The Staff Who Champion Our Students

The Staff Who Champion Our Students As we emerge from this extended period of remote operations, the Department is even more appreciative of the expertise and commitment of our incredible Student Affairs team, who work tirelessly to support chemistry undergraduate and graduate student success and well-being. The team of nine professional staff is led by Student Affairs Director Erica Lennard. She has dedicated more than 10 years to building and sustaining a creative suite of student-centered resources and collaborative approaches that connect with our faculty and units across campus. On an annual basis, these serve more than 1,600 undergraduate majors and minors and 350+ M.S./Ph.D. students, in addition to over 23,000 students campus-wide who enroll in chemistry courses! What a feat! “As part of our student-centered mission, we are always striving to cultivate an inclusive community and positive experience within the department, and to ensure students have the support, resources, and opportunities to succeed!” -Erica Lennard Helping undergraduate students to clarify and realize their educational goals is at the heart of the work of our Academic Advisors Hanna Foley (Manager), Selaina Mansheim, Gelsey Thomas, and Katie Schmaltz. In addition to online and in-person advising, they frequently partner with our pre-professional student organization, the ACS Student Affiliates, to foster connections and encourage student learning outside the classroom. These efforts are buoyed by a diverse group of CHEM Peer Advisors (student employees funded by the Division of Physical Science’s Student Success Center), whose unique insights into the academic experience at UC San Diego promote the intellectual and personal growth of new and seasoned students. You can read more about each of them here. "My favorite part of my role as Undergraduate Advising Manager has to be my one-on-one interaction with students during advising appointments. During these sessions, students often share their stories with me – this can be as simple as why they decided to pursue a chemistry degree to their individual and personal struggles with their family or mental health. Sometimes I am just an ear, other times I am able to help problem solve or get them connected to other campus resources. Regardless, it is always so rewarding to learn about our amazing undergrads, along with the challenges they have gone through and overcome, and to be able to assist them however possible. I also have a major soft spot for working with transfer students, having been one myself (way back in the day!). - Hanna Foley At the graduate level, all aspects of Ph.D. student advising are overseen by Graduate Program Manager Amy Tran. Under her portfolio is a Grad Mentoring Program that links current with incoming doctoral students, establishing a vital peer network that eases the transition to graduate school. M.S. Advising is the responsibility of Graduate Admissions Coordinator Jeff Rances, who has been with the Student Affairs Office for over 13 years. A Diversity Coordinator with the Graduate Division and a member of the department’s EDIC Council, Jeff is attuned to opportunities that can improve belonging for all graduate students. Amy and Jeff work alongside Kristin Itahara and Asmaa Khatib, Training Grant & ACS Bridge Program Coordinator and Grad Funding & TA Coordinator, respectively. Their efforts round off the graduate school experience, emphasizing professional development in interdisciplinary research skills, teaching, and more. The holistic and inclusive mindset of our Student Affairs staff is echoed in the sentiments expressed by Jeff Rances: “I would say my favorite part of my job is meeting new people, especially at a stage where a lot of milestones are happening in their lives. I help them apply for our program, let them know they’ve been accepted, welcome them at orientation, introduce them to future colleagues/friends, serve as a resource for them while they work through a tough program, celebrate with them at commencement, and then keep in touch with them as they move all over the world and do great things! Some of them are in industry, some are now professors with labs of their own, some have gotten married and are now raising kids. I feel so blessed to be a part of such a ambitious and supportive community!”