Champions of Inclusive Excellence

Serving as crucial leadership of the Mentoring, Coaching, and Advising Collective Impact Group and as a member of the Mentoring for All program and Mentor Collective, Alvarado has made waves to support first-generation students further. Alysson Satterlund, vice chancellor of Student Affairs and Campus Life, recognized Alvarado for her efforts to pair every undergraduate student with a mentor. 

“Maricela has made significant strides in closing equity gaps and fostering a culture of support and belonging,” she said. “Her work exemplifies the Principles of Community by breaking down silos, fostering collaboration and creating cohesive networks of support that address the unique needs for our student community.”

In addition, Alvarado was recognized for her work on the Triton Center One Stop, a service that provides streamlined access to critical university services for students, staff and faculty. “This project reflects her visionary approach to bridging gaps across departments and fostering an inclusive, student-centered environment,” Satterlund said. “By incorporating diverse perspectives and prioritizing equity, she has embedded innovative frameworks into the Triton Center One Stop, ensuring it meets the needs of our diverse campus community."

Multifaceted Leader in the Making

While many students plan for their future careers, first-generation student Leslie Vallego Avila plans for her future community. Committing herself to multiple organizations and activities, Avila works with one key goal in mind: cultural inclusivity.  

Gabriela Aveces, assistant director of Residence Life, applauded Avila’s exceptional work in championing campus diversity and cultural inclusivity. “Her leadership in promoting diverse representation in student government and organizing educational events on social issues has made a significant impact on campus,” Aveces said.

As the President of the Associated Students of UC San Diego, Avila facilitates change and expands cultural understanding. Through her efforts in creating programs that educate and foster residential experiences for students, Avila also showcases her work as a Multicultural Living Learning resident assistant at Sixth College.

Avila’s work doesn’t stop there. From promoting Latinx initiatives in the Raza Resource Center to her involvement in the organization Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx por Activismo (MECHO), her efforts go far beyond a simple need and demonstrate a passion to create a more inclusive environment within UC San Diego. 

As a senior majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Race, Ethnicity and Politics, Avila has used science and research to demonstrate the need to expand diversity on campus. She has studied how social change can affect marginalized groups, translating this into action to advocate for underrepresented communities.

“Leslie's positive attitude and collaborative approach inspire others to champion diversity and create a more inclusive environment,” Aveces said. “She leaves behind an inspiring legacy of leadership and a more inclusive campus for all.”

Designing Inclusivity on Campus

Raúl Navarro Rodríguez, a senior learning technologies analyst, sought to tackle a major problem that came with staff development resources: language barriers.

While designing a curriculum on workplace inclusion, diversity and equity action, Rodríguez recognized the need for multilingual resources. He expanded a small request for a Spanish-inclusive course into an initiative to include diverse language options. As a result, the university has over 10,000 activities available in Spanish, French, Chinese, German and more. 

Alongside UC San Diego’s Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Rodríguez helped develop online courses for gender recognition. These courses, which have been adopted UC-wide, include information detailing the UC Policy on Gender Recognition and Lived Name. 

With Undocumented Student Services, Rodríguez created an “UndocuAlly” training for faculty and staff, providing a greater understanding of how people could support undocumented and mixed-status students in our community.

Rodríguez was recognized for his commitment and drive to make UC San Diego a more equitable and inclusive campus. “Raúl Navarro Rodríguez is a true champion of inclusive excellence, and his work has made a lasting impact on our organization,” said Maureen Harrigan, interim vice chancellor and chief financial officer at UC San Diego.

2025 Inclusive Excellence Award Recipients

Vice Chancellor Honorees

Academic Affairs: University Library’s Digital Experience Team 

Advancement: EDI Onboarding Implementation Team – Renee Duci, Lindsey Faniola and Linda Seol 

Chancellor’s Office: David Mier 

Chief Financial Officer: Raúl A. Navarro Rodríguez   

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Victor Ferreira 

Health Sciences: Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 

Marine Sciences: Scripps Scuba DIVERsity Fellowship Program 

Operations Management and Capital Programs: Carrie Metzgar 

Research and Innovation: Madeleine “Mady” E. Paley 

Student Affairs and Campus Life: Maricela Alvarado 

UC San Diego Health: Leiyah Shan

University-wide Honorees

Faculty Recipient: Oscar Vazquez Mena 

Staff Recipient: Nancy Owens Renner  

Student Recipient: Leslie Vallejo Avila 

Department/Organizational Unit Recipient: OB Refugee and Asylee Program