DSAS Annual Impact Report 2023-24

2023-2024

IMPACT REPORT

Division of Student Affairs and Success

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D S A S A N N U A L R E P O RT R E V I E W | A B O U T THE CONTENTS 3

LETTER FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR

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ABOUT DSAS

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DIVISIONAL OFFICE

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COLLEGES, HOUSING & EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

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STUDENT HEALTH & WELLNESS

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STUDENT DEVELOPMENT & ENGAGEMENT

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STUDENT SUCCESS & EQUITY

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CELEBRATIONS

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ONLINE GIVING

A L E T T E R F R O M T H E V I C E C H A N C E L LO R I am delighted to present the 2023-2024 Division of Student Affairs and Success annual report. This past year was one of significant milestones and continued progress, marked by our unparalleled commitment to enhancing the UC Santa Cruz student experience.

Among our most notable achievements, we celebrated the opening of the Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall, providing a vibrant new space for our students to connect and dine. The completion of Kresge Phase 1 brought three new residence halls into operation, further expanding our capacity to offer high-quality living spaces for our students. Additionally, we proudly adopted the Okanagan Charter, solidifying our commitment to becoming a health-promoting campus that prioritizes the well-being of our entire community.

Throughout this past year, we also continued advancing our divisional strategic plan. Our strategic plan planning team culled through 1000-plus pieces of divisional feedback to identify 12 key initiatives that will chart our course for the next three to five years. In May, we launched our first major initiative: operational excellence. This initiative is setting the foundation for more streamlined and effective practices across our division, ensuring that we are not only meeting the current needs of our students but also anticipating and preparing for future challenges. By prioritizing these initiatives, we are enhancing our capacity to support every student’s journey at UC Santa Cruz, helping them thrive in an environment built for their success.

This year also brought its share of challenges – as it did for many campuses across the nation. Despite the many challenges we faced, the strength and adaptability of our team remained constant. I am deeply grateful for the incredible efforts of our staff, who continued to prioritize student success despite these obstacles.

Their resilience and commitment have been the cornerstone of our achievements, enabling us to navigate the complexities of this year while staying true to our mission to support and empower our students.

This report highlights our division’s profound impact on the student experience. As you explore its pages, I hope you gain a deeper understanding of our accomplishments, the challenges we’ve surmounted, and the passion that fuels our work.

INSIDE

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Our future is full of promise

I am eager to see the successes we will create together in the years ahead.

- Akirah Bradley-Armstrong

Dr. Akirah Bradley-Armstrong, Vice Chancellor UCSC

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about our division

WHAT’S

The UC Santa Cruz Division of Student Affairs and Success The UC Santa Cruz Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS), led by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success, consists of nearly 700 professional staff and over 1,700 student staff, spanning 5 major units. Deeply devoted to offering students a transformational educational experience, our division provides campus-wide coordination and leadership of student success programs, activities, and initiatives. We encourage students’ development through a number of resources, services, and systems dedicated to providing direct student support.

The entirety of our work is grounded in educational equity, institutional responsibility, and an unfettered commitment to supporting the whole student. Guided by data and assessment, we aspire to ensure every student feels welcome, supported, and a sense of belonging during their time on campus. Our efforts are informed by robust and dynamic relationships with campus leadership, faculty, students, and staff from across the campus, reflecting the broad campus commitment to ensuring student success. Beyond UC Santa Cruz, our team is involved in numerous professional organizations and highly engaged in the local community.

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We aspire to ensure every student feels welcome, supported, and a sense of belonging during their time on campus.

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PRIORITIES Our Division’s North Star STUDENT-CENTERED DECISION-MAKING

Students are the reason for our work. Supporting their success is paramount to the programs we offer, the events we host, the resources we share, and the initiatives we lead. Student-centered decision making does not yield to students’ wants, preferences, and comforts at all turns. Rather, it securely roots itself in the vast understanding of student development and, when necessary, challenges and supports students as they journey through the uncomfortable and uncertain. If an existing program, initiative, or resource is not student-centered, it must be thoroughly evaluated and redesigned to ensure students’ best interests are at the heart of its mission or purpose. Student well-being and development will be at the core of all our decisions.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION As we strive to uphold UC Santa Cruz’s Principles of Community, our division commits to pushing the boundaries of equity and justice in all the little and big ways. We will be fierce advocates for marginalized students and will champion access to equitable UCSC experiences for all. We will evaluate and assess our systems, processes, and programs to break down barriers that may otherwise exclude student engagement. We will maintain a critical and discerning lookout for injustice on campus, in the Santa Cruz community, and around the world beyond. Where we witness injustice, we will interrupt, intervene, and insist on change. We will use our power–and our positions–to curtail the perils of prejudice.

INNOVATION Our capacity to support students is strengthened by our curiosity for what could be and our courage to pursue possibilities through new and innovative approaches to our work. Motivated by the vast potential of tomorrow, we are committed to overcoming the limits of today. We recognize failure is part of this journey and welcome its many teachings and opportunities for growth. Undeterred, we resolve to try, try again, and try anew. Compelled by the transformative potential of our work, we are ambassadors for change and visionaries of possibility. By acting boldly and thinking creatively, we will lead the division–and our campus–into the future.

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about our division

ABOUT (DSAS)

OUR THREE

DSAS

Leading the Change During the 2022-2023 academic year, UC Santa Cruz began developing a new strategic plan, “Leading the Change,” to align with the university’s goals of enhancing student success, expanding research impact, fostering inclusivity, and improving operational efficiency. The Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS) is key to implementing these goals, focusing on improving retention and graduation through academic and student support programs.

DSAS is committed to ensuring equal student outcomes, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, income, or first-generation status, by promoting practices that eliminate equity gaps.

This commitment is exemplified by the Empowering Scholars Program, a collaboration between DSAS departments and Aspira Consulting, led by Oscar Garcia. The program, with 41 participants, empowers first-generation and underserved students to leverage their cultural backgrounds for career success through a transformative, five-session experience. Another example of the division’s commitment to support the campus strategic plan is demonstrated through the creation and evolution of the DSAS Strategic Plan.

Our Strategic Plan Efforts to develop a divisional strategic plan continued through the 2023-2024 academic year. During our August kickoff, we came together and collectively identified over 1000 points of feedback about our division. By reframing each point of feedback as a problem statement, we used empathy to help define the critical issues before us. Our strategic plan planning team spent hours reviewing every critical issue to determine the 12 key initiatives that will center our division’s work for the next three to five years. This process also resulted in the creation of a new divisional MISSION STATEMENT:

Embracing operational excellence: In May, Vice Chancellor BradleyArmstrong announced the launch of the division’s first strategic plan initiative: operational excellence. Operational excellence beckons us to optimize our work by maximizing efficiencies and eliminating redundancies. It requires us to critically examine our current processes and practices through a lens of perpetual commitment to maximum improvement. It requires us to be introspective about our daily operations and commit to necessary changes for future growth.

Operational excellence encourages us to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and infuse innovation and creativity into all we do. More than anything, operational excellence is an opportunity. It is an opportunity to be clear in our purpose, absolute in our mission, and unwavering in our efforts to advance student success. Embracing operational excellence is essential to actualizing our strategic plan.

It will be the foundation upon which everything else is built.

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about our division

“We cultivate an equity-centered environment that fosters scholars and change agents.”

PRIORITIES IN ACTION

Program Spotlights

SASSY Priority Award Winners Equity Champion: Ana Martin

Project Coordinator, Learning Support Services

Ana actively works to reduce barriers and advocates for additional features to ensure students can easily access our services. She always prioritizes students, dedicating extensive time each quarter to testing system features, shadowing students, and setting up staff schedules in preparation for enrollment. This dedication has resulted in a 30% increase in tutoring service usage. Additionally, Ana developed a Peer Success Coaching program that trains firstgeneration student coaches, utilizing a strengths-based approach to supporting student success. Ana consistently applies an equity lens to all their work, including recruiting and training tutors, and providing critical feedback with compassion and firmness.

Innovation Award: Budget and Financial Team Kyle Kaneshiro, Amy Chavez, Carolyn Speers, Cindy Zamora-Alvarez Our Innovation Award winners led the way in innovating the capture and tracking of business and financial requests across several units in the division. Initially, various CHES departments used different Excel sheets, emails, and Google forms to manage agreements and requests without a unified database. They learned new forms and project management tools, collaborating with the rest of the Budget and Financial Management team and others to create a comprehensive solution. This effort resulted in

Equity & Inclusion: Men of Color Healing Association expands services and outreach

The Men of Color Healing Association

(MOCHA), formerly known as the Black

Men’s Initiative, expanded to include all men of color in 2023-2024 and moved under the Office of ABC Student Success. The program hosted its annual Blazer Ceremony, celebrating approximately 30 students who completed the program by attending all workshops and mentor meetups. Mentors in the program are required to recruit mentees, hold guided conversations, and attend wellness seminars on topics like positive masculinity and social issues. Mentees benefit from meeting with Academic Achievement counselors, attending wellness seminars, and gaining EOP status, along with guaranteed access to the Textbook Assistance Program.

Innovation: DSAS hosts first ever student Ideathon In May, DSAS hosted the first ever student Ideathon, a short, intensive, startup-like experience for students to develop solutions to address the most pressing issues that they face.

After receiving initial instruction on student development theory and the DSAS organization, the participants worked on developing ideas and solutions over the course of two days. The teams pitched their ideas to a group of judges, who provided feedback. The top finishing team, who proposed an app to help students connect with the offcampus housing market, is now working with our housing and community rental teams to pursue implementation.

the creation of a new form and tracker, consolidating all divisional requests, including sponsorships, events, and position management, into one efficient system. This innovation streamlined our processes, eliminating duplicate files and emails. Their leadership brought innovation, efficiency, and effectiveness to our division!

Assistant Director, Educational Opportunity Programs

Improving off-campus housing resources Improving off-campus housing resources to be more student-centered, the housing application period and room selection process were shifted six weeks earlier.

This change allowed students to know sooner if they’ve secured on-campus housing or if they need to consider

Jen demonstrates a remarkable dedication to advancing disability justice which makes her an exceptional nominee for the ‘Student-Centered Decision-Maker’ award. Her tireless

off-campus options. To support this transition, the Student Housing Services team hosted two Off-campus Housing Resource

advocacy for digital accessibility, in collaboration with the Access4All team and key campus stakeholders,

Fairs and sixteen pop-up tabling sessions. The fairs connected students with landlords, property managers, and community

underscores her commitment to equitable access. Her support for staff within the Disability Resource Center (DRC) demonstrates unwavering dedication to fostering an inclusive learning environment. Over the past year, Jen’s leadership in

organizations, while the pop-up sessions provided convenient, on-the-spot assistance. These initiatives significantly increased awareness of housing resources, helping students make informed decisions about their living arrangements.

establishing the Testing Center has transformed accommodated exam administration, empowering students to showcase their 8

knowledge on an equal basis. Her impactful contributions truly embody the essence of student-centered decision-making.

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priorities in action

Student-Centered Decision-Maker: Jennifer Rogerson Jennings

Student-Centered Decision-Making:

DIVISIONAL OFFICE 2023-2024 Highlights

61,151 APPOINTMENTS

allows us to more efficiently and effectively build systems that validate students’ experiences and break down silos by connecting students to experts and aligning systems of support.

SCHEDULED

MESSAGES

SENT

90,881 Hosted out of the Student Affairs and Success divisional office, Slugcast is the official UCSC podcast. Slugcasters are made up of undergraduate and graduate students who are passionate about life as a banana slug. From news to engaging stories, Slugcast is a way for students to learn more about campus resources, services, and student stories no matter where they are.

SLUGCAST HAS RECORDED

Available wherever you listen to podcasts

30,761

DOWNLOADS TO DATE

Throughout the year, DSAS offered team members 22 professional development workshops including sessions about Free/Contested Speech to Crisis Intervention, De-Escalation and Effective Communication Skills, and the second annual DSAS Symposium. In March, the division gathered for the second annual DSAS Symposium. The eventured a keynote address by Nada Miljkovic who spoke about the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset. After the keynote address, team members were able to attend a variety of breakout sessions on topics including the UC Multi-Year Compact, The Okanagan Charter, Capital Planning, Capital Campaign and Fundraising Overview, and Campus Budget Update.

Team members attended these workshops for a total of 1,918 professional development hours.

Quarterly Lunches The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success hosted quarterly lunches with students, providing a relaxed and open setting for meaningful conversations. These lunches offered students a unique opportunity to share their experiences, voice concerns, and discuss ideas directly with Vice Chancellor Bradley-Armstrong. The gatherings foster a sense of community and ensure that student voices are heard and valued in shaping campus life. This year, over 30 students participated in these lunch gatherings.

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section our unitsthree

Slug Success, our student success management system,

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“

Being one of the only students in a space was

daunting at first but now I know I can do it.

This job gave me the opportunity to practice and hone my skills.

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Welcome Week 2023 DSAS WELCOMED NEWEST BANANA SLUGS THROUGH SERIES OF CAMPUS WIDE EVENTS UCSC celebrated the start of the fall quarter with an energetic Welcome Week, led by the division of student affairs and success. Highlights included Laser Tag at the Stevenson Event Center, the Cornucopia resource fair, and the traditional Boardwalk Frolic. New activities featured a class photo on East Field and the Student Success and Equity fair. The week ended with a movie night at Quarry Amphitheater. The events fostered connections among students, with high attendance and enthusiasm, setting a vibrant tone for the new academic year.

Maddie Lee Maddie is originally from Walnut, California and graduated from UCSC in June 2024 with a BA in Legal Studies. Maddie’s senior year was highlighted by making as many memories as possible with her friends and in the workplace. During her time with the divisional office, Maddie engaged in research projects related to the Student Fee Advisory Committee and the divisional strategic plan and served on the CHES AVC search committee, the Strategic Plan Task Force, and the SASSYs selection committee.

Over 1,000 students participated in the inaugural class picture 6,833 students moved into campus housing in a five day period 33,582 meals served in the dining halls 4,551 students enjoyed dinner at Cornucopia on the East Field 7,000 tickets issued for the Boardwalk Frolic

Maddie reflects on her experience working in DSAS: “Working learning in my academic classes. We are a research university and you need to have facts behind your statements.”

Maddie is taking a myriad of skills from her time working in DSAS, including speaking more confidently in front of people and working with professionals.

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DSAS LAUNCHED WEBINAR SERIES TO CONNECT FAMILIES WITH CAMPUS RESOURCES In December 2023, the Division of Student Affairs and Success launched a Virtual Coffee Hour series for parents and families. The series was designed to foster connection, share insights, and provide valuable resources to enhance the support offered to students. The 2023-2024 schedule featured presentations and conversations with professionals from Student Health and Wellness, Residence Life and Housing, Financial Aid, and Career Success.

697 TOTAL PEOPLE

attended the four sessions

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on data projects helped me use all of the skills that I was

COLLEGES, HOUSING AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES Departments Housing Services

College Student Life (CSL)

- Affiliated Residential Community Housing (ARCH)

Dining Services

- Residential Community Service Program (RCSP) - Conference Services - Early Education Services (EES) - Facilities

2023-2024 Highlights CAMPUS CELEBRATES OPENING OF THREE NEW RESIDENCE HALLS On September 27, campus celebrated completion of the first phase of the Kresge Renewal Project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremony gave way to opening doors to the campus’ three newest residence halls, providing beds to over 400 students. The new residence halls feature open spaces and lounges designed to foster connection and collaboration among students. Future phases of the Kresge Renewal Project will bring even greater housing capacity to campus.

13,904 work orders completed by facilities 561 College Student Life sponsored programs 14

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9,438

housing capacity 18 dining locations

Student leader champions Stevenson’s first-ever welcome murals Psi Padhya, a Stevenson student leader, Resident Assistant, and Stevenson Student Council DEI Officer, led an initiative to create Stevenson College’s first-ever welcome mural. Psi diligently gathered input from students, alumni, faculty, and staff. After proposing the project and collecting feedback, Psi collaborated with college leadership and local muralists Taylor Reinhold, Erika Rosendale, and Sadie Reinhold to bring this vision to life. The mural now proudly adorns the entrance to Stevenson College, showcasing the collective effort and creativity of the community.

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our units

Capital Planning

STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS Akira’s Path Departments

Health Services to Graduation

Campus Mobile Crisis Team (CMCT)

Services in August 2021. Initially starting

Center for Advocacy, Resources & Empowerment (CARE)

motivated by a personal commitment to

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Akira, a first-generation college student, began working at UCSC’s Student Health as a COVID-19 Kiosk Attendant, she was campus safety and her experience caring for an immunocompromised family member.

Medical Clinic

In March 2023, Akira transitioned to the role

Pharmacy

combined her interests in healthcare and design

Student Health Outreach & Promotion (SHOP)

and website accessibility. Akira graduated in June

of Student Digital Media Assistant, where she to contribute to student health communication 2024 with a Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) in Legal Studies and Politics. As a Legal Studies and Politics graduate, she valued the intersectionality and inclusiveness of Student

2023-2024 Highlights 22,409 Primary Care Visits 17,069 CAPS Visits

Health Services, believing that a healthy mind and body are essential for academic and personal success.

...she valued the intersectionality and inclusiveness of Student Health Services...

34,192 Labs completed

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STUDENT HEALTH CENTER EARNS AAAHC ACCREDITATION In spring 2024, our Student Health Center proudly achieved accreditation through the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), reflecting our commitment to providing high-quality care and services to our students. This recognition underscores our dedication to meeting rigorous standards in healthcare, ensuring that our students receive the best possible support for their physical and mental well-being. The accreditation is a testament to the hard work and professionalism of our entire team, who are deeply invested in the health and success of our student community.

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our units

7,658 Referrals

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT & ENGAGEMENT/ DEAN OF STUDENTS Departments Basic Needs

SOMeCA

Dean of Students Office

- Student Organization Advising and Resources

KZSC Radio

- Student Media

Quarry Amphitheater

- Cultural Arts & Diversity

Slug Support

- Student Union Assembly (SUA)

Student Conduct and Conflict Education

Slug Life Productions Board brings Banana Slugs together through music and entertainment This year, the Quarry Amphitheater launched a pilot program with the Slug Life Productions Board (SLPB), a student-run group dedicated to boosting Banana Slug pride through music and entertainment. The Amphitheater team provided mentorship and operational support while SLPB organized events that fostered connection and belonging. Students gained hands-on experience in the entertainment industry by planning, booking, and hosting music and social programs. Highlights included a fall concert featuring Orion Sun with over 1,400 attendees, a silent rave at Porter Dining Hall with 400 attendees, and a movie night with a film screening and costume contest. The SLPB included three paid positions and a board made of ten students, one representative from each college.

2023-2024 Highlights 1,777 Slug Support Cases Managed 10,687 Redwood Free Market Visits

Survey of students who attended fall concert: 82.2% of survey resondents said programming at the Quarry Amphitheatre creates a positive campus climate 78.9% of respondents said that Quarry Amphitheater events boost mental health and help with stress reduction PEER REVIEW BOARD CELEBRATES FOUR YEARS OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, EMPOWERING STUDENT VOICES IN CONDUCT PROCESS The Peer Review Board (PRB) is a peer-based alternative to the traditional student conduct process, emphasizing restorative justice and a community-oriented mindset. The PRB mirrors the typical conduct process, with student peers reviewing and making decisions on cases, while maintaining the same student rights, responsibilities, processes, and appeal guidelines. This year, the board celebrated its fourth year with seven board members leading our efforts to connect students to resources, rethink policies from a community and student perspective, and ensure student voices are heard in the conduct process. The board worked collaboratively with students across campus to design 18 student conduct outcomes that seek to foster education and repair relationships. Collectively, members of the board completed 616 HOURS OF ONBOARDING AND ONGOING TRAINING.

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28,660 Visits to SOMeCA facilities

STUDENT SUCCESS AND EQUITY Departments Career Success Disability Resource Center (DRC) Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Initiatives Learning Support Services (LSS) Office of African, Black, and Caribbean (ABC) Student Success

EMMANUEL OGUNDIPE: BANANA SLUG AND CONGRESSIONAL LOBBYIST Emmanuel traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress on higher education issues. He met with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Congressman Jimmy Panetta, and staffers from Congressman Ro Khanna’s office. His efforts focused on college affordability and educational equity, advocating for increased Pell Grants, support for MinorityServing Institutions, early outreach programs like TRIO and GEAR UP, better support for students with disabilities, and expanded child care for student parents..

Resource Centers African American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC) American Indian Resource Center (AIRC) Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center (AAPI) Cantú Queer Center El Centro Womxn’s Center Services for Transfer, Re-entry and Resilient Scholars (STARRS)

2023-2024 Highlights 4,956 Students attended Career Success programs

3,345 Drop-in visits to the STARRS Lounge 1,312 student check-ins at the Ethnic Resources Center in Spring Quarter 20

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PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES AND BASKIN SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING IMPROVES TUTOR TRAINING Learning Support Services (LSS) and the Baskin School of Engineering have launched a cross-training program to enhance tutoring across UCSC. The program equips tutors with advanced pedagogical techniques and active learning strategies. LSS collaborates with the Educational Partnership Center to train Early Academic Outreach Program interns, fostering inclusive tutoring that improves student achievement and engagement. This initiative aims to develop equityminded peer educators and support high school students’ preparation for higher education.21

our units

4,233 Drop-in and scheduled appointments with EOP students

CELEBRATING OUR MILESTONES A NEW ERA FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ON CAMPUS Thanks to the work of the Okanagan Charter Task Force, charged by Vice Chancellor Bradley-Armstrong and led by Meg Kobe and Jessica Bulleri, UC Santa Cruz adopted the Okanagan Charter on May 13. This international charter, created in 2015, integrates health and well-being into campus culture, practices, and academics. The initiative aims to enhance well-being, promote academic success, and foster a supportive environment. The UC Santa Cruz Well-being Collective, supported by an Advisory Council and a steering committee, will guide these efforts, ensuring long-term focus and community input, and reinforcing the campus’s commitment to an inclusive environment.

“By committing to the Okanagan Charter, UC Santa Cruz is taking a proactive stance in prioritizing the health and well-being of our campus community,” said Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Success Akirah Bradley-Armstrong. “This initiative will foster a more supportive and nurturing environment where every individual can thrive.”

“We find ourselves at a really unique—and unsettling—time in higher education,” Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Health and Wellness and Chief Well-being Officer John Bollard shared. “Paying attention to personal and community well-being have never been more important. And just as the work of our behavioral health team is laser-focused on supporting our students and expanding our services in strategic and innovative ways, the adoption of the Okanagan Charter will provide an opportunity to do the same on a communal scale. I’m very optimistic, and excited, about the potential impacts of these efforts.”

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milestones

A New Era for Health and Well-being on Campus

CELEBRATING OUR MILESTONES DINING SERVICES EXPANDED OPERATIONS, OPENED MULTIPLE NEW LOCATIONS Dining Services opened multiple new locations during the 2023-24 academic year, including Banana Joe’s, Global Village Cafe, Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall, Slugstop, Owl’s Nest, and University Bistro.

Dining Services now operates 18 locations across campus.

2,232,012 dining transactions

In September, students, staff, and faculty joined campus leadership to celebrate the re-opening of Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall. The newly renovated dining hall features state-of-the-art design concepts, including a demonstration kitchen.

In November, the University Center Bistro opened its doors for service. The Bistro features a brand new hybrid service model, providing diners with an upscale, casual dining experience.

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milestones

In March, Dining Services opened Owl’s Nest Cafe featuring primarily plant-based, made-to-order mediterranean and breakfast bowls as well as a coffee and smoothie bar.

CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS

Luminary in Inclusive Leadership Winners: Camila Castañeda Calzada | HSI Advisory Committee Representative, Student Success and Equity Elizabeth Abigail Granados Johnson | Program Assistant, Colleges, Housing and Educational Services Pichy Jumpholwong | Terry Freitas Commons Lead, Colleges, Housing and Educational Services

STUDENT EXCELLENCE AWARDS To honor the incredible work our student employees complete across the division, the Career Success team hosted the second annual DSAS Student Employee Excellence Awards in May. The committee reviewed over 70 nominations and selected 15 student employees to recognize for their outstanding achievements in the five categories below:

Trailblazer in Innovation Winners: Trevor Chapin | Access Assistant, Student Success and Equity Ella Chapman | Program Coordinator, Colleges, Housing and Educational Services Mayor Manlapid | Peer Educator, Student Health and Wellness Committee members: Carlos Perez, Marie Corwin, LeAnna Willis, Taylor Harrison, and

Rising Star in Career Readiness Winners:

Veronica Heiskell

Marianas Fernandez | Program Coordinator, Colleges, Housing and Educational Services Emiliano Navarrete | SUA Treasurer, Student Development and Engagement Kiersten Waters | Peer Educator, Student Health and Wellness Change Makers in Community Engagement Winners: Jessica Flores | Bridge Mentor, Student Success and Equity Krystle Pale | Transition Mentor, Student Success and Equity Amanda Safi | Intern, Student Development and Engagement Visionary in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Winners: Aaliyah Marquez | Resident Assistant, Colleges, Housing and Educational Services Marissa McGuire | Transition Mentor, Student Success and Equity

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celebrations

Alysha Galotta | Intern, Student Success and Equity

CELEBRATING

OUR ALUMNI

Renata Lopez, ‘24 Computer Science, Oaks Assistant Director, Educational Opportunity Programs

Nailah Smith, ‘23 Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, Stevenson College Assistant Director, Educational Opportunity Programs

DSAS INVOLVEMENT: El Centro, GANAS Career Internship Feeling homesick, Renata attended a Dia de los Muertos event in her second year. The event helped her find comfort and a sense of belonging. Soon after, a position with El Centro opened up, and Renata became a program coordinator. Over two years, she planned events, collaborated with resource centers and local

DSAS INVOLVEMENT: African American Resource and Cultural Center, Black Student

organizations, and supported students even serving as MC for Dia de los Muertos. Renata also participated in UCSC’s

Union, Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program, Equal Opportunity Programs, Stevenson Student Council and Student Union Assembly

GANAS Career Internship program, securing her first internship with the Santa Cruz County Health Department.

Life beyond the redwoods: Cloud Support Associate with Amazon in Seattle, WA. Lopez aspires to work on the ethics of machine learning and AI.

Nailah has a passion for amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities. One of her long term goals is to advocate for and support women, and especially women of color in tech. Nailah was recently accepted into SJSU’s Human Factors

“It’s okay to take up space, make mistakes, fail classes, and not do the best as long as you’re giving it your best

Ergonomics User Experience Program. She will pursue a Masters in Science while continuing her full-time role with the

shot, I’m definitely not trying to do everything alone. I feel like a lot of the things that helped me out were through

university.

collaborative work. It’s ok if your journey doesn’t look the same as others.”

Life beyond the redwoods: Department Coordinator, African American Studies at San Jose State University “Being involved in diverse spaces at UC Santa Cruz opened my eyes to truly unique perspectives. I am now following my passion of being a voice for the underrepresented and working to make tech more accessible for all!”

Izzy Zazueta, ‘24 Politics, JohnOpportunity R. Lewis Assistant Director, Educational Programs DSAS INVOLVEMENT: El Centro Equal Opportunity Programs, Pathways to Research, Cruz Control dance team

Ryan Loyola, ‘23 Politics, minor Legal Studies, Stevenson College Assistant Director, Educational Opportunity Programs

Izzy credits UCSC with giving them opportunities to expand outside their comfort zone through internships with El Centro, campus research, and programs like HSI and EOP. They learned the value of community and contributed actively. As

DSAS INVOLVEMENT: Bayanihan, City on a Hill Press, Engaging Education (e2)’

an academic intern and later a program coordinator at El Centro, Zazueta organized Fashion as Resistance, celebrating intersectional identities and challenging stereotypes. They also influenced El Centro’s Dia de los Muertos celebration and

Life beyond the redwoods: News Assistant at ABC7 Los Angeles

collaborated with other campus resource centers.

As a news assistant with ABC7 Los Angeles, Ryan pitches stories, follows up on story leads, interviews sources, and Life beyond the redwoods: Pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After earning their Ph.D.,

reports on breaking news. In the future, Ryan hopes to become a news producer for a major television market.

“Because of the opportunities I’ve had, I’ve evolved into a journalist who now focuses on the intersection of policy,

“I’ve known California all my life, so I’m excited to be somewhere where nobody really knows me, break out of my shell,

underrepresented communities, and the Gen Z experience.”

and continue exploring my research to a greater extent, I’m excited to be somewhere new and explore new things.”

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celebrations

Zazueta hopes to become a professor and eventually pursue an MFA in cosmetology with a focus on hair and makeup.

CELEBRATING OUR STAFF

In effort to celebrate campus wide collaboration, DSAS presented SASSYs to the following individuals for their ongoing partnership with and support of the division:

CELEBRATING OUR STAFF On Tuesday, June 18, DSAS staff gathered in the Kresge Lecture Hall for the second annual SASSYs. The afternoon of appreciation and celebration started with our partners at On the Margins hosting a healing space featuring free massages, reiki, limpias, natural remedies, and a number of giveaways. Following the awards ceremony, attendees enjoyed treats from Adorable French Bakery. During the awards ceremony, we announced this year’s award winners. Congratulations to all our SASSY recipients!

And the SASSY goes to...

Assessment Advocate Award Sharon Castro

Sense of Belonging Champion Francia Cruz Silva

Collaboration Award Jose Reyes-Olivas

Student-Centered Decision Maker Jennifer Rogerson Jennings

Student Leader of the Year - Egypt Chin Faculty Partner Award - Flora Lu, Professor, Environmental Studies Student Affairs Collaborator - Lorato Anderson

DeShonne Keller completes UCSC degree, earns Teammate of the Year Assistant Director,DSAS Educational Opportunity Programs As a transfer and re-entry student herself, DeShonne earned her BA in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies this June after transferring from Cabrillo College.

DeShonne Keller has demonstrated exceptional dedication to her teammates, going above and beyond to foster a positive, organized, and cohesive work environment for the Services for Transfer Re-Entry and Resilient Scholars (STARRS) team. Over five years, she has managed STARRS finances, core administrative functions, business procedures, and physical spaces with a positive attitude, particularly during significant organizational growth. Her detailed planning enabled a smooth transition from Kresge to Bay Tree, helping create a welcoming space for transfer, re-entry, and independent students. She also curated a personal care pantry, showing responsiveness to student

Supervisor of the Year Larissa Mangas

Equity Champion Ana Martin

Teammate of the Year DeShonne Keller

Innovation Award Budget and Financial Management Team Amy Chavez, Carolyn Speers, Cindy Zamora-Alvarez, Kyle Kaneshiro

Well-being Champion Maya Hernandez

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needs. DeShonne’s eagerness to learn and improve processes has led to significant growth in business operations, making her an exceptional employee and a recipient of the 2023-2024 Teammate of the Year Sassy Award. Her positive energy, commitment to excellence, and collaborative spirit have made her an invaluable asset to the division.

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Compassionate Leadership Award Sarah Woodside Bury

CELEBRATING OUR STAFF

Scholarly Contributions and Service This year, Division of Student Affairs and Success team members made numerous contributions to higher education and student affairs. Through research, evaluation, and praxis, our team is helping to expand the scholarship in our field. Here are some examples of DSAS’s scholarly contributions and service to the community in 2023-2024:

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS Dani Barker | Bringing it to Life: Storytelling and publications as a Teaching Tool, NASPA Annual Conference and ACPA Annual Conference Alex Belisario, Dr. Emily Sandoval, Dr. Sunny Lee, Dr. Martha Enciso, Geralyn Williams, and Marcelle Hayashida | The Marvels: Higher Education Leadership by Women of Color, GeekEd, San Diego Comic Con Alex Belisario and WOW Committee, Cynthia Aranda Cervantes, Maggie Malagon | WOW: Women of WACUHO Supporting Women Panel, WACUHO

SERVICE TO THE FIELD Delfín Bautista | AC | White House briefing on LGBTQI+ Latinx leaders Akirah Bradley-Armstrong | Conference Chair, 2025 NASPA Annual Conference

John Bollard | An Entrepreneurial Approach to Funding Student Health Services, American College Health Association Annual Meeting Sharon Castro | Brainstorming through Transition - Budget Challenges and Opportunities Brainstorming Session, Association of Colleges for Teaching and Learning Assistance Natalie Davis | Exploring an SI Mentor-ship Program, 13th International Conference on Supplemental Instruction | Navigating a

Alex Belisario | ACUHO-I, Foundation Board Member | Historian/Archivist, New Professionals Case Study Competition, WACUHO

Tutor Mentor-ship Program, Association of Colleges for Tutoring and Learning Assistance (ACTLA) 49th Conference

Sharon Castro | Association of Colleges for Teaching and Learning Assistance, President-Elect | CSU/UC Learning Support

Angel Dominguez and Sara Sanchez | Cultivating Holistic Foundations for Graduate Students: The Doctoral Summer Bridge

Conference, Committee Member | Conference Proposal Reviewer, College Reading and Learning Association

Program at a HSI-R1, NASPA Annual Conference

Benedicto Llave | California Council of Cultural Centers in Higher Education, Member at Large Xiomara Lopez | NASPA Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community Executive Board, Leadership Development Co-Chair Elizabeth Moya | UC Santa Cruz Staff Advisory Board, Board Member

Mark Gardner | Keynote speaker, UC Merced Men of Color Conference Mai Foua Her and Lo Klauer | Transforming Our Collective and Institutional Identities Through Makers’ Market, California Council of Cultural Centers in Higher Education Benedicto Llave | Facilitator, New Professionals/Entry-level staff roundtable, CaCCCHE

Mirjam Kuusik | UC Santa Cruz Staff Advisory Board, Board Member

Xiomara Lopez and Jailene Tzintzun | Fostering Student Belonging and Identity Development Through Book Clubs” NASPA Annual

Carlos Perez | UC Santa Cruz Staff Advisory Board, Board Member

Conference

Lucy Rojas | NASPA AVP Steering Committee, Committee Member

Gwendelyn Rivera | Program Staff as Facilitators of Academic Self–Efficacy, Academic Behavioral Change, and Achievement

Caz Salamanca | California Council of Cultural Centers in Higher Education, Board Member Lea Taddonio | UC Santa Cruz Staff Advisory Board, Board Member

among Low–income, First–Generation, and Minoritized Students, NASPA’s Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice LeAnna Willis | Identity Exploration Though TTRPGs, National Conference on Race & Ethnicity Sarah Woodside Bury | “Transcommunal Peace, Cooperation, and Respect for Diversity: A University/Prison Multi-Partnership

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Approach.” Higher Education and the Carceral State: Transforming Together, University of California Press, 2023, Chapter 11.

online giving

DONATE S C A N T H E Q R C O D E T O PA R T I C I PAT E I N O N L I N E G I V I N G

DSAS.UCSC.EDU | STUDENTSUCCESS.UCSC.EDU

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