‘Experience on Purpose’: Students Gain Real-World Skills Through Campus Jobs

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At UC San Diego, student employment isn’t just about earning extra income—it’s about cultivating real-world skills, building career readiness and gaining what the university’s Student Employment Office calls “experience on purpose.”

From research labs to campus community centers, living-learning communities and beyond, students are building professional networks and enhancing their educational journeys through on-campus employment.

With a “students-first” mentality, UC San Diego’s student employment program recognizes that they are enrolled in rigorous academic programs and that their campus jobs are supplemental to their education experience.

“Ultimately, student employment is a student success strategy at UC San Diego because it helps students pay for a portion of their educational expenses while building skills and core competencies—and prepares them for their first job out of college,” said Tod Oliviere, director of student employment and career development at UC San Diego. “These experiential learning opportunities also deepen their connections to faculty, staff and students throughout the university.”

This intentional approach, which focuses on equity and “learning by doing,” positions UC San Diego’s employment opportunities as key contributors to student success.

According to a recent report by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), employers nationwide are increasingly valuing work-based experience, such as work-study and leadership roles, as much as they value internships. With this in mind, Oliviere and his team are leveraging UC San Diego’s campus as a “learning lab” where students are given opportunities for growth, mentorship and skill-building.

Hear from four of UC San Diego’s 2024 Triton Student Employees of the Year, whose experiences offer a glimpse into the broader, transformative impact of student employment:

Rafael Gonzalez Martinez

Rafael Gonzalez Martinez, a human biology major and incoming third-year student at UC San Diego, has taken on leadership roles with a drive to support his community. Hailing from Castroville, Calif., a small town that he says is approximately 90% Latinx, Martinez has always been committed to serving those around him.

His work as a student organization liaison for the Raza Resource Centro gave him the opportunity to continue that commitment, now at UC San Diego. The Centro offers activities, events and resources and strives to emphasize and foster the access, retention and graduation of Chicanx-Latinx students.

When Martinez stepped into the newly created position, there was no formal structure for communication between the Centro and the university’s Latinx student organizations. That meant he had to navigate and learn the needs of the organizations, spending much of the fall quarter gathering information about their challenges and difficulties—such as getting funding or registering as official groups. He worked closely with the Raza Resource Centro staff to ensure that the support provided was tailored to the specific needs of the organizations.

Through thoughtful communication and collaboration, Martinez helped establish vital connections between the Raza Resource Centro and 27 Latinx student organizations on campus. One of his most impactful contributions was the creation of the Latinx Student Leadership Summit, which he helped develop in partnership with the center’s staff. The event provided workshops on essential skills such as organization, goal setting and conflict resolution.

The role also contributed significantly to his personal growth. “My supervisor, Monica Gonzalez, helped me a lot in terms of my own leadership development,” Martinez said. “I was pretty shy going into that position, but she guided me to be successful and taught me how to be a good leader.”

Now preparing for his next role as a resident assistant (RA) in Revelle College, Martinez reflects on the skills he developed in his previous position.

“The student org liaison position really pushed me to communicate better. Now, as an RA, I know how to actively listen to people’s needs.”

Despite being early in his leadership journey, Martinez’s contributions earned him recognition as one of the 2024 Triton Student Employees of the Year.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” he admitted. “Sometimes I feel like my voice isn’t loud enough, but getting this award made me feel strong and confident. It made me realize that I can set goals and achieve them, even when they seem impossible."

Dottie Dothard

A fourth-year Ph.D. student in biomedical sciences, Dottie Dothard has played a key role at UC San Diego through her work as the community liaison for the Black Graduate Experience Living Learning Community (BGELLC), an optional, residential community designed to affirm and celebrate Black scholarly excellence and Black culture in its various expressions.

During the year and a half she spent in the position, Dothard was instrumental in fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for Black graduate students in Graduate and Family Housing. One of her key responsibilities was building connections between residents and campus resources, from the Black Resource Center to Counseling and Pyschological Services.

“The main hat I wore was planning programming specifically for the residents of the space, and also connecting them with resources,” Dothard explained. “I wanted them to feel like their needs were being met and their voices were being heard.”

Dothard’s leadership extended to organizing significant community events, including the Black Excellence Ball, a formal affair that celebrated the accomplishments of UC San Diego’s Black graduate students.

“Less than 8 percent of Ph.D.s are Black,” Dothard noted, emphasizing the importance of recognizing this achievement. “Every person who defends deserves to be deeply celebrated.” The event brought together Black graduate students, faculty and staff for a memorable evening of celebration.

Working together with community assistants and interns, Dothard played a vital role in organizing other large-scale events like Black Field Day and a Juneteenth celebration. Through her efforts, she also strengthened ties between the BGELLC and university administrators, including leaders in Graduate and Family Housing. Her dedication to creating meaningful connections ensured that Black graduate students felt supported both socially and academically.

Reflecting on her experience, Dothard acknowledged the challenges of working in a relatively new and evolving community—as the LLC opened just a few years ago. “The phrase we all used was ‘we’re building the ship as it sails,” she shared. “It’s been really special to be part of something as it’s being made, but there are challenges that come with that too.”

What’s her advice for students who are looking to find that “right fit” position on campus?

“Find a place where people will be invested in your progress,” she said. “To have a job that also relates to something you’re passionate about is the best-case scenario."

Alex Puente

A recent graduate of UC San Diego’s chemical engineering program, Alex Puente has left a legacy at Muir College through his three years with Muir Residential Life. He began as a residential life intern during his second year, became a house advisor (HA) in his third year, and took on the role of Lead HA during his fourth.

Now working in the manufacturing department of a biotechnology company, Puente reflects on how his experience as a student employee shaped both his professional and personal growth.

“What I really enjoyed during my time as a HA was building that community with students, being very personal and connected,” Puente shared. “As a first-gen student, that means a lot to me because I wanted to stay on campus—and I want other students to stay on campus, too.”

In addition to managing his academic workload, Puente led initiatives that elevated the student experience at Muir. One of his favorite projects involved combining his passion for audiovisual (AV) work with his role as HA: revamping the college’s audio system for cultural events like Día de los Muertos. By upgrading the equipment, including subwoofers and microphones, he helped ensure that performances, such as those by Mariachi groups, resonated both musically and culturally.

Puente’s leadership extended beyond event planning: He mentored peers, managed conflicts and served as a bridge between students and residence life staff, while advocating for the needs of marginalized students and helping create a more inclusive environment.

He encourages both new and returning Tritons who are interested in finding employment on campus to not be afraid to connect with people and ask about available roles—and to not be scared to apply if they don’t meet qualifications.

Puente was honored to be named one of the 2024 Triton Student Employees of the Year in recognition of his positive impact. “It meant the world to me—having this reassurance at the end of a four-year ‘race’ that you had an impact that the university noticed,” he said.

Rebecca Levine

Rebecca Levine, a fifth-year Ph.D. student in education studies, has made notable contributions through her work with UC San Diego’s Partners at Learning (PAL) program. With a background in social work and mental health therapy, Levine has applied her expertise to support students and foster connections between UC San Diego undergraduates and diverse communities in San Diego.

In her role as a graduate student researcher and teaching assistant for PAL, Levine has developed key initiatives that place undergraduate tutors and mentors in under-resourced schools and community settings. For one such initiative, in partnership with the Children and Youth in Transition Office at the San Diego Unified School District, undergraduates work with refugee and housing-insecure youth and support the teachers in their classrooms.

One of her most meaningful experiences involved working with Afghan refugee families who were temporarily housed in hotels. “We were going to four different hotels in San Diego,” she explained. “We would bring games and coloring books and activities and would really just connect with the youth who were there awaiting more permanent housing and, in some cases, still waiting to be placed in the school system."

Levine’s leadership has also extended to providing workshops and training for undergraduates, focusing on trauma-informed practices and strategies for working with refugee and multilingual learners. As a former social worker, she brings a sense of calm and understanding to the challenges her students face, and emphasizes the importance of creating safe, supportive environments.

In addition to her role as a mentor, Levine has developed valuable resources for the PAL program, including a handbook for undergraduate tutors and mentors. “I’ve learned from the PAL directors how to initiate partnerships and how to support our amazing undergrad students,” Levine said. “For many of the students, it’s their first time working with youth and families.”

Her contributions have made a lasting impact on the PAL program, earning her recognition as one of the 2024 Triton Student Employees of the Year. “It’s a big honor, and I thank my advisor and everyone who’s been part of this process,” Levine shared.