Empowered to Thrive
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UC San Diego honored community members who advance student success and inclusivity in all aspects of university life with the inaugural Student Centeredness Awards, which will be presented annually.
Nearly two years in the making, the awards recognize individuals and teams who go above and beyond to put students first, are innovative in their approach to center students, and champion diversity, equity and inclusion across campus. The celebration was organized by UC San Diego Student Affairs’ Assessment, Evaluation and Organizational Development (AEOD) department and awards were presented by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life Alysson Satterlund in partnership with Associated Students (AS) and the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA).
In sharing how the awards came to be, Satterlund expressed her gratitude for “Chancellor Khosla’s vision of UC San Diego as a place that advances student-centeredness in all we do.” She also cited programs such as the Collective Impact Initiative, developed by Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth H. Simmons, and the Hispanic-Serving Institution Steering Committee led by Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Becky R. Pettit which inspired the development of the UC San Diego-wide definition of student-centeredness.
“These programs promote collaboration across divisions, teams and units and unite our shared talents, ideas and resources to advance student-centered initiatives and practices,” she said, adding, “It is an honor to co-convene this acknowledgment with our AS and GPSA leadership.”
In addition to demonstrating exemplary support of UC San Diego’s Statement on Student Centeredness and the university’s Principles of Community, the criteria for the Student Centeredness Award include: student empowerment and advocacy; innovative student support; and intersectional inclusivity.
Meet two of the honorees recognized for their transformative actions in creating an environment where every student feels valued, supported and empowered to thrive.

Empowering Students to Reflect Critically
David Quijada, director of academic programs at Eighth College, was recognized for his compassionate and forward-thinking approach to teaching, helping to launch the college’s cutting-edge Critical Community Engagement general education program. The program’s multi-disciplinary curriculum empowers students to critically reflect on their community connections through inclusive, project-based learning. Through a mobile classroom model, Quijada brings learning to community spaces on and off campus, fostering a more inclusive and engaging environment. His commitment to student-centered learning is further demonstrated through his grading system, which prioritizes anti-racist assessment practices and encourages risk-taking, creativity and authenticity.

A Compassionate Approach to Mental Healthcare
The Triton Compassionate Response team (Triton CORE) is a vital resource for UC San Diego students.
This mobile response team of Ashley Metoyer, Eduardo Caldera, Jo Jo Lee and Christian Gasca was recognized for providing immediate support to students experiencing mental health crises, offering a compassionate alternative to hospitalization or police intervention. The team's innovative student-centered approach was initiated at the student body's request, and appreciation for its work has grown. Triton CORE’s rapid response and compassionate approach have helped countless students feel safer, more hopeful and at peace.
2023-24 Student Centeredness Award Recipients
- Alec Calac: Student, UC San Diego Medical Scientist Training Program at the School of Medicine
- Marisol "Dottie" Dothard: PhD Candidate, Program of Biomedical Sciences
- Michel Estefan: Faculty, Department of Sociology
- Graduate Teaching Consultants (Teaching and Learning Commons):
- Abdullah Albattal (ECE);
- Alex Dinh (History);
- Parla Buyruk (Cognitive Science);
- Paul Roth (Music);
- Moon Pankam (Anthropology);
- James Crawford (Education Studies);
- Torus Washington (Nanoengineering);
- Eric Rodriguez (Anthropology);
- Vanessa Na (Education Studies)
- Triton CORE (Compassionate Response) Team:
- Ashley Metoyer;
- Eduardo Caldera;
- Jo Jo Lee;
- Christian Gasca
- Mia Minnes: Faculty, Department of Computer Science and Engineering
- Julia Nemeth: Graduate Program Manager, Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute
- David Quijada: Director of Academic Programs, Eighth College
- Will Styler: Faculty, Computational Social Sciences and Linguistics
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