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Alumni Spotlights

We have some amazing Triton Transfer Alumni! Check out these alumni spotlights to learn more about these Tritons and build your network!  Accessible version of alumni spotlights found here.

Francisca Rivera Email: Riverafranciscak@gmail.com Muir College Transferred from: Citrus College Major: Global Health ; Sociocultural Anthropology Involvement: UCSD Flying Samaritans, Center for Global Mental Health Future Plans: UCSD Global Health MA Advice: Take your time, reach out to people, join an organization, find your passion.

Jasmine Nguyen Email: jasminebt@yahoo.com Marshall College Transferred from: DeAnza College Major: Pharmacological Chemistry Involvement: Pre-Pharmacy Society, Research in Budin Lab in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department Future Plans: Pharmacy School Advice: To enjoy the two years (or more) you have at UC San Diego, and get as involved as much as you can.

Veronica Vickers Email: veronicajvickers@gmail.com Marshall College Transferred from: Cabrillo College Major: Clinical psychology Involvement: AED (Pre-Health Honors Society), Faculty Mentor Program, Research in Alzheimer's and Pancreatic Cancer, Sanford Consortium Future Plans: Working as a Senior Research Associate at Sanford Consortium Advice: Take advantage of all the events, programs, free stuff, and everything you pay tuition for! There is so much to do and very little time to do it!

Natalia Victoria Email: navictor97@gmail.com Marshall College Transferred from: Glendale Community College Major: Communication Involvement: University Events Office, University Events Office, UCS Future Plans: Working full time Advice: Stay on top of your grind! Don’t worry about the name recognition of the university and just be yourself. You will find the right group, the right support to get through your time at UCSD :)

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Kenia Garnica Sixth College Transferred from: Santa Monica College Major: Real Estate & Development Involvement: Alpha Chi Omega Future Plans: Full time job as General Manager Advice: Stick with it & don't give up. The quarter system might scare you a bit on your first quarter as a transfer but it gets better I promise.

Raymond Hallmen III Email: Rwhallmen@gmail.com Muir College Transferred from: Southwestern College Major: Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Minor: General Biology Involvement: UC San Diego Recreation, Muir Peer Mentor, Intramural Basketball, Research in Cognitive Science Department - studied attention using EEG Future Plans: Gap year before Pharmacy School! Advice: Have fun! Your experience is what you make of it. Once I got involved with work and other programs at UCSD, I felt part of the campus culture and I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I wish I had gotten involved sooner!

Audrey Yeung Email: azyeung@ucsd.edu Sixth College Transferred from: Diablo Valley College Major: Real Communication Minor: Business Involvement: Alter Ego, AMSA, ACTA, UCS, The Triton, Research on geotagging, influencers, and wanderlust in the age of social media Future Plans: I will be working full-time in San Diego. Advice: Don't be afraid to do things on your own. You have infinite amount of resource and waiting for someone to push you to do something will prevent trying something new. Allow yourself to be scared but don't stop until you created the community want at UC San Diego.

Vincent Aguilar Email: aguilarvf87@gmail.com Revelle College Transferred from: San Diego Miramar College Major Microbiology Involvement: Research in Gene regulation, Biology Department Future Plans: Work in a research driven biotechnology company. Advice: Be courageous. Take control of your education. Don't make excuses for yourself. Rise to the challenge. Ask questions all the time. Watch the class podcast to take notes. Use your time wisely.

Qiao Rong Email: rongqiaorachel@gmail.com Warren College Transferred from: DeAnza College Major: Math-Computer Science Involvement: Research in SDSC Advice: Build your resume and try out different things at UCSD

Nadia Villanueva Email: nadia_v_r@outlook.com Warren College Transferred from: DeAnza College Major: International Relations- Political Science Minor: Sociology Involvement: CALPIRG Advice: Join as many clubs and organizations you can, time goes by really fast.

Amber Herrel Email: Millaportman@yahoo.com Muir College Transferred from: Saddleback College Major: Psychology Involvement: Psychology Club, Psychology Department Transfer Mentor, Advice: Take the opportunity to get involved on campus. There is literally something for everyone. If a club you’re interested in doesn’t yet exist, create it! Get to know your professors and cultivate those relationships. They are amazing people and excellent resources.

Disha Divyesh Bhakta Email: dishaabhakta@gmail.com Eleanor Roosevelt College Transferred from: College of Alameda Major: Sociology Involvement: UCSD StRIVE, Research in Benefits of Puppy Therapy - Merritt College/Psychology|| Seals Barking - UCSD/Psychology Future Plans: My plans after graduating from UC San Diego are to either get into a post-baccalaureate program or to take my remaining pre-medicine classes at an extension school or community college. Advice: My advice to current and upcoming transfer students is that it is okay to explore other majors. You may never know you found something you’re more passionate about than what you had initially planned when you first got into UC San Diego.

Mary Alarcon Email: m1alarco@ucsd.edu Eleanor Roosevelt College Transferred from: Santa Monica College Major: Neurobiology Minor: Psychology Involvement: Minority association of premed students, Aerial silks recreation, Genetics IA, Cellular neurobiology IA, Research in Neuroscience; learning about memory Future Plans: Masters in biology at UCSD and TA for cellular neurobiology Advice: Make sure to take advantage of all the opportunities UCSD has to offer! Take as many recreational classes as you can, that’s how I found my love for aerial silks!

Theresa Mrazkova Email: TheresaJ.Mrazkova@gmail.com Warren College Transferred from: Palomar College Major: Electrical Engineering Future Plans: Seeking full-time employment so that I can narrow down my interests before potentially seeking a master's degree. Advice: Hold in there. Make friends. Try not to get overwhelmed by the already existing community as UC San Diego, participate in creating your own or expanding an existing one. Take advantage of the available resources and don't be afraid to ask for help. The professors and faculty are really dedicated and it is their pleasure to help or give advice. Just be yourself and be transparent and honest and you will make an impression and long-lasting connections.

Parsa Hamidnia Revelle College Transferred from: San Diego Miramar College Major: Human Biology Minor: Psychology Advice: Take your harder major requirements early on to enjoy your last quarter with more manageable classes!

Olivia Navarro Email: olivianavarroON@gmail.com Muir College Transferred from: California Lutheran University Major: Political Science Minor: Psychology Future Plans: To find employment and work on attending law school next year potentially seeking a master's degree. Advice: Go for it! It may seem like a lot of work and a very overwhelming process, but there are a lot of resources out there for you. When it is all done it will be unbelievably worth it.

Zamir Sultani Marshall College Transferred from: San Diego Mesa College Major: Political Science- International Relations Future Plans: Business owner Advice: Stay positive and look for graduation

Alexis Villegas Email: alexisvillegas96@gmail.com Warren College Transferred from: MiraCosta College Major: Ethnic Studies Minor: Sociology Involvement: Raza Resource Centro, OASIS: 2nd Year Experience Program, OASIS: TRIO SSSP, Undocumented Student Services Center, UCSD Admissions, Presented research on the history of coloniality and colonialism in the country of Mexico. Worked with the Raza Resource Centro and presented at a conference by name of NACCS (National Association for Chicano and Chicana Studies) Future plans: My plans are to find a job at a non-profit organization where I live in order to help my community and the people that live there. Either supporting undocumented families and/or high school students get into college. My long term goal is to become an English/Spanish court interpreter and continue supporting those in need of assistance. Advice: To apply and get involved with as many campus orgs, programs, internships etc. the 2-3 years you might be here. I really wanted to make the most out of my experience and got involved with a lot of amazing programs on campus; some of which include the Raza Resource Centro and OASIS.

Melanie Kuo Email: peiting.kuo0909@gmail.com Marshall College Transferred from: Mt. San Antonio College Major: Microbiology Involvement: Alter Ego, BSSA, Alpha Epsilon Delta Future plans: I'm planning on working in a research lab while gaining more experience on the side to gain the skills needed to be accepted into a CLS Training Program. Advice: It can be a lot harder to form a supportive network at UCSD compared to many community colleges, but you should keep trying by going out to different clubs to meet new people and talk to people in your classes until you find people you can click with. After building a strong support system, you'll feel less alone in terms of your academics and your social life, which will definitely improve your experience at UCSD.

Rodrigo Cruz Email: Rodrigodcruzii@gmail.com Sixth College Transferred from: Pierce College Major: Psychology Involvement: Pierce College, Calpirg Advice: Don’t take your time trying to settle in. You gotta get going quick because it goes really fast and you don’t want to fall behind.

Lauren Hui Email: Lthui@ucsd.edu Marshall College Transferred from: University of Washington, Seattle Major: Physiology and Neuroscience Involvement: Transfer and Non-Traditional Students for Health, Career Peer Educator Program, Phi Delta Epsilon, Biological Sciences Student Association, Asian American Christian Fellowship, Research in Neurodegenerative disease at Salk Institute, orthopaedic surgery at UCSD School of Medicine Future Plans: Master's in Biology at UCSD, applying to medical school afterwards! Advice: Take advantage of your time, cuz it's too short! Put yourself out there and build your friendships and network!

Veronica Tangalin Email: vtangalin@yahoo.com Eleanor Roosevelt College Transferred from: City College of San Francisco Major: Neurobiology Involvement: AMSA, AED, MAPS, Study Abroad - Spain Future plans: I’m taking a gap year working and volunteering before applying to med school. Advice: Enjoy your time at UCSD as much as you can - it goes by quickly. Make tons of friends, join as many clubs as you can, don’t be afraid to try new things, go to school events, and study abroad! Try to have fun and don’t take things too seriously.

Morgan Buck Warren College Transferred from: MiraCosta College Major: International Business Involvement: UCSD Sailing, UCSD Sailing, Waves4All Future Plans: I will be working for AT&T in B2B Sales. I got this opportunity from being in Craig Eberhard's Sales and Sale's Management course which was fabulous. Advice: Major courses fill up quick so avoid the waitlist as much as possible. Relax on grades, do the best you can.

Britta Sibley Email: britta.d.sibley@gmail.com Warren College Transferred from: Fullerton College Major: General Biology Involvement: Research on effects of addiction to drugs of abuse on the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology; VA San Diego Healthcare System Future Plans: Finding a job in research! Further down the line, going back to grad school to further my education so I can find a more senior-level position in research. Advice: The shift to the university quarter system and lifestyle (especially if you move on-campus) is rough! But stay strong. You'll make it through fine. UCSD is there to help you through it in several aspects.

Mary Alaja Email: mtalaja17@gmail.com Eleanor Roosevelt College Transferred from: Orange Coast College Major: Human Developmental Science Minor: Psychology Involvement: Lebanese Social Club. Pan-Arab Student Association, ERC Orientation, Armenian Student Association, Research on Neuropsychology, Psychology Department Future Plans: I will be training for ABA therapy and working as a Therapist with children with disabilities. Advice: Enjoy it. The time may feel like it's going slow at moments but before you know it, your time there is up! UCSD and San Diego is full of opportunity to explore new things and learn a lot about yourself.

Veronica Lugo Email: veronicalabc@gmail.com Revelle College Transferred from: College of the Canyons Major: Environmental Systems- Ecology, Behavior and Evolution Involvement: TRIO SSSP, Research Volunteer at the Cleland Lab, Students for Conservation, Students of Color for Environmental Justice, UCSD Recreation Lifeguard, Research on poppy flower fitness at the Cleveland lab under the Division of Biological Sciences. Advice: Take ADVANTAGE of all the resources given to you, find opportunities for yourself and don't be scared of your potential. It might take some time to get used to the quarter system and living away from home but it is apart of your growth and journey here and you should embrace it. Put yourself out there and find a solid group of friends that have the same goals as you. Don't forget to study smart and have fun :)

Fatima Javadi Email: Fatima.javadi8@gmail.com Muir College Transferred from: Orange Coast College Major: Neurobiology Involvement: Flying Sams, AMSA, TNT, FYE/TYE, iLead, Research in the Department of neurosciences. The research was on the expression patterns of olfactory neurons of Drosophila. Future plans: I plan to attend medical school Advice: I know it can be overwhelming to think they only have two years to get everything done and get involved but if they put themselves out there, they will get results!

Carissa Mycah C. Cayco Email: carissa.cayco@gmail.com Marshall College Transferred from: Cañada College Major: Clinical Psychology Involvement: UCSD Psi Chi/Psychology Club, The Zone's Well-Being Award Program, Certification Program in Career Development in Psychology, Triton Transfers, Global Seminars, Research in Psychology and Neurology Department. One lab looked into human experience and awareness: relationships, well-being, and mindfulness. The other focused in Autism and prevalence in the San Diego County. Future plans: In today's time, I will continue advocating for the abolishment of an unjust system. I plan to work as a Behavior Technician in the Bay Area as well as prepare for grad school applications in the Clinical Psychology realm. Advice: Remember to put your well-being first. Don't put yourself down during the transition to a new school. Don't associate your self-worth to your GPA or grades. Celebrate the fact that you made it to UCSD! Transferring is an amazing accomplishment in your educational journey. You're awesome! Take you classes seriously. Learn for the sake of learning. It can be so easy to get stuck in the mindset of just wanting to complete requirements/credits. You're a student, embrace the education you strive for! Explore and have fun! You're still a human. Take time for yourself and do things other than assignments.

Adarsh Parthasarathy Email: anpartha@ucsd.edu Warren College Transferred from: DeAnza College Major: Political Science Data Analytics and History Involvement: Associated Students, Warren College Honors Program, Triton Lobby Corps, Triton Transfer Hub, KSDT Radio, Research within the Department of Political Science and was advised by Professors Thad Kousser and Philip Roeder on three projects altogether. They centered around constitutional organization & sectarian violence in India and social network analysis on Twitter Future plans: I will be attending the University of Texas School of Law Advice: GET INVOLVED! Students have power on this campus; I should know. You can change this school to be the UC San Diego you want it to be by taking your passion and putting it forward by getting involved in leadership.