holiday. He also talked about its iBuddy (for International Buddy) program, which pairs a domestic student with an international student. The buddies meet throughout the quarters for group events (such as visits to Solvang, the Butterfly Preserve, and the June Festival) as well as study and language sessions.

Menicucci says for the past 30 years OISS has held English Conversation classes, where students, scholars, spouses and others may improve their conversation skills. The program also includes regular monthly social activities to assist in cultural immersion.

On the topic of psychological and mental health services, UCSB staff members said they have noticed a reluctance on the part of international students and scholars, particularly the Chinese, to seek help.

ECE Ph.D. students Ali Abbasinasab from Iran and Jian Zhen of China answer questions. Credit: Patricia MarroquinMenicucci said China lacks a developed public mental health system, so “the idea of going to a counselor is an alien concept” for some Chinese students. If a student is perceived to be in physical or mental distress, Menicucci said, one of the OISS staff members will accompany the student to get help.

With Drs. Isabella Lin-Roark and Jeremy Roark on staff at CAPS, students may take advantage of their ability to speak Mandarin Chinese.

“Our campus is light years ahead of other campuses in the U.S. in having Mandarin-speaking psychologists,” Menicucci said. “There’s almost no other campus in the U.S. that has a team like we have in our counseling services.”

In the final portion of the workshop, participants heard from a panel of three international students: Yingying Wang, a second-year undergrad majoring in Math in the College of Creative Studies, who is from China; Ali Abbasinasab, a second-year Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, who is from Iran; and Jian Zhen, a fifth-year ECE Ph.D. student from China.

Grad student Ali Abbasinasab told the group about the difficulties in obtaining a visa. Credit: Patricia MarroquinYingying talked about the difficulties of having to move into other housing during holiday breaks, when regular housing closes; and the challenges of getting around without a car.

Ali said Iranian students face many obstacles. Gaining admission is the first challenge, he said, because professors hesitate to get involved with students from a country facing religious and other issues.

After gaining admission, he said, “getting a visa is the most challenging and difficult thing.” To get a visa to the U.S. he said, the Iranian student must go to a third country, generally Turkey, Dubai, or Pakistan.

The process, Ali said, can be time-consuming and expensive. And it’s also not guaranteed because background checks are done. The student usually receives a single-entry visa, Ali said. What this means is that the student isn’t able to travel out of the U.S. until he graduates. If he does so before graduating, he would need to reapply for the visa, which could potentially be denied.

Even inviting family to visit him here has been a challenge. Ali’s mother applied for a visa in Dubai and six months later, she’s still waiting to be granted one.

Other stressors for Iranian students, Ali said, are the difficulty in transferring funds and not having financial support from Iran.

Jian ZhenAli said he even lost out on a career opportunity to visit Apple. A required “export license,” in which the individual agrees not to steal technology, took three months, so he missed the chance.

Jian explained that in China, students live together for all of their college years, “like a fraternity but on a bigger scale.” This creates social support for students, something he said doesn’t exist here.

Jian said Chinese Ph.D. students doing research here are financially dependent on funding from professors and departments, so they work long and hard.

“They have less time and energy to adapt to the new environment,” Jian said. “So there is even less chance to integrate into the larger context.”

His advice to UCSB faculty and staff: Be patient and provide as much information as possible to international students.

A couple of other resources and activities for international students and scholars mentioned by Menicucci are an OISS coffee hour on the first and third Fridays of every month for international scholars; and the upcoming International Graduate Student Orientation on Tuesday, Sept. 17.

Menicucci expressed his hopes for outcomes from the OISS workshop. “One of the things that we would like to encourage as part of this workshop is a cross-campus discussion and dialogue about how to meet some of these challenges and for us to cooperate with each other to devise new programs and delivery services to meet the needs of our international students and scholars.” Michel called these students and scholars “an integral part of our university” whose presence “makes all of us better human beings.”

Dr. Garay Menicucci, right, led a panel featuring international students, from left, grad students Ali Abbasinasab and Jian Zhen; and undergrad Yingying Wang. Credit: Patricia Marroquin

There are new accolades for UC Santa Barbara, yet more proof that the university is among “America’s Best Colleges.” U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings were released this week, and UCSB once again made its list of “Top 30 Public National Universities” as well as its list of “Best National Universities.”

UCSB was ranked No. 11 on the Top 30 list, sharing the spot with the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Among national universities, which include both public and private institutions, UCSB held steady at No. 41. It tied for the spot with Boston University, Lehigh University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The national universities category includes only institutions that emphasize faculty research and offer a range of undergraduate programs in addition to master's degree and doctoral programs.

In a separate category for graduate schools, UCSB’s grad programs ranked highly. For example, U.S. News ranked UCSB No. 20 on its Best Engineering Schools list. And the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education is No. 40 among Education graduate schools.

Six of  UCSB’s Social Sciences and Humanities grad programs made the list: Economics is No. 42; English, No. 26; History, 42; Political Science, 50; Psychology, 40; and Sociology, 31.

For more information, read the Office of Public Affairs and Communications news release.

To see the complete U.S. News & World Report rankings and get more information about the “America’s Best Colleges” 2014 guidebook, visit U.S. News’ Best Colleges page.

Crystal Bae, a new graduate student who will be pursuing a M.A. and Ph.D. in Geography, caught my attention when she posted on the New Graduate Student Map that she would be moving to Santa Barbara from Washington, D.C. via bike. Crystal shared a link to her blog (www.crystalbae.com), which detailed her three-month bike trip across the country with her partner. I followed the blog throughout the summer and was impressed with the photos and stories (check out the Bike Tour By the Numbers post for the incredible trip summary).

I recently contacted Crystal to learn more about her research interests, motivation for biking across the country, and future plans. Here is what she had to say:

Where did you complete your undergraduate degree? What discipline?

I have a B.A. in English Literature from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., which helped me develop a strong critical eye and approach to thinking about the form of stories and of language. As I concurrently took undergraduate courses in Geography, I began to tie together the connection between how people interact with their environment and how people talk about and understand places.

What do you hope to study at UCSB? What inspired you to pursue this field of study?

In a general sense, nearly everyone I meet who is unfamiliar with the field of geography confuses it with geology, or doesn’t understand that geography extends beyond cartography (mapmaking). These days, more people are understanding the value of incorporating geographic research in almost every domain of study, such as medical professionals using GIS technology to track the spread of diseases, transportation planners studying patterns of commuting, and individuals analyzing the data they generate in their daily movements.

My research interests are specific to urban geography, focusing on spatial behavior in rapidly developing global megacities such as Jakarta. I plan to study the connections between how people perceive neighborhoods, their development of “mental maps” of a location, and their patterns of movement throughout the city.

Please describe your experience biking across the country.

Crystal Bae with two other touring cyclists she met on the road (near Hebron, ND)Before last year, I commuted on a bike simply because it was the fastest way to get around Washington, D.C., but in the summer of 2012, I started doing more riding just for fun and challenging myself to ride further. My partner Adam and I started discovering the pleasure and practicality of traveling by bicycle and we decided that when we moved for my graduate studies, it would be by bike. I had time before school began and he would have to job search anyway, so we decided to ship our furniture and other belongings and take the time to ride across the country. Cycling reduces a city—or even a country, in this case—to a human scale. You observe much more than when you zip through a place by car or train, you get to meet wonderful new people everyday, and you really learn the value of living simply.

Above all, we learned that people are incredibly generous. They are often drawn to us out of curiosity, seeing the loaded-up touring bikes, but once you share your story, they’re likely to open up and share a part of their lives too. It has helped me relate to people with all kinds of different outlooks, experiences, and circumstances. Another effect of doing the cross-country ride was that I was able to see so much of the country that I had never visited, and I think I’m a much more flexible person when it comes to planning now—you really can’t prepare for everything on a trip of that length.

Why did you decide to pursue your graduate studies at UCSB?

Crystal Bae riding in MontanaUCSB has a very strong Geography department, which initially inspired me to consider coming here for my graduate work. Ultimately, my decision was based more on the strengths and interests of the faculty in the department, which mesh well with my research goals. There are many people here conducting incredible research, and the vibe when I first visited was that everyone is approachable and passionate about their work. For my undergraduate work, I didn’t move far—just a jump from the Washington D.C. suburbs into D.C. proper—so it’s also nice to have the opportunity to live on the West coast.

Name an accomplishment you are most proud of and why.

I am proud of not only bicycling across the country, but also of making the time to write blog posts to keep everyone in touch with our trip. After a long day of riding, I’d stay awake in the tent to write down the days’ events and reflections in my notebook. The biggest factor in helping me ride for hours everyday was the encouragement from family, friends, and even the people I didn’t know who followed my blog. After the trip ended, many, many people who had been quietly following along sent me messages saying how much of an inspiration the trip was to them—that was unexpected.

What do you hope to be doing 5 or 10 years out of graduate school?

My hope is that I will be teaching at the university level and continuing to pursue my research interests. I haven’t had the experience of living abroad for more than a few months, so maybe by then I’ll have the chance to combine that with my research. Of course, I will hopefully still be cycling often to balance out the time spent writing at a desk.

As one scholar put it, “It takes a village to get a Ph.D.” UC Santa Barbara’s Graduate Division provided that village for 11 bright scholars from throughout the nation, who came to the campus for a summer of research, collaboration, and camaraderie. The Academic Research Consortium/California Pre-Doctoral Scholars (Sally Casanova) program, hosted by the Graduate Division, once again offered research experiences, mentoring, and academic support to help these scholars achieve their personal and professional goals.

The program identifies talented and motivated students who have the potential to succeed in graduate study, but who have experienced situations or conditions that have impeded their advancement. The scholars are matched individually with UCSB faculty and graduate student mentors who provide training and support during the seven-week summer program. The scholars have the opportunity to explore their discipline and gain valuable research experience. That experience was demonstrated at the end of the program when the scholars presented their research to an audience of colleagues, mentors, family, and friends.

Director of Admissions and Outreach Walter Boggan leads a workshop. Credit: Mario Galicia Jr.

To facilitate their research, the students attended six workshops covering such topics as library training, presentation skills, funding, and digital reputation. And to maintain that important work-life balance, the scholars stepped away from their studies occasionally to enjoy the Santa Barbara area with a beach barbecue, an ice cream social, and a sunset cruise, among other activities.

The students came from as near as Santa Barbara, Northridge, and Long Beach, and as far as Florida and New York. There was a diverse range of research topics, including: resources and relationships of gang-associated Latino youths; perceptions of beauty among Korean women; games and gaming for cognitive health; personal and professional negotiations among Latina faculty; and fostering resilience in children of incarcerated parents.

ARC scholar Alexandria Pech presents her research talk, titled “Predicting and Fostering Resilience in Children of Incarcerated Parents.” Credit: Patricia MarroquinARC scholar Alexandria Pech from Sonoma State University said she “loved that I had a whole team working to make sure I was getting everything I needed.” She said the program enabled her to improve her networking, speaking, and presentation skills, as well as make friends “who were diverse, intelligent and fun to be around.” Pech said she learned a lot about graduate school life. “I feel much stronger as I get ready to apply to Ph.D. programs in a couple of months,” she said.

Education grad student Kevin Delucio was Alex’s mentor. “As a grad mentor, it was very rewarding knowing I was able to 'pay it forward,' so to speak. Having been in Alex’s position not too long ago, I was happy to give her any tips and tricks I learned along the way, which hopefully make her feel more confident as she begins working on her applications. As a first-generation college and graduate student, it is difficult to navigate this process – and academia in general – alone. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to share my experiences with someone of similar background in efforts to increase our presence in academe.”

Kathy Espino-Pérez listens to a question after presenting her research talk, “The Effects of Diversity Statements and Primed Merit Ideologies on Judgments of Racial Discrimination.” Credit: Patricia MarroquinKathy Espino-Pérez, a first-generation Chicana doctoral student and a Sally Casanova scholar from Cal State Northridge, will begin her Ph.D. program in Social Psychology at UCSB this month. The program gave her a jump-start on her Ph.D. studies, said Kathy, who added that she was “truly surprised at how much I could learn in the seven-week program.” The workshops, Kathy said, “were incredibly valuable, because they connected us with people that both prospective and incoming doctoral students, such as myself, will definitely use as resources throughout our doctoral careers.”

“I definitely look forward to being a positive example for students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds,” Kathy said. “At my undergraduate institution, only one professor in the Psychology department was Latina and one professor was a black woman; there were no black or Latino male professors. I hope to be part of a group of strong, intelligent minorities who changes that trend. I come from a low socioeconomic background, am the first in my family to graduate from college, attain a master’s degree, and hopefully complete a Ph.D. My ultimate goal is to be able to mentor future students and conduct research that has real world implications.”

Grad student Tessa Dover mentored Kathy Espino- Pérez.Tessa Dover, a grad student in Psychological and Brain Sciences, found it fun, rewarding, and educational to mentor Kathy. “It's nice to be able to hand information down, and be able to help shape a fellow student's knowledge and approach to research. Moreover, it was just fun to hang out with Kathy and talk about ideas. Finally, it was great because it gave me a taste of mentorship that will hopefully serve me as I have my own graduate students in the future.”

ARC scholar Bianca Haro of University of San Diego studied under the mentorship of Dr. Victor Rios and grad student Sarah Rios. “I think for anyone who participates, this program becomes a huge steppingstone for his or her educational career,” Bianca said. “The staff and mentors who work to make this program possible do their job 110%. They welcome us with open arms and take the time to provide the participants with all the tools and resources UCSB has to offer.”

The university made a huge impact on Bianca. “Going to UCSB for graduate school never crossed my mind. However, after participating in this summer, UCSB is my top choice. I left with a great impression of UCSB. Everyone I met, whether staff or student, made me feel welcomed, were friendly and willing to help.”

Bianca Haro gives her presentation, titled "Second-Chance Kids: The Perceived Relationships and Emotional Resources Gang-Associated Latino Youth Receive From Teachers." Her mentor was grad student Sarah Rios. Credit: Patricia MarroquinThe experience “reinforced my desire to go to graduate school and obtain my doctoral degree,” Bianca said. “Here, I found my passion and the social justice change I want to make. Furthermore, my mentor and peer mentor made a huge impact on me as a scholar and provided me with new skills that will be beneficial to my coming school years. This program challenged me in ways I was not aware I could overcome and definitely gave me a good idea of what graduate school entails.”

Grad student Sarah Rios was a great fit as mentor to Bianca. “I got to see the challenges I went through as a first-generation college student of color happen all over again,” Sarah said. “Similar to Bianca, I had to figure out a lot on my own. I was glad to share my experiences with her and try to give her as much support as I could.”

Kathy, who explained that her research is her activism, said she wants to use the skills and training she gains as a UCSB doctoral student to “help address issues of prejudice, discrimination, and stigma that affect people in their everyday lives.”

She is appreciative of the help and support she has received from faculty and staff at Cal State Northridge, as well as the Graduate Division staff from Admissions and Outreach: Director Walter Boggan, Assistant Director Haley Orton, Coordinator Roxanna Quach, and Diversity and Outreach Peer Mario Galicia Jr. “It takes a village … to get a Ph.D.,” she said. “Thanks for the support.”

Read more about California State University’s California Pre-Doctoral Program.

And find out about last year’s ARC/Sally Casanova program in our 2012 GradPost article, “17 ARC/Sally Casanova Scholars Participate in a Successful 8-Week Summer Program.”

Nine of the 11 2013 ARC/Sally Casanova scholars are, from left, Bianca Haro, Ana Peña, Aubrie Adams, Daniel Larson, Brittney Williams, Alexandria Pech, Marisa Salinas, Claudia Vargas, and Alvaro Luna. Credit: Roxanna Quach

The complete list of 2013 ARC/Sally Casanova Scholars, their universities, and the mentors and departments they worked in this summer are:

Denise Benetatos – California State University, East Bay
California Pre-Doctoral Sally Casanova Scholar
Department of Sociology - Mentor: Dr. Denise Bielby

Alvaro Luna – California State University, Long Beach
California Pre-Doctoral Sally Casanova Scholar
Department of Comparative Literature – Mentor: Dr. Ellie Hernandez

Claudia Vargas – CUNY Hunter College
Academic Research Consortium Scholar
Department of Economics – Mentors: Dr. Peter Rupert, Jenna Stearns

Kathy Espino-Pérez – California State University, Northridge
California Pre-Doctoral Sally Casanova Scholar
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences – Mentors: Dr. Brenda Major, Tessa Dover

Bianca Haro – University of San Diego
Academic Research Consortium Scholar
Department of Sociology – Mentors: Dr. Victor Rios, Sarah Rios

Aubrie Adams – California State University, Sacramento
California Pre-Doctoral Sally Casanova Scholar
Department of Communication – Mentor: Dr. Debra Lieberman

Marisa Salinas – San Diego State University
California Pre-Doctoral Sally Casanova Scholar
Department of Sociology – Mentor: Dr. Denise Segura

Daniel Larson – California State University, Chico
California Pre-Doctoral Sally Casanova Scholar
Department of Environmental Science & Management – Mentor: Dr. Arturo Keller

Brittney Williams – University of Florida
Academic Research Consortium Scholar
Department of Education – Mentors: Dr. Jason Raley, Victoria Harvey

Ana Peña – California State University, Bakersfield
California Pre-Doctoral Sally Casanova Scholar
Department of Sociology – Mentor: Dr. George Lipsitz

Alexandria Pech – Sonoma State University
Academic Research Consortium Scholar
Department of Counseling, Clinical, & School Psychology – Mentors: Dr. Melissa Consoli, Kevin Delucio

The ARC/Sally Casanova Scholars, as well as UC-HBCU and McNair Scholars, enjoyed a beach barbecue in July. Credit: Mario Galicia Jr.The ARC/Sally Casanova, UC-HBCU, and McNair Scholars pose for photographers at a beach barbecue in July. Credit: Mario Galicia Jr.

New graduate students at UC Santa Barbara are on a path to new adventures. This group of new students met up recently for a tour of the campus. Credit: Torrey Trust

We’ll soon have 809 new people on campus. Stateside, they’re coming from Alaska and Arizona, Minnesota and Michigan, Colorado and Connecticut, Tennessee and Texas. Elsewhere across the globe, they’re traveling from Pakistan and Poland, Mexico and Mongolia, China and Chile, India and Israel. They are aspiring engineers, environmentalists, educators, fine artists, and social scientists. Some are still in their teens and others are in their mid-60s.

This diverse group of individuals is the newest crop of graduate students we are welcoming to UC Santa Barbara.

Men outnumber the women among this group, but not by much. There are 441 men and 368 women beginning their graduate studies here. Two 18-year-olds are the youngest new grad students, and the oldest is 66, proving there is no age limit to pursuing the dream of a graduate degree.

Electrical and Computer Engineering will see the highest number of new students, 116. The Teacher Education Program will welcome 80 new students, and Environmental Science and Management follows closely on its heels with 76 students. By division, the most new grad students are in Engineering (235), followed by Mathematical, Life, and Physical Science (215), and Education (121). The majority of new grad students are pursuing Ph.Ds (420). Master of Science degrees are being sought by 132; MAs, 82; Master of Education, 74; and Master of Environmental Science and Management, 73.

New UCSB grad students got acquainted recently through a speed-dating type of icebreaker activity. Credit: Torrey TrustThere are 553 U.S. citizens born in 42 states or District of Columbia; and 256 non-U.S. citizens from 29 countries. It's no surprise that among U.S. citizens, most of the new students were born in California (274). Other states of birth with high numbers of incoming students are New York, 21; Massachusetts, 19; and Texas, 16. Among non-U.S. citizens, 90 are citizens of China; 55 are from India; and 16 are from Taiwan. Also represented are Mexico, 11; Iran, 10; Canada, 10; Korea, 9; and Turkey, 6. UCSB’s grad students are truly global, with citizenship from these additional nations: Austria, Australia, Brazil, Côte d'Ivoire, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Egypt, Spain, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Israel, Jordan, Japan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Some of these new students had a chance to get acquainted recently through social activity meetups – a campus tour, a visit to the university's touch tanks, and a Happy Hour at Woodstock's.

We interviewed several new grad students and asked them to tell us what degree programs they will be pursuing, their first impressions of UCSB, and what they are looking forward to most both on campus and off. Read on to find out what we learned about them. …

Colin Stewart from Illinois is jumping for joy to be at UC Santa Barbara. "Everything about UCSB is my best-case scenario," he says.

Derek Haddad of Massachusetts won't have much need for heavy clothing now that he's in Santa Barbara. DEREK HADDAD grew up in Cambridge, Mass., and started taking Latin and Greek in high school. After graduating from Boston University with a B.A. in Classical Languages, he taught Latin in secondary education for three years. He then earned his M.A. in Classics from Tufts University. Derek is starting his Ph.D. program here in Classics with a focus in Ancient History and Historiography. His research interest is in the ancient middle and lower classes of the Roman Empire, party politics, trade, and how Greeks and other foreign subjects viewed the Roman Empire.

“Having spent my whole life in the Northeast, I am excited to be living on the West Coast,” Derek told us. “I'll try not to send too many pictures of sunny Santa Barbara this winter to friends and relatives around Boston.” 

Derek says “everyone around UCSB is as warm and friendly as the weather. I look forward to spending the next few years here, taking an interdisciplinary approach to the ancient world of the multicultural Mediterranean basin.”

AUBRIE ADAMS participated in the ARC/Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral program this summer, so she got a head-start in becoming acclimated to campus life here. (Read our Summer Research Scholar in the Spotlight article on her.) This Sacramento native earned a B.A. in Psychology from Sonoma State University; and an MA in Communication Studies from Cal State Sacramento. At UCSB, she will be pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication.

“I’m in love with UCSB!” Aubrie tells us. “All of the students, faculty, and staff I have encountered have gone above and beyond in helping to enable a smooth transition to grad school.  I’ve been impressed by the Web resources and the online ‘GradSpace: New Graduate Student Community’ in particular. This website [created and run by the Graduate Division’s Academic Peer Advisor Torrey Trust] allows new students to network with each other, watch videos, create an academic plan, join a book club, and participate in discussions. It’s a great use of technology and it has helped me to feel better connected to UCSB.”

Aubrie Adams visited Lotusland.Aubrie is excited about starting her studies here. “I am looking forward to growing academically, professionally, and socially. The faculty in the Communication department are phenomenal and I’m thrilled to work with them. UCSB has a great research reputation and I’m also looking forward to working with faculty and students from other departments to build and share knowledge between disciplines.”

For Aubrie, many extracurricular activities will center on food. “I’m a foodie and I love to cook, bake, and visit new restaurants. It’s an added bonus that many Santa Barbara restaurants promote local and organic food. I am crazy about McConnell’s Ice Cream on State Street so far! They are a local company and they have a variety of delicious flavors, including Churros con Leche, Dark Chocolate Orange, and Summer Peach, just to name a few. … So good!"

"The climate here is also amazing and great for growing plants," Aubrie said. "I’ve got my own passion fruit tree growing in a pot on my deck that has produced a number of fruits so far. Overall, I’m excited to continue to explore Santa Barbara and to learn more about events, festivals, and opportunities to try new food.” 

Colin Stewart embraces Gaucho Pride with his UCSB T-shirt.COLIN STEWART comes to UCSB from Arlington Heights, Ill. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Here he will pursue a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering.

“When I told friends back home I was going to UCSB, the first thing they said would always be, ‘It's beautiful there,’” Colin told us. “This is undeniable, but UCSB is also so much more: a community of friends, a way of life, a home.”

Colin expects that graduate school will change him, and that’s not something he fears. “When my friends ask whether they should also pursue a graduate degree, I say ‘I can't tell because I'm not you, and you're not the you you will be after a graduate program.’ At UCSB, I'm looking forward to the me I become once I'm done.”

He intends to maintain a work-life balance, and plans to enjoy “all the fun things to do with friends: hiking, kayaking, surfing, just about any sport you can dream of.”

In summing up his positive outlook, Colin says: “Everything about UCSB is my best-case scenario.”

Crystal Bae bicycled to UCSB from Washington, D.C. She's happy that downtown Santa Barbara is "an easy bike ride away."CRYSTAL BAE came to UC Santa Barbara from Washington, D.C., but she didn’t travel here the conventional way (by car, bus, plane, or train). Crystal bicycled here, part of a summer bicycle tour with her partner in which she cycled 4,651 miles, with 88 days on the road riding a daily average of 61 miles. Over the summer, the couple consumed 11 jars of peanut butter, 43 scoops of ice cream, and countless pancakes. They applied 32 ounces of sunblock and experienced four thunderstorms, all in Montana. … But we digress. For more information on her awesome adventure, read her blog. We also featured Crystal in a Graduate Student Spotlight.

Crystal, who holds a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Geography from George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, D.C., plans to pursue an M.A./Ph.D. in Geography here. “The faculty and graduate students seem receptive to interdisciplinary work,” Crystal says about UCSB, “so I expect to hear and learn a lot about collaborative research between different UCSB departments. It's also a shift being on a more traditional college campus, since GWU was nestled right into the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of D.C. and fairly integrated into the city.”

She’s excited about the new avenues and opportunities that await her. “I'm looking forward to exploring potential research ideas here with supportive faculty members who have a huge variety of focus areas, including some exciting new areas of geographic study that I'm less familiar with. I also look forward to working as a Teaching Assistant for the first time this fall.”

Crystal will be putting her bicycle to good use here. “I like that downtown Santa Barbara is an easy bike ride away, and that there's a huge range of opportunities for enjoying the outdoors around here: hiking, bird-watching, surfing, and just picnicking amongst gorgeous vistas. Getting outside is a great way to take a break from sitting at your desk all day.”

A new graduate student meetup included a campus tour and a visit to the REEF Touch Tanks. Credit: Torrey Trust

Laura UrbisciSan Jose, Calif., native LAURA URBISCI earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and Management with an emphasis in Ecology, Biodiversity, and Conservation and a minor in Spanish from UC Davis. She will pursue her Ph.D. studies at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management.  

“My general impression of UCSB has been a positive one,” says Laura, who attended the recent “New Grad Meetup” that included a campus tour and a visit to the REEF Touch Tanks. What she looks forward to most about living in the Santa Barbara area are “the delicious French pastries, hipster coffee, and the beach."

Mohit Hingorani looks forward to exploring new ideas in Media Arts at UCSB.MOHIT HINGORANI is one of the 55 new graduate students coming to UCSB from India. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in Delhi, India, and will work toward a Master of Science in Media Arts & Technology (MAT) Graduate Program here.

He described his experience thus far at UCSB as “incredible.” Mohit praised the Office of International Students and Scholars and the Graduate Division for being helpful and efficient.

Mohit is excited to start his studies here, where he looks forward to “exploring new ideas in the field of Media Arts and creating multimedia installations at MAT. I shall also be working with Dr. Pradeep Sen in the field of HDR Photography at the Mirage Lab.”

Studying amid the beauty of the Santa Barbara area is a definite plus for Mohit. “The campus is gorgeous, the beaches are magnificent, and the sunset here is amazing!” said Mohit. He plans to make time to explore the Central Coast, hike, and learn to surf and scuba-dive.

The GradPost welcomes all 809 new graduate students
to UC Santa Barbara!

New UCSB master's student Mohit Hingorani captured this lovely view of the UCSB Lagoon during the campus tour meetup.

Dr. Kohl S. Gill, left, founder of LaborVoices, meets with other executives: Chief Technology Officer Brook Williams and Victor Ciuccio, Strategic Advisor based in Washington, D.C.

When Dr. Kohl Singh Gill stood before a packed theater of UCSB Physics grad students, faculty, and others in January of this year, he explained how his career path led him from science labs to labor rights (see our February 2013 article on Gill). The 2005 Physics Ph.D. alum spoke about leaving a lucrative career in government science policy to take a chance on a startup that fueled his passion to fight for the rights of laborers, particularly in developing nations.

UCSB Physics Ph.D. alum Dr. Kohl S. Gill addressed students in a Career Day Colloquium titled “Physics, Policy, and Phones” on Jan. 29 at Broida Hall. Photo credit: Patricia MarroquinGill founded that startup, LaborVoices, in May 2010. LaborVoices collects anonymous feedback from factory workers via their mobile phones and other mobile technology on such issues as wages, treatment, and worker safety. The feedback is then sent to the companies that do business with these factories as part of their supply chains, in the hopes that companies improve conditions and workers avoid abuses.

On its website, LaborVoices says: “We're revolutionizing accountability and transparency in supply chains and labor markets, helping brands and workers immediately address important issues before they become urgent. We close the loop: guiding workers to best-in-class employers, while guiding brands to best-in-class suppliers.”

At the January colloquium, Gill expressed the hope that his small startup could gain a big contract. Earning work with a big corporation, he said, would help LaborVoices enhance its credibility in the marketplace and enable it to grow its business to offer more services to stem labor abuses.

LaborVoices earned that big break recently, when it signed a contract with retail giant Wal-Mart Stores.

The GradPost caught up with Gill to find out how LaborVoices was able to earn Wal-Mart’s business; what work it will be doing for the giant retailer; the significance of a big contract for this small startup; and more.

How did a small startup get a big corporation like Wal-Mart to do business with it? Please explain how you got Wal-Mart’s business. Was it a lengthy process?

We were persistent and focused. There is no doubt that the recent tragedies such as the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Bangladesh [more than 1,000 garment workers and others died and 2,500 were injured] also played a role. The public is very much aware of these events and increasingly wants to see something done about the working conditions of factory workers in developing countries. Consumers want to feel good about their purchases, they now see the impact that their consumption has on the global economy and supply chains, and they are increasingly holding the brands accountable and putting pressure on them to do more to avoid such tragedies. It took us several months to introduce ourselves to Wal-Mart, and several months more to close the deal. This is typical for enterprise customers of this size.

What does the work entail, and for how long?

Dr. Kohl S. GillThe recently signed one-year contract with Wal-Mart stipulates that LaborVoices will set up and operate an automated phone-based survey and information system to communicate with some of the factory workers in Wal-Mart’s 280 supplier facilities in Bangladesh. We'll gather information directly from the workers regarding the safety situation within their factories, and we'll also seek information on their overall working conditions. We'll then interpret and transmit that data in reports to appropriate Wal-Mart staff. We are starting the initial implementation in the next few weeks.
 
What does obtaining this contract mean for your startup?

It is a critical event that will allow us to deploy our technology on a much larger scale than we have done before. We expect to learn much from that experience and we'll fine-tune our service to maximize the satisfaction of all our stakeholders, particularly the workers, themselves.

Will the Wal-Mart contract help you get more contracts?

I would hope so. This contract, with such a world-class retail leader as Wal-Mart, definitely enhances our credibility in the marketplace. Now we're all focused on delivering a service that will meet or even exceed Wal-Mart’s expectations, and the expectations of our users.

LaborVoices employs another UCSB alum. Please tell us about him and how that working relationship came about.

Brook Williams was in the same entering Physics grad school class, and I ran into him a few years back in a San Francisco coffee shop. We reconnected and I found out he’d made his way into software development via his UCSB Ph.D. in String Theory [Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, 2004]; microfinance; and another startup. As our CTO [Chief Technology Officer], Brook’s been invaluable in designing and implementing our technology.

Explain the plight of factory workers in developing nations and how LaborVoices assists them.

Factory workers in the developing world are often disconnected from the supply chain ecosystems; they do not have much of a voice. They have little say on their own working conditions and they're just struggling to survive and feed their families. This is not a healthy situation for the workers, and it's not a healthy situation for the supply chains, either, because a critical feedback loop is missing. Such a feedback loop would help eliminate excesses and abuses that benefit nobody in the long term. LaborVoices is providing what has been missing all along: an early warning system based on direct feedback from factory workers.

An academic team led by President David Skorton from Cornell University will visit UC Santa Barbara on behalf of the campus's accrediting agency, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), from Oct. 8 to 10, as part of the final stage of UCSB's work toward reaccreditation. 

The campus community is invited to participate in the visit by attending one of the meetings for faculty, staff, or students listed below. The meetings are an opportunity for all members of the campus community to provide information about their experiences at UCSB to the visiting team. Students are particularly encouraged to comment on issues of academic quality and rigor, availability of student support services, and other matters related to the quality of the educational experience.

Members of the visiting team will hold open meetings with UCSB community members on Wednesday, Oct. 9, in Mosher Alumni House at the following times:

Staff: Alumni Hall, 2 to 2:45 p.m.

Undergraduate Students: Alumni House Living Room, 2 to 2:45 p.m.

Faculty: Alumni Hall, 3 to 3:45 p.m.

Graduate Students: Alumni House Living Room, 3 to 3:45 p.m.

WASC understands that not everyone who may wish to participate can attend these meetings, and it has established a confidential email account to allow faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to communicate directly with the team. The address is: wasc2ucsb@yahoo.com. The emails will not be viewed by any representative of UCSB. Only comments made before or during the visit will be considered as part of the review process.

Emails received after the visit will not be reviewed by the team. Email comments, along with other information collected and reviewed by the team, will be considered as the team develops recommendations for UCSB. However, the team will not respond to individual comments.

During the WASC visit, members of the review team will be reviewing the campus's progress on its goals for educational effectiveness. Click here for more information about the campus's initiatives in this area.

If you have questions, please contact Accreditation Liaison Officer Mary Nisbet, Dean of Undergraduate Education, College of Letters and Science; Associate Accreditation Liaison Officer Margaret Weeks, Director of Academic Program Review; or Deborah Karoff, Executive Director, Academic Senate. 

The experienced TA panel, from left, are: Scott Dirkse, Delores Mondragon, Patrick Mooney, Lumari Pardo-Rodrigues, Cynthia Flores, and Nathan Emery. Credit: Patricia Marroquin

On September 24, hundreds of new and returning graduate students filled the seats in Campbell Hall for TA orientation. Dr. Lisa Berry, an Instructional Consultant, welcomed the crowd and polled the audience about their teaching experience and confidence in their teaching abilities. Dr. Berry responded, “It looks like there’s a lot of experience, and still a lot more to learn.”

Chancellor Henry T. Yang (Credit: Patricia Marroquin)The theme of learning how to be a good teacher was prevalent throughout the general session and the workshops at TA Orientation. Chancellor Henry T. Yang shared his three tips for being a good teacher: 1) You have to be a good researcher and understand your content well, 2) You have to be a good lecturer, which means having a dialogue with students, knowing the students’ names, and making learning fun with humor, and 3) You have to be a good counselor during office hours, which requires exceptional listening skills, the ability to ask the right questions, and patience.

Equally important to the theme of learning how to be a good teacher was the theme of being knowledgeable about the campus resources and support services that can support TAs. A panel of experienced TAs emphasized the importance of knowing about the campus resources that are available to TAs and graduate students. These resources include: Instructional Development, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Office of the Ombuds, Campus Advocacy Resources and Education (CARE), Office of Equal Opportunity & Sexual Harassment, and Office of Judicial Affairs.

After a short break for refreshments, the TA orientation attendees had the opportunity to attend 2 of the 17 breakout workshop sessions, which covered a wide range of teaching topics, from “Teaching Diverse Learners” to “Creative Section Activities.”

Dr. Roger Freedman presents his 5 recommended teaching strategiesOne of the workshops was hosted by Dr. Roger Freedman, the keynote speaker for the 2012 TA orientation. I found Dr. Freedman’s exceptional teaching skills and presence as a teacher leader on campus intriguing, so I decided to attend his session, titled: “5 Teaching Strategies to Embrace and 5 to Avoid in the Physical Sciences.” Dr. Freedman’s session did not disappoint. It seemed as though we were having more fun than learning, yet I came away from the session with many new ideas about how to engage students in problem solving. Dr. Freedman started the session with a video of a TA who was asked to provide the worst possible example of how to teach problem solving. Then, the audience was asked to list all of the things the TA did wrong. Dr. Freedman seamlessly wove together the audience’s responses into a list of key teaching strategies:

• Interact with students.
• Use the blackboard as a clear record.
• Clarify changes in representation.
• Be prepared.
• Have students work in groups of three.

Dr. Freedman’s session was a great example of how to make learning interactive, fun, and effective.

Overall, the key takeaways from TA orientation were:

1. Learning to teach is an ongoing process, and
2. Know the resources that are available to support you as a teacher.

Alum Dr. Robin Fleming is one of 24 Americans to receive the 2013 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship. Photo courtesy of the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur FoundationEvery person deserves to have their story told, Robin Fleming believes. In her own life story, one chapter stands out. It was a defining moment that day on the beach at Campus Point in the late 1970s. The UCSB undergrad was studying medieval history under visiting Professor Denis Bethell at the time, and the assignment was to read a book by the famous early medieval historian and English monk known as the Venerable Bede.

“I brought my copy of the Venerable Bede to the beach,” recalled the San Francisco Bay Area native. “And I read about 8th century England. That was it – I was totally hooked. I think I’m the only early medieval historian who ever got hooked by reading Bede on the beach.” 

These days Dr. Fleming’s study space is no longer the Santa Barbara sand but rather an office at Boston College, where she has been a history professor for nearly 25 years. And that passion for medieval history she has pursued all these years has now earned the History Department Chair a prestigious $625,000 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, commonly known as a “Genius” grant. 

UCSB alum Dr. Fleming (BA, History, 1977; Ph.D., History, 1984) – whose research and teaching specialties are early medieval Britain and material culture – is one of 24 Americans recently announced as 2013 recipients of this honor, issued annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The MacArthur Foundation website states that the “no strings attached” fellowship “is a five-year grant to individuals who show exceptional creativity in their work and the prospect for still more in the future. The fellowship is designed to provide recipients with the flexibility to pursue their creative activities in the absence of specific obligations or reporting requirements. There are no limits on age or area of activity.”

Dr. Fleming joins other UCSB alums who have won the MacArthur “Genius” award, including MIT Professor Angela Belcher (BA, Creative Studies, 1991; Ph.D., Chemistry, 1997), a 2004 honoree; and the founder of Dos Pueblos High School Engineering Academy in Goleta, teacher Amir Abo-Shaeer (BS, Physics, 1996; MS, Mechanical Engineering, 1998; and M.Ed., Education, 2001), a 2010 recipient.

The MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Fellowship will allow History Professor Robin Fleming the time and freedom to pursue her research.

Because individuals can’t apply for the MacArthur grant and both the nominators and the judging committee are kept secret, the phone call to inform Dr. Fleming that she had won came as a surprise.

“I actually thought I was getting an obscene phone call,” she recalled. “Because the person said: ‘Can we speak confidentially?’” She spent the rest of the day wondering if she had imagined the episode, but when she received hard-copy confirmation of her selection the next day, she knew it was real.

At Boston College, Dr. Fleming teaches courses on late-Roman and early medieval history; the Vikings; ancient and medieval historical writing; and material culture. Her latest book, “Britain After Rome: The Fall and Rise of the Middle Ages,” takes a look at Britain in the century before and after the fall of Rome, examining how Roman ways of life, status, identity, and burial changed in the wake of the Roman economy’s collapse and the unraveling of ties to the wider Roman world.

Dr. David Marshall, the Michael Douglas Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts and Professor of English and Comparative Literature, praised UCSB’s History Department as well as the honoree.

"We take special pride in the fact that Robin Fleming has both a B.A. and a Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara,” Dean Marshall said. “The History Department is known for its attention to teaching, mentoring, and inspiring students, as well as its prize-winning scholarship. I imagine that our interdisciplinary environment, in medieval studies and beyond, also made some contribution to Professor Fleming's innovative approach and methodology. I hope that her exciting work will inspire new generations of UCSB students."

Dr. Elizabeth Digeser, Chair of UCSB’s Department of History and Professor of Roman History, said Dr. Fleming’s achievements are encouraging and inspiring to both grad students and faculty.  

“Robin Fleming received her Ph.D. from our department when we were starting to get national recognition for our graduate program in general, as well as our program in Medieval History,” Professor Digeser said. “When she took the position at Boston College, she was both an inspiration to current graduate students and a confirmation for faculty that UCSB's best students could work and teach anywhere. And now Robin's most recent research – in reaching toward material culture to explore the lived experience of ordinary people in early medieval Britain – is inspiring in a new way, for she is at the crest of a new wave in scholarship that is carrying us all forward.”

Stephanie Priest saw that spark of genius in Fleming when the two became friends as roommates for three summers in Isla Vista in the 1970s. “There was just no doubt in my mind she was pretty special back then in terms of her academic abilities,” said Priest, who was a Political Science undergrad at the time.

Priest described herself as “your basic student” and more “into the fun” of college life at UCSB, unlike her roommate Fleming. “Robin was just such a cut above everyone. And you could tell she had something about her that could be called genius or brilliance.”

Priest, who recently retired from a career in aerospace and lives in Carpinteria, said Fleming “knew what she wanted to do. She had known what she wanted to do since she was little. And, you know, some people, their careers choose them and other people get to choose their careers. And she’s one of those.”

Dr. Robin Fleming traveled to Jerash, an important Roman city in modern-day Jordan, earlier this year. Dr. Fleming said, "The survival of Roman remains in Britain is poor, so it is always interesting to compare evidence in Britain with what survives in other parts of the Roman world."Dr. Fleming chose the medieval history career path while she was at UCSB. “I was always interested in British history,” she said. “I took Latin when I was a (college) freshman as well.” She called Professor Denis Bethell, who was visiting from University College, Dublin, a “fantastic undergraduate teacher” who sparked her fascination with early medieval British history during her sophomore year. In her junior year, she studied abroad in England. Because of Professor Bethel’s influence, Dr. Fleming said, she took only medieval history classes from then on.

Dr. Fleming also praised two other UCSB professors for their advice and mentorship – Harold (Hal) Drake and C. Warren Hollister, one of the founding members of the History Department.

Professor Drake “always insisted that we be interesting,” said Dr. Fleming, referring to topics of research. He would tell his Ph.D. students that the “so what” in whatever they were studying matters a lot.

It’s not enough to gather a lot of information on a problem and then write the dissertation, she said he would tell his students. “It’s important to be engaged in some sort of historical debate or controversy and really try to answer a question that’s interesting to a lot of people,” Professor Fleming said. “And I think that’s critical for graduate students.”

It’s also vital, she added, for grad students to pick their advisors carefully. “This is really hard work and it’s important to find a person who you can apprentice yourself to and who is really going to give you a lot of attention and a lot of guidance,” she said. “Because it’s hard to learn otherwise.”  Dr. Fleming “had a famously good advisor” in the late UCSB History Professor Hollister.

Dr. Robin Fleming's research focus is material culture and early medieval history. She visited Jerash in Jordan earlier this year.Dr. Fleming said the MacArthur fellowship will afford her the time and freedom to pursue research she is passionate about.

She said there isn’t much textual evidence in the period she studies, between the fall of Rome and the early Middle Ages. “As a matter of fact, there’s a lot of it we don’t know anything about through texts,” she said in a MacArthur Foundation video interview (you can view the video below). “So instead of looking at texts, which is what historians do and are trained for, I look at material evidence, that is the evidence that’s been found by archaeologists. I’m really interested in using whatever evidence is available to tell the story of people who lived in the past.”

She intends to complete a book that she has started. “But I also hope to do some collaboration with people outside the discipline of history,” Dr. Fleming said. “I hope to co-author things with people who are not historians but who happen to be interested in the same time period I am. Because I think writing together with people of different disciplines is the way forward. And I think it will help all of us think different thoughts about the past.”

Interdisciplinary work is central to Dr. Fleming’s research, and it’s something she feels strongly about.

“I think that all of us who are active researchers can see how unsatisfactory lines between disciplines are,” said Professor Fleming. “It doesn’t matter if you are a biologist or a chemist or a physicist or a historian or an archaeologist. You can really, really feel it. It can be very difficult in universities. We’re all silo’ed in our departments and we all read our own disciplinary journals and books.”

Dr. Fleming hopes for change.  “The disciplines were determined a long time ago. The line between archaeology and history was determined a long time ago. I don’t think it works very well anymore. And I think we should work to revisit that and rethink it.”

Now that she’s got that weighty title of “Genius,” does Professor Fleming feel any pressure to produce something monumental during her MacArthur fellowship?

“I actually feel liberation,” she said. “I feel like this is an opportunity, not a challenge I have to live up to. So I feel much more optimistic and not burdened by it, but liberated by it.”

Whatever she decides to pursue, it will definitely include storytelling. “I think that everybody deserves a history,” Professor Fleming said. “And I think it’s incumbent upon historians to figure out how to tell people’s stories even if we don’t have them represented in texts.”

UC Santa Barbara is climbing ever higher in its global stature as a premier research institution. That was reinforced last week, when the British periodical Times Higher Education ranked UCSB No. 33 on a list of the world’s top 200 institutions. Its placement in the 2013-14 World University Rankings represents an increase of two places over last year.

Among universities in the U.S., UC Santa Barbara places even higher – at No. 23.

"Times Higher Education's World University Rankings are the only global rankings to judge world-class research institutions against all of their core activities," Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, said in an Office of Public Affairs and Communications news release. "So the University of California, Santa Barbara's rise up the rankings is particularly impressive, demonstrating strength right across the board on a wide range of metrics."

The core missions that were judged are teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook. Thirteen performance indicators were used across five categories – teaching, research, citation impact, industry income, and international mix – for a comprehensive comparison.

UCSB’s overall average score was 68.4. Its highest scores were in citation impact (99.4) and industry income (86.7).

UCSB ranked highly in engineering and technology; and in the physical sciences. Among the top 50 universities offering degrees in those disciplines, UCSB was listed at No. 20 in both areas.

For more information, read the Office of Public Affairs and Communications news release and the full list of the World University Rankings, which can be searched by subject, region, and other categories.

Art History alumni talk about careers (Photo Credit: Sophia Quach McCabe)The Graduate Division invites all graduate students to apply for funding to bring UCSB graduate-program alumni to campus to speak to current students about the job market, skills needed to advance successful careers, and the alumnus experience in chosen career pathways. Past funded events included career panels, day-long programs, brown-bag discussions, lectures on careers inside and outside academia, and workshops aimed at training students for entry into a range of careers.

Proposals are sought for creative activities designed to connect current graduate students with graduate alumni for conversations related to career development. Proposals must be submitted by students and should include the following information:

1. Names and departments of the graduate students who are proposal authors and lead organizers of the event
2. Names of faculty collaborators
3. Names of proposed alumni visitors, with one-paragraph synopsis about their career trajectories
4. Description of proposed activity, including estimated date and estimated number of current graduate student participants
5. Brief statement of departmental support from the Chair or Graduate Advisor
6. Budget for travel or other event costs (up to $800)
7. Other sources of funding for the event

Inquiries and requests for funding should be submitted by email to Dean Carol Genetti at graddeans@graddiv.ucsb.edu. There is no set deadline for these requests; however, requests should be made well in advance of the scheduled event. Funding is limited and will be awarded to meritorious proposals on a first-come, first-served basis. Funded events should cite Graduate Division sponsorship on advertisements or other event-related materials. A brief report on the funded activities should be submitted within two weeks of the event.

For some inspiration, read our GradPost coverage of past events:

• Art History Grad Students Host Alumni Panel
• Dr. Anne García-Romero Shares Job Search Tips for Faculty Positions

Whitney Winn, Director of Career and Professional Development, is leaving UCSB to become a teen librarian in Seattle. Credit: Patricia Marroquin

Today, the Graduate Division and the GradPost bid farewell to Whitney Winn, Director of Career and Professional Development. Whitney came to the Graduate Division in the spring of 2012 from the UCSB Office of Research. (Read our April 2012 article about Whitney joining Graduate Division.)

In the time Whitney has worked in her role as the Director of Career and Professional Development (formerly Director of Retention Services), Whitney has worked on a variety of projects. They include work to organize the inaugural Graduate Student Showcase and Grad Slam events, a redesign of the Graduate Division website, the reworking of New Graduate Student Orientation, First Friday Breakfasts, and helping to run the GradPost.

Whitney and her husband will be moving to Seattle, where she will pursue a passion by taking on the job of teen librarian for the King County Library System. While she is sad to leave all of her great colleagues and the remarkable graduate students at UCSB, she is looking forward to a new adventure in the Pacific Northwest. Best wishes, Whitney!

Gordon Morrell is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Goleta-based Yardi Systems. He earned a Ph.D. in Education from UCSB in 1976. Credit: Yardi SystemsGordon Morrell has been juggling roles for decades, going back to his days as an Education Ph.D. student at UCSB in the 1970s. At that time, in the halls outside their tiny graduate student offices in what is now the Hosford Clinic, he and several of his cohorts would take breaks from their studies and do a little three-ball juggling.

"We actually got to the point where we could pass to each other,” Morrell recalled with a laugh, adding: "It was a stress breaker; it was like a little relief." In explaining why this routine was helpful for the grad students, he said, "You have to really focus when you’re juggling. You can’t be thinking about other things. So maybe it’s just a good way to get your mind off what you’re doing."

That focus and work-life balance has served Morrell well. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and raised along with his older brother in Goshen, a small farming town north of New York City, he earned his Education Ph.D. (Counseling Psychology emphasis) in three years at UCSB. "I went straight through from kindergarten to Ph.D.," he said. "There were no breaks." He put himself through college by singing and playing guitar in such local venues as The Feed Store restaurant and bar in Santa Barbara (no longer in existence); SOhO; and Cold Spring Tavern.

Morrell’s career path would end up taking a few twists and turns. As a teenager in his hometown, he sold milk at a dairy farm and was a stable boy at the local horse racing track. After college, he was a university professor in Maine; a county director of childcare services in Santa Barbara; and the founder of a Santa Barbara educational software development company. In 1990, he joined asset and property management software solutions provider Yardi Systems in Goleta, where he has worked since, currently as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Morrell is on the management team of a company with 3,300 employees and more than 30 offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company website says Morrell “is responsible for protecting Yardi Systems' corporate and fiscal interests and maintaining operations.” But he will tell you that “maintaining operations” sometimes means getting down on hands and knees to tighten a loose foot screw or seeing that a coffee spill is cleaned up. “It’s sort of a humbling experience,” Morrell said. “But I don’t mind it. It’s just fine.”

Morrell emphasizes that as a 23-year employee of Yardi, “this is a fulfilling job for me.” He also finds his nonprofit work, both through the company and outside of it, rewarding. Yardi is actively involved in supporting nonprofit community organizations with projects related to such areas as the arts (including UCSB’s Arts & Lectures); sustainability; education for disadvantaged youths; and social services. Morrell reads proposals and works with others in the company to decide which projects to fund. “We’re very proud of the amount of nonprofit work that we do through the company,” he said. Outside of Yardi, he is proud to chair the advisory board of public radio station KCLU and work on activities for the nonprofit community foundation The Fund for Santa Barbara.

Gordon Morrell, right, served as the auctioneer for The Fund for Santa Barbara's Bread and Roses fundraiser on Oct. 12 at QAD in Summerland. With him are Geoff Green, executive director of The Fund for Santa Barbara, and Fund founder Nancy Alexander. Credit: Rochelle Rose, Noozhawk

After Gordon the graduate student earned his Ph.D. from UCSB in 1976, “I remember really missing being on the East Coast.” So he returned, figuring that his career future would be as a counseling professional or as a university professor. Little did he know then that he would end up back in Santa Barbara, not in the Education field, but as a long-serving top executive at a growing and successful global software company.

We sat down for an interview with Dr. Morrell, who shares his biggest accomplishments; how he transitioned from the education field to the computer software field; his insights for grad students entering the job market; the special distinction he held when he was a university professor; and more. Read on. …

Education and degrees

Ph.D., Education, Counseling Psychology emphasis, UC Santa Barbara, 1976
M.Ed., Counseling emphasis, University of Hartford (Connecticut), 1973
B.A., Liberal Arts, American Studies, Syracuse University (New York), 1971

How was it that you came to UCSB for graduate school?

In 1972, Ray Hosford and Jules Zimmer [later the Dean of Gevirtz School] came out to the University of Hartford to conduct a three-week summer program. Dr. Hosford asked if I would be interested in studying at UCSB. I took one look at the photo of the UCSB Lagoon and made up my mind quickly.

What was graduate school like for you? What kind of a student were you when you were at UCSB?

My recollection is that grad school was a good combination of fun and hard work. Remember that this was the mid-70s and there were lots of interesting things going on, with California and UCSB in the forefront. I was from the East Coast so all of this was new to me. I’m guessing that most of my professors (besides my committee members) couldn’t answer the question of the type of student I was. I don’t think I was stellar, nor was I going to do anyone any harm. I was in the program for less than three years, so either I was very focused, or they decided to get me out of there to make room for some real students. One thing I learned in school: how to do three-ball juggling.

Please tell us a little bit about your UCSB dissertation and research.

I was looking at correlations between diet and behavior of children. We worked with low-income populations in Santa Barbara schools where we could see what the students were eating for breakfast through the Head Start program. And we developed a measurement test to assess reactions to specific questions, as a supplement to teachers’ records, etc. Much of this is taken for granted today, but we were testing to see if high-sugar intake would have a different effect than high-protein breakfasts. Our research pretty much verified the common-sense thinking that the low-sugar breakfasts helped kids stay a little bit calmer and stay focused and they were generally doing better in school.

"I thought my future would be in the counseling profession, or at least in teaching at the university level. It’s a lesson in understanding that what you study – what you major in – might not necessarily determine your future career arc. That’s a great lesson to understand because once you get that, you become open to a whole new universe."
– Gordon Morrell,
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Yardi Systems

What was your first job out of graduate school and how did you get it? Also, how did you make that transition from Education to computer software?

I graduated in August, 1976, and left Santa Barbara shortly afterward, driving east in our ’67 VW Bus with my wife, Sheila, our dog, our cat, three rabbits, and a small ficus plant. The rabbits ate the plant along the way, but we wound up in Connecticut a week later. I took a part-time teaching job at a community college, and a month later was offered a job running the Child Development program for the city of Enfield, Connecticut. A week before that job was to start, I applied for, interviewed, and was offered my dream job: teaching at Nasson College, a small liberal arts college in Sanford, Maine. So off we went, in January, 1977, to start a new life in Maine.

Three months into that job, the professor who hired me told me that Nasson was having financial problems (it has since closed) and I should get out if I could. I applied for, interviewed, and was offered a job at the University of Maine in Gorham, teaching Human Development in the undergrad division, and Counseling in the grad school. At age 27 I was the youngest Assistant Professor at the university, and along with my California degree was also something of a novelty.

But Sheila is a 6th-generation Californian, and after a couple of blizzards, two winters, and one child later, we decided to move back to Santa Barbara. Jules Zimmer had introduced me to some people at the Office of the County Superintendent of Schools, and in July, 1979, I became their Director of Child Development Programs. This was right at the birth of the personal computer scene. I worked on trying to computerize some of our record-keeping systems, and that led to the publication of a book on how to select the right computer called "Computer-Ease" in 1982. I left the County Schools office a year later to start my own company, Santa Barbara Softworks, which developed educational software for elementary and high school students. Two of our programs (Alge-Blaster and Grammar Gremlins) were top 10 best-sellers in the country for educational software.

But the computer industry grew quickly and so did my children. In 1990 I decided to look for work with another company, and more security, and today Santa Barbara Softworks lives on only at the front of one of my old T-shirts.

Briefly describe your current job at Yardi and what it entails. What do you like most about your job and what do you like least?

I began working at Yardi Systems in March, 1990, when we had about 25 people. As the Chief Operating Officer I am responsible for the day-to-day operations of a 3,300-employee company. Here are a few things I like most:

a) I get to work with terrific people every day.

b) We are able to support nonprofit organizations all over the world.

c) My job changes from hour to hour. I might be negotiating a contract for the acquisition of another company, and an hour later might be called on to help fix an overflowing toilet. It’s all quite humbling.

And here’s what I like least: Sometimes people won’t report that overflowing toilet!

What does Yardi look for in the UCSB students it hires?

We’ve got so many different positions that open up here, so that’s a tough question to answer. I know that we have hired from Computer Science, journalism, and the Bren School, among others. We really look more at the individual and not necessarily so much at their background or what discipline they came from. Because there’s so much variety in the different types of jobs that are available here.

In what ways did UCSB, specifically your graduate education, prepare you for your career?

As a graduate student, you have to be disciplined and you have to take responsibility for the work that you do. You need to be able to communicate succinctly and clearly. These traits definitely have helped in my career. More specifically, the counseling skills I learned, being able to listen, respond, and help, are skills I use in my job every day.

Do you have any job search or job interview tips you’d like to share with our grad students? Anything you think will help a grad student stand out as a job seeker with potential employers?

Research and understand the company and the position you are seeking. Listen carefully to questions and answer honestly. Stay present and don’t worry about things far in the future.

In job interview and job application situations, what mistakes or faux pas do grad student applicants make?

Candidates can focus too much on selling themselves and not listening to the interviewer’s questions. It’s a fine line, because of course you want to impress the interviewer. But if you prepare by understanding what the company does, and what the job entails, the rest will take care of itself. Tread lightly with questions like "Is there room for advancement in the company?" This can be seen as a sign that you would not be satisfied with the position being offered, and you will be looking elsewhere.

What strengths do you think a Ph.D./M.A. student would bring to an employer?

People who graduate from Ph.D./M.A. programs have demonstrated their ability to study subjects, and to be focused and disciplined enough to follow through with the program. These are great skills for any position.

Who has been and/or is a hero, mentor, role model, or inspiration to you?

I’ve been very fortunate to be able to be with some wonderful people in and away from school and work. The inspirations can come from watching the smallest struggles to the biggest visions. The former Dean of the Graduate School of Education, Dr. Jules Zimmer, has always been an inspiration. At the University of Maine I was asked to team-teach with D.D. Moore, who continues to be a mentor. And I would not have stayed at Yardi Systems for these years without continued inspiration from Anant Yardi, who started the company in 1982.

What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment or something you are the most proud of?

Gordon Morrell was a self-described "campus radical" in his early college days. He earned a Master of Education from the University of Hartford in 1973.I was a campus radical at Syracuse in the 1960s. In those days I never saw myself as one who would "settle down" as I got older. But here I am: married to Sheila for 37 years, in the same house in Santa Barbara for 34 years, and in the same job for more than 23 years. Definitely an accomplishment. But I’m most proud of our two fantastic daughters and the fact that all of us, including our two young grandchildren (both born this year) can enjoy hanging out together. On the work front, I am very proud to participate in the nonprofit program at Yardi. We support more than 60 groups worldwide.

What’s on your bucket list of things to do that you haven’t done?

Come on ... I’m not old enough for a bucket list, am I?

What is something that very few people know about you or that would surprise people about you?

Here are a few things:

a) I chair the advisory board of the best radio station around: KCLU public radio.

b) Spent many years playing guitar and singing in bands, up to just a few years ago.

c) Was the auctioneer earlier this month for the Fund for Santa Barbara’s Bread and Roses.

d) Introduced, as Ed Sullivan, a Beatles tribute band at our recent user conference in Anaheim.

e) Have been learning to make old-school cocktails (Old Fashioneds, martinis, Manhattans, Dark 'n' Stormys, Negronis) – lots of fun when people come to visit.

f) I have been riding a Vespa to work for the last 10 years.

What do you do for fun or relaxation?

My guilty pleasure is an evening soak in our redwood hot tub, something I do a few nights a week to relax. Sheila and I have a house in Maine where we now spend a couple of months every summer. We try to get out on our kayaks a few days a week and I love to get out for long walks, listening to NPR podcasts along with the wildlife. In Santa Barbara I try to get out on my bike at least once a week.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I’m a very lucky guy. UCSB gave me a great launch into the "real" world. I thought my future would be in the counseling profession, or at least in teaching at the university level. It’s a lesson in understanding that what you study – what you major in – might not necessarily determine your future career arc. That’s a great lesson to understand because once you get that, you become open to a whole new universe.

Story by Professors David Sherman and Dave Hamilton

Joni Sasaki, who earned her Ph.D. in 2012 in Social Psychology from UCSB’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, is the 2013 recipient of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology (SESP) Dissertation Award. Sasaki is an assistant professor at the Department of Psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Joni Sasaki. Credit: Thai Chu The Society of Experimental Social Psychology (SESP) is a major scientific organization dedicated to the advancement of social psychology. Founded in the 1960s, SESP is a prestigious society that holds an annual convention, publishes two scientific journals, and recognizes outstanding achievement with several awards at its annual convention each year. Membership is by invitation only, and typically one must be five years post-Ph.D. before being eligible for consideration for membership. Currently there are more than 900 members of SESP.

In 1972 SESP instituted the Outstanding Dissertation Award to recognize one person each year whose dissertation was deemed particularly outstanding. The award carries immediate membership into the Society and the award recipient presents a talk based on the dissertation at the annual convention. The award is both competitive and prestigious, and many past recipients have gone on to become prominent scientific leaders in the field.

For her dissertation, “Religion is what individuals and societies make of it: Moderators of religion’s effects at the level of person, situation, and culture,” Dr. Sasaki was selected as the 2013 recipient of the Outstanding Dissertation Award. She received her award at the annual meeting on Sept. 28 in Berkeley, California.

Dr. Sasaki described her dissertation: “Religion may be one of the oldest forms of large-scale social interaction, and it can be found in some form across every human culture. Nevertheless, many basic questions about religion have yet to be fully answered from a psychological perspective, and furthermore, religion has commonly been understood as having monolithic effects on psychology. In my dissertation, I demonstrate that the way religion impacts people’s thoughts and behaviors are not always uniform, but rather, may be qualified by aspects of the individual or circumstance. In particular, I investigate classic topics in social psychology – coping responses and values, politics, and prosocial behavior – to show how religion can have varying impacts on these outcomes depending on key moderators at the levels of culture, situation, and the individual.”

Dr. Sasaki is the first winner in the history of the UCSB Social Psychology Program, and she noted her appreciation for the training she received: “I am very fortunate for my training at UCSB, and I can't think of a better place to have done my graduate work. The atmosphere there was great for productivity because there is a tradition of honest criticism, and the standards are very high. I think this makes for really high-quality work, and I very much appreciated all the feedback I got from faculty and fellow students over the years. At the same time, so many people there were very supportive and encouraging. I think this was also important for the success of the grad students there.”

One noteworthy point regarding this award is that Dr. Sasaki’s graduate advisor at UCSB, Dr. Heejung Kim, was the recipient of the 2002 SESP Outstanding Dissertation Award.

Dr. Joni Sasaki, left, with her graduate advisor, Dr. Heejung Kim. Credit: Taraneh Mojaverian In the 41-year history of the award, this is only the second time that both mentor and student have been recipients of this award. Dr. Sasaki described her experience with Dr. Kim: “I am especially grateful for everything I learned from working with Heejung. I initially applied to work with her because I hoped to gain expertise in cultural psychology, but I left with so much more than that. My training in her lab, integrating cultural and biological approaches, has shaped the way I address and even think about research questions. Independent of her knowledge and expertise, she is a fantastic mentor, which I believe is one of the main reasons I have been successful. She really cares about and prioritizes her grad students, and I think it shows.”

SESP Dissertation Award winners have gone on to become leaders of the field of social psychology. UCSB has two on our faculty, Dr. Kim and Professor (and chair of the department) Diane Mackie.

As to her ongoing and future research plans, Dr. Sasaki shared: “At York University, I've established the Culture and Religion Lab, and in my research, I hope to change the way religion is understood in psychology by situating it within the socio-cultural context in which it transpires and in the individual who experiences it. I also hope to continue integrating cultural and biological approaches, working toward stronger models of the process through which socio-cultural and biological factors interact and lead to psychological outcomes.”

“I am especially grateful for everything I learned from working with Dr.  Heejung Kim. I initially applied to work with her because I hoped to gain expertise in cultural psychology, but I left with so much more than that. ... Independent of her knowledge and expertise, she is a fantastic mentor, which I believe is one of the main reasons I have been successful. She really cares about and prioritizes her grad students, and I think it shows.”
--Dr. Joni Sasaki

The nine 2013 Grad Slam finalists: From left, Bob Lansdorp, Mohammad Mirzadeh, Peter Mage, Torrey Trust, Jasmin Llamas, Misty Riddle, Cyrus Dreyer, Britney Pennington, and Briana Simmons. Peter Mage, third from left, was the grand prize winner. Credit: Patricia Marroquin

The Graduate Division’s inaugural Grad Slam, a competition in which more than 80 UCSB graduate students presented three-minute talks on their research or other big ideas earlier this year, has won the 2013 Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) and Educational Testing Service (ETS) Award for Excellence and Innovation in Graduate Education.

The award encourages, recognizes, and rewards excellence and innovation in domestic and international graduate education at both the graduate school and program level. Innovations may relate to any facet of the graduate education process, including outreach, recruitment through selection and admission, retention, and degree attainment.

The Grad Slam competition was part of the spring quarter’s Graduate Student Showcase, a celebration of UCSB’s extraordinary graduate students and their remarkable accomplishments. The Graduate Student Showcase featured many opportunities for grad students to present their work to the broader campus public, and for departments across campus to celebrate and acknowledge the essential contributions of graduate students to the academic mission of UC Santa Barbara.

Graduate Division Dean Dr. Carol Genetti, who initiated the Showcase and Grad Slam earlier this year, expressed pride in the recognition.

“The Graduate Division was delighted to receive this prize,” Dean Genetti said. “The Grad Slam was a great success in profiling the phenomenal work that graduate students are doing across the campus. It is quite a challenge to encapsulate a complex idea and convey it effectively for a general audience in three minutes, but our students rose to the challenge and produced talks that were both fascinating and fun. We are looking forward to running it again this spring.”

The inaugural Grad Slam competition was won by Materials grad student Peter Mage, after nine preliminary rounds of competition. See our GradPost article on the final day of events, “Opera, Posters, AlloSphere, and 3-Minute Talks Highlight a Day of Graduate Student Showcase Events.”

The Graduate Division will accept the award, which includes a $2,500 prize, at the 56th Annual Conference of the Western Association of Graduate Schools in April 2014.

The Graduate Students Association represents all graduate students at UCSB in committees and helps make decisions about student fees and services. Read on for more about this year's Executive Committee. For more on what the GSA does, see We Love GSA.

Gary Haddow Gary Haddow

President, garyhaddow@gmail.com

Research Focus: Understanding the role of NGOs and education in the reintegration of Liberian refugees.

Program: M.A./Ph.D. in Education

Bio

I am from Cupertino, Gilroy, and all over the Bay Area. Following high school I earned a B.A. in Sociology from UCSB in 2008. In 2009, I began my graduate career in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. Over the summer I received my M.A. in Education and have just recently advanced to candidacy. This coming summer will be spent in Liberia conducting my Ph.D. research.

What do you hope to accomplish as GSA President?

My goal this year is to have GSA be more present in the daily lives and academic career of graduate students. We hope to do this through sponsoring workshops and providing resources on funding, grant writing, and building professionalization of students through speaking, writing, and conference presentation workshops. Additionally, it is our goal to not only help facilitate the year-long transition for new graduate students, but also to aid students who are finishing their graduate career and moving on to the next chapter of their lives. Finally, we are still looking at ways to improve graduate student transportation options for the entire year including summer.

As a committee we want to encourage more participation in GSA by becoming a registered departmental organization (if not already) and becoming a GSA representative for your department. Our regular General Assembly meetings are the first Tuesday of every month in the GSA Lounge from 6 to 8 p.m. Come check us out, have some food and refreshments, and learn about what's going on in the graduate community at large.

Amber Rose González

Amber Rose González

VP External Affairs, gsavpexternal@gmail.com

Research Focus: Chicana/o cultural studies, Chicana and women of color feminisms, community arts and activism, performance studies

Program: M.A./Ph.D. in Chicana and Chicano Studies with an emphasis in Feminist Studies

Bio

I received a B.A. in Ethnic and Women's Studies from Cal Poly Pomona and completed a post-graduate fellowship in California government. I enjoy researching, attending and organizing cultural events and working on my 1970 Volkswagen bug. 

What do you hope to accomplish as a GSA Executive? 

As External VP I will inform graduate students of UC-wide issues and opportunities; represent UCSB grad student concerns at the UC student association; and collaborate with grad orgs, AS and other allies to improve campus climate. I hope to get grads involved in system-wide affairs, events, and legislation. 

Emma LevineEmma Levine

VP Internal Affairs, GSAVPInternal@gmail.com

Research Focus: American classical music festivals and pedagogy.

Program: M.A./Ph.D. in Musicology

Bio

I grew up in Oak Park, California, with my parents and my younger brother. I received my bachelor's degree in music from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2010 with a concentration in piano performance. While at Cal Poly I worked at the campus's children's center and also as a private piano teacher. This is my third year in the music department at UCSB. I have been a teaching assistant for music appreciation, and I am currently a teaching assistant for the music history series.

What do you hope to accomplish as a GSA Executive? 

In addition to serving as a GSA Executive, I am also a student representative for four campus committees. It is my hope to represent my peers, make their needs heard, and ensure a constant flow of communication. Also, it is my goal to make Bagel Hour the highlight of every grad student's work week!

Dusty Hoesly Dusty Hoesly

VP Committees & Planning, gsavpcomplan.ucsb@gmail.com

Research Focus: Contemporary American Religions and Secularism

Program: Ph.D. in Religious Studies

Bio

I am from Portland, Oregon. In college I studied English, Philosophy, and Religious Studies, and then I became a middle school language arts teacher for four years. At UCSB, I research the worldviews and practices of people who self-identify as non-religious.

What do you hope to accomplish as a GSA Executive Committee member?

I hope to ensure effective and diverse graduate student representation on campus committees and to plan exciting, well-attended events for graduate students throughout the year.

Caitlin Rathe

Caitlin RatheVP Budget & Finance, gsavpbudget@gmail.com

Research Focus: 20th century US Policy, focusing on inequality

Program: M.A./Ph.D. in History  

Bio

Hey all, I'm from the Seattle area originally and did my undergrad in Econ outside Portland, Oregon. I miss the rain and gray skies! I'm beginning my third year and finally getting the swing of things in history, eventually hoping to go into policy.

What do you hope to accomplish as a GSA Executive Committee member?

I hope to smooth the reimbursement process, make sure GSA is a priority on campus, and keep getting the word out about our grant opportunities!

Marcel Brousseau

VP Academic Affairs, gsavpacademic@gmail.com

Research Focus: I examine how cartography, narrative, and infrastructure work together to produce cultural relationships in the U.S./Mexico/Indigenous borderlands.

Program: M.A./Ph.D. Comparative Literature

Bio

Marcel BrousseauThis is my sixth year at UCSB. During my time here I have been lucky to study and work in an interdisciplinary capacity in many departments: History, English, Geography, Chicano Studies, and Bren, among others. In the last year and a half, I have seen much of the administrative side of UCSB through my involvement in GSA. Now I am starting to see the light at the end of the grad school tunnel. It has been a privilege to learn so much at and about this university. I plan to stay in academia and pursue a professorial career. What I have experienced here will inspire me to fight for the rights of grad students and all students as well as for the existence of accessible and even revolutionary public education systems.

What do you hope to accomplish as a GSA Executive Committee member?

As always, the mission for me is to proselytize about the industry, rigor, and commitment of graduate students. We remain a hybrid, slightly hidden bloc in the context of university administration; we are both staff and student, mentor and mentee. Without us the University of California could not function; yet we have to fight for our rights as employees and students in a climate that has become increasingly privatized, and compromised by extra-campus corporate interests. As VP of Academic affairs, I hope to be a strong, functional grad liaison to the faculty community. They have declared their commitment to grad students; I want to help them support us in every way possible, across schools and disciplines.

Jaycee Bigham Jaycee Bigham

VP Student Affairs, gsavpstudent@gmail.com

Research Focus: Educational experiences of children of immigrants, especially those of ethnic and linguistic minority backgrounds.

Program: Ph.D. in Education

Bio

I grew up in a small town outside of Nashville, Tennessee. After completing high school, I attended Indiana University, where I received my B.A. in Anthropology and Spanish with a certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. During my junior year of college, I studied abroad in Lima, Peru. Over the course of the year, I began to realize how many positive experiences I had as a result of my educational pursuits and how others had not been as fortunate as me in navigating the systems that had granted me these opportunities. This led me to pursue an advanced degree in order to work with children of disadvantaged backgrounds, which ultimately led to my entering the M.A./Ph.D. program in Education at UCSB.

What do you hope to accomplish as a GSA Executive Committee member?

As the Vice President of Student Affairs, I hope to assist graduate students with their concerns related to health care and housing issues at UCSB and serve as an advocate on their behalf. 

Ester Trujillo Ester Trujillo

VP Communications and Records, gsavpcommunication@gmail.com

Research Focus: Ethnic and national identity construction among second-generation Salvadoran college students

Program: M.A./Ph.D. in Chicana and Chicano Studies

Bio

I grew up in East Los Angeles and received my Bachelor's degree at UCLA in Chicana and Chicano Studies with a minor in Political Science. I earned my master's degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies at UCSB. I am a Mellon-Mays Fellow and a graduate peer editor for the Union Salvadoreña de Estudiantes Universitarios (USEU) online research journal, Nueva Conciencia. I believe academic research is a privileged platform so I do my best to use it to give visibility to social inequalities and exposing the material conditions that surround a diverse array of US communities. I hope to use my degree to teach at the university level.

What do you hope to accomplish as a GSA Executive Committee member?

I'm actually stepping down from this post at the end of Fall 2013 but have thoroughly enjoyed the post for the past year and a half. As VP of Communications and Records my aim has been to provide transparency by keeping updated records of meetings and decisions made by GSA. In this post and after I step down, I hope to continue to encourage more graduate students to become involved with GSA and to take advantage of the resources available through GSA, especially funding opportunities. 

Farmer George from Ojai serves a student at the Gaucho Certified Farmers Market. Credit: Patricia Marroquin

On Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in a section of Parking Lot 23 behind the Student Resource Building, gone are the Toyotas and Hondas, the Volvos and Volkswagens. In their place are bountiful, colorful stalls showcasing strawberries, beets, corn, radishes, tomatoes, flowers, pies, jams, breads, almonds, artichokes – and even popcorn. 

Graduate Division staff members, from left, Roxanna Quach (also a Gevirtz grad student), Brenda Briseno, and Erin Ferguson select fresh veggies at the farmers market. Credit: Patricia MarroquinThe Gaucho Certified Farmers Market had its official grand opening last week, with food trucks; entertainment by the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management’s home-grown band, Brengrass; and a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Marc Fisher, senior associate vice chancellor for administrative services.

The Gaucho Certified Farmers Market was an idea born out of Gaucho U, a staff cohort-based training and development certificate program that aims to foster innovation, employee engagement, and cultural change as well as build community and develop leaders. The cohort of 12, which included the Graduate Division’s own Walter Boggan, Director of Admissions and Outreach, identified a need for a farmers market, and their plan was part of a final group project.

The market, bearing the slogan “Eat Fresh, Buy Loco,” is expected to evolve, officials say. So mark your calendars, grad students, for Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and pick up your fresh produce at your own farmers market. You can view the grand opening festivities in the video below.

For more information, visit the Gaucho Certified Farmers Market Facebook page.

Dr. Michael Young, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, chats with UCSB staff members Josh Andersen and Logan Franken at the farmers market. Credit: Patricia Marroquin

At the Bren School's Commencement ceremony in June 2013, Kirsten Tilleman was recognized with the university Athletic Department's Golden Eagle Award, which honors a group of student-athletes who have the highest grade-point averages during the year in each UCSB men’s and women’s athletic program. Credit: Patricia Marroquin

Scholar-athlete and UCSB alum Kirsten Tilleman (MESM, 2013, Bren School) has been named a finalist for a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, “the oldest and most celebrated international fellowship award in the world.”

Annually, 32 Americans are selected to continue their academic studies at England’s Oxford University as Rhodes Scholars through a highly competitive process representing the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Selection is based not only on outstanding scholarly achievements, but also on the applicants’ character, commitment to others and to the common good, and for the potential to be leaders in their careers.

“I'm honored and grateful for everyone who ever supported me and pushed me towards applying for the scholarship,” the former UCSB Women’s Basketball player told the GradPost in a written interview from her home in Portland, Oregon.

Kirsten Tilleman was honored with the Golden Eagle Ring Award, which is given to the female and male UCSB scholar-athlete with the highest GPA. Credit: The Bren SchoolWhile at UCSB from 2012 to 2013, Tilleman twice received the Golden Eagle Ring Award, which is given to the female and male UCSB scholar-athlete with the highest GPA. Her GPA during that time was 3.96. In that period, Tilleman juggled a busy academic schedule (she dual-specialized in Conservation Planning and Water Resources Management) and activities as a starter for the Gaucho women’s basketball team, finishing her NCAA eligibility in March 2013.

Tilleman first found out about the Rhodes Scholarship while pursuing her undergraduate studies at Oregon State University. “I was immediately drawn to it because of the multifaceted criteria for which Rhodes Scholars are selected: academics, athletics, character, leadership, and the desire to serve others. Since then, applying for it has been on my radar and I was thrilled to be in a position to apply this past summer.”

Among the application requirements, she said, were six to eight letters of recommendation; completion of an online application; transcripts and other supporting documents; a resume tailored to the Rhodes criteria; and a personal essay. She learned last week that she is a finalist for District 14, which encompasses the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

“I applied with the intention of pursuing a DPhil [Doctor of Philosophy] in Environmental Law at Oxford,” Tilleman said. “If chosen, I would head to England next October and start working towards candidacy. The Rhodes Trust also encourages – even expects – its scholars to travel, stay active, and continue to be well-rounded. The idea that Rhodes Scholars are diverse, engaged leaders is one of the many reasons I'm so interested in the scholarship program. Scholars get to be surrounded by incredible people every day. Excellence is contagious.” 

Kirsten, second from right, and her UCSB Bren School master's group project teamSince returning to Oregon, Tilleman has worked to build her local network to get familiar with environmental work in the area and to meet local professionals. She has attended networking events such as Green Drinks, volunteering as a Stream Team Captain for SOLVE Oregon, helping to lead riparian restoration events in the area; participating in start-up workshops in support of a project that stems from a Bren new ventures course (GearedUP Outdoors); and assisting with fund-raising and awareness efforts for the preservation of a local Oak Savanna. Recently, she took a short-term contract position as Ecosystem Service Specialist with Willamette Partnership to help with its water quality trading program and various other projects.

“I've been keeping myself busy with a variety of projects and have met many kind, interesting people doing good things along the way,” she said.

Tilleman credits UCSB for helping to prepare her for what lies ahead. “This experience is an extension of my time as a UCSB graduate student, where I was continually challenged and inspired by some of the world's best and brightest. The Bren program trains not just environmental scientists and managers, but also well-rounded individuals set up to tackle the world's challenges with creative, resilient solutions. Life as a UCSB grad student at the Bren School has prepared me well for this process and, if chosen, equally well for becoming a Rhodes Scholar.”

Kirsten Tilleman dual-specialized in Conservation Planning and Water Resources Management while at Bren.She will undergo interviews during the weekend of Nov. 22-23 in Seattle. The selection committee will announce the male and female recipients at the end of the weekend.

Should she be selected as a Rhodes Scholar, Tilleman will join a diverse and distinguished group of past winners, including: Byron White and David Souter, Associate Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court; CIA Director Stansfield Turner; U.S. Senators Richard Lugar, Paul Sarbanes, and Cory Booker; singer-songwriter-actor Kris Kristofferson; NBA star and U.S. Senator Bill Bradley; U.S. Army General Wesley Clark; U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich; U.S. President Bill Clinton; USC quarterback and athletic director and L.A. Rams player Pat Haden; “Good Morning America” host and Clinton communications director George Stephanopoulos; National Security Advisor Susan Rice; Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; and MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.

For previous coverage on Tilleman, read our GradPost Graduate Student in the Spotlight feature; “A Day in the Life of Kirsten Tilleman” in the Daily Nexus; our GradPost article about Bren’s 2013 Commencement, at which Tilleman was recognized; a “Faces of the NCAA” article, “The active conservationist,” on the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s website; a Bren School article, “Tilleman Named Tournament MVP as Gauchos Win Big West Tourney”; and the UCSB Gaucho Athletics video, “A Great Example: Kirsten Tilleman.”

Congratulations and good luck to Kirsten Tilleman!

"The Bren program trains not just environmental scientists and managers, but also well-rounded individuals set up to tackle the world's challenges with creative, resilient solutions. Life as a UCSB grad student at the Bren School has prepared me well for this process and, if chosen, equally well for becoming a Rhodes Scholar." -Kirsten Tilleman

Many rankings have placed UC Santa Barbara as among the best universities in the nation and the world for excellence in education to students, such as the Leiden Ranking, U.S. News & World Report, and Times Higher Education. Now comes word that UCSB has been recognized as one of the best university employers in the country. Glassdoor, a jobs and career community that offers an inside look at companies through postings by employees and others, has announced its Top 25 Universities to Work For (2013), and UCSB takes the No. 23 spot.

Grad students Lois Harmon, left, and Haley Orton led groups of new students on tours of the campus for New Graduate Student Orientation in September 2013. Haley is Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions for the Graduate Division. Credit: Patricia MarroquinThe universities were rated by the employees themselves. The employee respondents evaluated their university employers on such diverse factors and situations as: a healthy work-life balance; a stimulating environment; opportunities to collaborate; engaged staff members who are proud of their university’s environment and reputation; a strong focus on professional development; ability to attract talented staff; high integrity work policy; a great culture; feeling valued by administrators; research opportunities; attractiveness of the campus; and great location.

The top five universities are, in order: Texas Tech University; Carnegie Mellon University; Brigham Young University; the University of Texas at Austin; and Iowa State University. UCSB joined other prestigious research universities on the list, including MIT, Stanford, Cornell, Yale, Rice, and Caltech. UC Santa Barbara was the only UC to make the Top 25 list.

Being a UCSB grad student and a full-time career staff member is a unique situation. We asked four current grad students and two grad alums what it has been like to be employed at UCSB while simultaneously pursuing a graduate degree.

***

Haley Orton, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions in the Graduate Division, is a Gevirtz Ph.D. student who is defending her dissertation today. Haley has been employed for the past five years in two departments on campus: the Writing Program and now the Graduate Division, while pursuing her M.A. and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Organization.

“I am so grateful that my supervisor at my first job in the Writing Program agreed to let me pursue a higher degree and my subsequent supervisors allowed me the flexibility to finish that degree,” Haley said. “I have been able to apply what I’ve learned as a graduate student to my career and, similarly, I am lucky to have firsthand experiences in higher education to share with my peers in the classroom. My dissertation research was conducted entirely on campus and even now that I am not taking any coursework for my graduate degree I am auditing a course to improve my writing and update my desk manual in the Graduate Division.”

Katya Armistead, second from right, earned her doctoral degree from UCSB in 2012. Shalauna Miller, third from right, walked with her Ed.D. cohort and is currently ABD. Credit: Patricia MarroquinTaking on the dual roles of student and employee has its challenges, Haley concedes. “Being a full-time employee and graduate student is not easy but it has been incredibly rewarding. I feel that if I wanted to continue my research in the future I would be able to collaborate with the students, faculty, and staff at UCSB,” she says.

***

Katya Armistead, Associate Dean of Student Life and Activities in the Office of Student Life, began her career at UCSB in 1990 after graduating from UCSB in 1988 with an undergraduate degree in Sociology. Her first job was as an administrative assistant in the Office of Admissions. “I was hungry to learn everything I could about the admissions process and how I could work directly with prospective students to help them decide if UCSB was the place for them,” Katya said.

Three years later, she moved from the processing side of the office to the outreach side, where she led a program for first-generation, low-income students from the Los Angeles area. She was one of the first staff members to open the Visitor Center in SAASB, and was a member of the Admissions staff for 17 years in such roles as campus visitor coordinator and director of the Visitor Center. “I moved to the Office of Student Life in 2007 to assume the position of assistant dean, and became an associate dean and director of the Office of Student Life last year.”

Katya, who earned her Ph.D. in 2012, says she loves working at UCSB.

“The opportunities that have been afforded to me as a staff member have allowed me to grow, learn, thrive, and contribute to the development of students as well as staff, as a staff member within the division of Student Affairs," Katya says. "Networking across campus, participating in a variety of committees, and being able to pursue and complete a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership have been just some of the many perks that I have been able to take advantage of as a staff member. I am reminded every day of how fortunate I am to pursue my passion of life-long learning and to be able to enjoy a career of providing service to students.”

***

Micaela Morgan is a first-year Gevirtz student.Micaela Morgan has worked at UCSB for more than three years. She is the Program Coordinator for the UCSB McNair Scholars Program while also pursuing a Ph.D. in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education.

She’s a first-year student with a research focus on Policy, Leadership, and Research Methods, with an expected graduation date of Spring 2017.

Micaela is a UCSB alum, holding a master’s degree in Chemistry as well as a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz.

“UCSB, and especially the program I work for, values higher education, which is evident by their giving staff members a flexible schedule and partial tuition remission," Micaela says. "I have always loved research and working with students; UCSB allows me to have the best of both worlds.”

***

Monique Limon is a first-year grad student.Monique Limón has been working at UC Santa Barbara for more than seven years, currently as the Assistant Director of the UCSB McNair Scholars Program.

She’s a first-year Ph.D. student in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, with a research focus on Policy, Leadership, and Research Methods.

"My ability to pursue a doctorate at UCSB is in part attributed to the supportive, flexible, and encouraging environment in our office,” Monique says. “I appreciate the value that is placed on pursuing an advanced degree and hope to model that for our undergraduate scholars."

***

Shalauna Miller has worked at UCSB for 11 years. She is ABD in the Educational Leadership program.Shalauna Miller came to work at UCSB in 2002 fresh out of grad school in the Midwest, where she had earned an M.S. in College Student Counseling and Personnel Administration from Kansas State University. Today she is Associate Director of Orientation Programs and Parent Services at UCSB while in her 5th year (ABD) in the Educational Leadership program, anticipating completion in June 2014.

“I was drawn to campus because of the location and the people I had met throughout the interview process,” Shalauna says. “Never did I imagine that Santa Barbara and UCSB would be the place I would call home. I’ve stayed here because of the amazing colleagues that I’ve had the fortune of working and collaborating with, the opportunities to challenge myself professionally and personally, and the students who inspire me to work hard and find time to take advantage of all that this community has to offer.”

***

Donna Coyne is the Associate Director of Admissions at UCSB and the Staff Advisor to the Regents – Designate. Donna, who joined UCSB in 1997, oversees several units supporting the evaluation and selection of more than 76,000 applications annually, as well as services to current undergraduate students. 

Donna holds three degrees from UCSB: a B.A. in History (1996); an M.A. in Educational Leadership and Organizations (2006); and a Ph.D. in Education (2010).

Donna Coyne earned three degrees at UCSB. She is the university's Associate Director of Admissions.In her 16 years in Admissions, she has served as Admission Counselor, Comprehensive Review Coordinator, and Business Officer prior to her current position. Over the years, she has worked with many staff organizations and served on a number of committees, including chairing the Chancellor’s Staff Advisory Council (CSAC).

“Beyond its excellent academic reputation, UC Santa Barbara provides excellent growth opportunities for staff,” said Donna. “I not only was able to work while attending graduate school, I have had the opportunity to participate in multiple professional development programs, serve on campus committees and boards, and learn leadership skills from fantastic people. I have been encouraged to innovate beyond the scope of my job, look for better ways and to see the big picture while serving the individual student. The staff at UCSB are so dedicated with a strong work ethic not commonly seen!"

For more information on the Glassdoor university employer rankings, read the Glassdoor article and a column on Forbes.com.

UC Santa Barbara's new website, The Current.

The UC Santa Barbara Office of Public Affairs & Communications (OPAC) has launched The Current, a new website that highlights stories from throughout the campus. It’s a site about UCSB and for students, staff, faculty, alumni, parents, prospective students, and the public at large.  

“The Current will combine in-depth reporting on UCSB research and discoveries; profiles of faculty, staff, students, and alumni; coverage of campus events; and important campus announcements,” John Longbrake, Associate Vice Chancellor, Public Affairs & Communications, and George Foulsham, Director of News and Media Relations in OPAC, said in an announcement to the campus community.

The site, they said, "will enable the University to bring even greater attention to the important work of our faculty, researchers, staff, students, and alumni, and shine an even brighter light on the intellectual power of UC Santa Barbara."

The Current officially launched today, Nov. 20, with a special package of stories and videos commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas.

In “The Kennedy Presidency: What Was and What Might Have Been,” Andrea Estrada interviews UC Santa Barbara scholars, who examine President Kennedy’s accomplishments and the work left undone.  In the “Remembering JFK” videos in the sidebar, scholars including Michael Young, Nelson Lichtenstein, Pierre Wiltzius, Eileen Borris, Gene Lucas, George Lipsitz, Jane Close Conoley, Maria Herrera Sobek, and Alan Heeger recall where they were and how they felt on that historic day 50 years ago.

In “Gettysburg Address: 150 Years Later,” videographer Spencer Bruttig records UC Santa Barbara students reciting one of the most famous speeches ever delivered by an American president, President Abraham Lincoln.

For more information about The Current, read the email to the campus community below.

November 20, 2013

To: Campus Community

Re: UC Santa Barbara Launches News Site

Dear Colleagues and Friends:

Today, the University is launching The UC Santa Barbara Current, a new Web site designed to share the important stories from our campus with our community, alumni, peer institutions, prospective students, and the general public, both domestic and international.

This news site (http://www.news.ucsb.edu) will enable the University to bring even greater attention to the important work of our faculty, researchers, staff, students and alumni, and shine an even brighter light on the intellectual power of UC Santa Barbara.

Featuring all the elements of the former UCSB Today and 93106, The Current will combine in-depth reporting on UCSB research and discoveries; profiles of faculty, staff, students and alumni; coverage of campus events; and important campus announcements.

In addition to presenting articles by writers in the Office of Public Affairs and Communications, The Current will promote links to sites across campus highlighting events and news posted by the University’s schools, centers and departments. It will also include headlines from the local news media  — Noozhawk and The Independent — so readers can keep up with what is happening off-campus.

UC Santa Barbara students recite the Gettysburg Address in this video.To include student voices, we are experimenting with an undergraduate blog and will also be integrating social media channels to allow readers to experience more of the UC Santa Barbara community. In addition, the site will make greater use of video, photography, and infographics.

We expect The Current to be in a continual state of evolution and are already working on the next steps. The site will be fully integrated with the events and ticketing calendar currently being developed as part of the Operational Effectiveness Initiative. We are also in the process of developing what we hope will become a daily email that will bring a digest of the top news stories, athletic scores, events and campus announcements directly to you each morning.

Development of the site was a collaboration between the Office of Public Affairs & Communications, the College of Engineering, the Marine Science Institute’s Ocean o’ Graphics, and the Office of Development, with additional feedback from communication offices across the University.

We hope The Current will become your favorite site for news about the University and the campus community. We also hope you will share your thoughts about the site so we can continue to make improvements.

We look forward to hearing from you and reading about you.

John Longbrake
Associate Vice Chancellor,
Public Affairs & Communications

George Foulsham
Director of News and Media Relations
Office of Public Affairs & Communications