Our Staff

Kate Antonovics, Ph.D. (she/her)

Provost | seventhprovost@ucsd.edu
Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Provost Antonovics received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin. In addition to being the Provost of Seventh College, she is also a Professor of Economics.

Alisa Pasqual, M.Ed. (she/her)

Operations and Programs Analyst | seventhprovost@ucsd.edu
Hometown: San Diego, California

Alisa received her B.S. in Financial Actuarial Mathematics and M.Ed. from the University of California, Los Angeles.

See Alisa For: Meetings with the Provost

Shannon O'Brien, Ph.D.

Dean of Academic Advising | seventhadvising@ucsd.edu
Triton Transfer Ally
Hometown: Brielle, New Jersey (Jersey Shore)

Shannon received her B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers University, M.A. in Counseling from The College of New Jersey, and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Temple University. She is also a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and California Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). 

See Shannon For: Degree requirements, University policies, academic opportunities, major exploration

Advice to Seventh College students: Pursue educational opportunities that interest you, ask for help when you need it!

Cyrus Steele, M.S. (He/Him)

Assistant Dean of Academic Advising
Hometown: San Diego, California

Cyrus received undergraduate degrees in Economics and Psychology from UC San Diego and an M.S. in Academic Advising from Kansas State University. 

See Cyrus For: Degree requirements, University policies, academic opportunities, major exploration

Advice to Seventh College students: Try something new, whether it be an engaging hobby or a student organization that interests you!

Vanesa de Boer, M.A. (She/Her)

Senior Academic Advisor
Triton Transfer Ally
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, California

Vanesa received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside and M.A. in Education: Counseling from the University of Redlands.

See Vanesa For: Degree requirements, University policies, academic opportunities, major exploration

Advice to Seventh College students: Take this time to explore your interests! Seek opportunities to connect with the various communities at UC San Diego and reach out when you need support.

Kristin Guzman, M.A. (She/Her)

Senior Academic Advisor
Triton Transfer Ally
Hometown: San Diego, California

Kristin received B.A. degrees in Education Sciences and Criminology, Law, and Society from UC Irvine and her M.A. in Education with a Concentration in Counseling from San Diego State University. 

See Kristin for: Degree requirements, University policies, academic opportunities, major exploration

Advice to Seventh College students: Breathe in moments of stress, seek help during times of confusion, and laugh at the little things.

Tina Ke (She/Her)

Senior Academic Advisor
First-Generation College Student, Additional Language Spoken: Vietnamese
Hometown: San Diego, California

Tina received her B.A. in Human Developmental Sciences from UC San Diego.  

See Tina for: Degree requirements, University policies, academic opportunities, major exploration

Advice to Seventh College students: Create opportunities for yourself by getting involved with different clubs or organizations on campus. Doing this will help you make the most out of your college experience, expand your network, and can potentially lead to internships or job opportunities!

Christine Chacón (She/Her/Ella)

Academic Advisor
First-Generation College Student, Additional Language Spoken - Spanish
Hometown: Van Nuys, California

Christine received her B.A in Sociology and B.S in Education Sciences from UC San Diego.

See Christine for: Seventh College degree requirements

Advice to Seventh College students: Take your education into your own hands! There’s lots of information at your disposal; you just have to know where to find it, and we’re here to help!

Claire Sun (She/They)

Academic Advisor
Triton Transfer Ally
Hometown: San Diego, California

Claire received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Marine Biology from UCLA. 

See Claire for: Seventh College degree requirements

Advice to Seventh College students: Be flexible when planning your schedule and goals - things don't always go according to plan, and that's okay!

Caitlyn Vilar (They/She)

Academic Advisor
Hometown: San Clemente, California

Caitlyn received her B.A. in Literature/Writing from UC San Diego. 

See Caitlyn for: Seventh College degree requirements

Advice to Seventh College students: Don’t be too hard on yourself! It’s okay to not know things and to figure things out as you go. College can be overwhelming to navigate sometimes, but you’re doing your best and we’re here to support you!

Shina Luu (She/Her)

Assistant Academic Advisor
First-Generation College Student
Hometown: San Diego, California

Shina received her B.S. in General Biology and Global Health from UC San Diego.

See Shina for: Seventh College degree requirements

Advice to Seventh College students: Try to enjoy the present moment! Life can be chaotic, but you don’t need to have all the answers. Reach out to the community for support when you need an extra boost!

Sydney Gong (She/Her)

Peer Academic Advisor
Hometown: San Ramon, California

Sydney is an undergraduate student double majoring in History and World Literature and Culture.

Advice to Seventh College students: Don’t be afraid to talk to your professors or professional staff! It may be scary at first, but everyone is here to help you!

Josh Brimmeier, M.Ed. (He/Him/They)

Dean of Student Affairs | seventhstudentaffair@ucsd.edu
First-Generation College Student, Transfer College Student, Triton Transfer Ally
Hometown: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Josh received an Associate's degree in Business from Central Penn College, a B.S. in Psychology from Penn State University, and an M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Iowa State University.

See Josh for: Questions about anything related to UC San Diego, I may not know the answer, but I can point you in the right direction!

Carey Wallace, M.S. (She/Her)

Assistant Dean of Student Affairs | cawallace@ucsd.edu
First-Generation College Student, Triton Transfer Ally
Hometown: Almond, Wisconsin

Carey earned her B.A. in Communications and M.S. in College Student Development.

See Carey for: All things related to student life: student leadership opportunities, student organization advising (7CSC, Photosynthesis, new organizations), student conduct, access to campus resources

Advice to Seventh College students: Eexplore your out-of-class opportunities and get involved right away - it is easier to add co-curricular experiences from the start than it is to try squeezing things in later in the quarter.

Jordan Hinze (He/Him)

Coordinator of Student Activities | jjhinze@ucsd.edu
Transfer College Student, Triton Transfer Ally
Hometown: San Marcos, California

Jordan attended CSU Sacramento and Palomar College, and then transferred to UC San Diego to earn his B.A. in Political Science and Minor in Environmental Studies.

See Jordan for: Starting a student club or organization, resources/things to do in San Diego

Advice to Seventh College students: Build a network of staff, professors, and peers before graduating. Also, explore San Diego!

Perry Palleja, M.A. (He/Him)

Student Care & Accountability Specialist | ppalleja@ucsd.edu
First-Generation College Student
Hometown: San Diego, California

Perry received a B.A. in Communications from CSU San Marcos and an M.A. in Postsecondary Education Leadership with an emphasis in Student Affairs from San Diego State University. 

See Perry For: Students' transition to college, promoting DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) work,  assisting students with crisis and emergency response.

Advice to Seventh College Students: Get involved in the campus community and in something you feel passionate about. Don’t overstretch yourself with too many activities, but if you commit to one or two, UC San Diego will start to feel more like a place you can call home.

Kirstin Pianalto, M.A. (She/Her)

Senior New Student Programs Specialist | k1pianalto@ucsd.edu
Triton Transfer Ally
Hometown: Riverside, California

Kirstin received a B.S. in Psychology with a Specialization in Developmental Psychology from UC San Diego's Revelle College and an M.A. in Student Affairs Administration from Michigan State University. 

See Kirstin for: New Student Orientation, Triton Day, social media requests for Seventh College

Advice to Seventh College students: Pursue your passions, get involved, and ask for help when you need it!

Jolee Barr

Student Affairs Program and Administrative Assistant | j3barr@ucsd.edu
Hometown: San Diego, California

 Jolee received a B.S. in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Environmental Studies from UC San Diego's Roosevelt College. 

See Jolee for: Student organization support, College programs and initatives

Vacant

Administrative Coordinator to the Dean of Student Affairs

Cari Ann Urabe, Ph.D. (She/Her)

Director of Residence Life & Associate Dean of Student Affairs | curabe@ucsd.edu
Triton Transfer Ally
Hometown: Mililani, Hawaii

Cari received a B.A. in Business from Eastern Washington University, M.A. in Student Development Administration from Seattle University, and Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Bowling Green State University.

See Cari for: Opportunities to get involved in Residence Life (volunteer or paid positions), Feedback about the Seventh College Residence Life experience, Students of Concern, Connection to Resources

Advice to Seventh College students: Take advantage of all the different opportunities that are available to you (join or start clubs, travel abroad, seek leadership opportunities, explore off campus resources, engage with people from different backgrounds, get to know faculty and staff on campus).

Joquel Vasquez, M.A. (She/Her/Ella)

Assistant Director of Residence Life | jmv019@ucsd.edu
Triton Transfer Ally
Hometown: Lemon Grove, California

Joquel received her B.S. in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, minor is Spanish from San Diego State University, M.A.Postsecondary Educational Leadership with a Specialization in Student Affairs from San Diego State University.

See Joquel for: Come see me for all things Resident Council and how to get involved in Seventh College Residence Life. Support with Roommate and Apartment conflicts; assistance with room changes; and Information on Residential Community Standards, Student Conduct and Restorative Practices.

Advice to Seventh College students: Take advantage of the opportunities, resources, and experiences the University has to offer students. Build connections with peers, staff, and faculty - these relationships can be transformational to your college experience. Most roommate conflicts are the result of miscommunication or, in some cases, a total lack of communication. By communicating effectively, it will be much easier to foster a comfortable living environment for yourself and for your roommates. As always, remember to be safe, and make good decisions!

Alexandra Beltran, M.A. (She/Her)

Assistant Director of Residence Life | a2beltran@ucsd.edu
First Generation College Student, Additional Language Spoken: Spanish
Hometown: Indio, California

Alexandra received her B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, minor in Applied Psychology from UC Santa Barbara, and her M.A. in Postsecondary Educational Leadership with a Specialization in Student Affairs from San Diego State University.

See Alexandra for: Student leadership opportunities, such as Resident Council. I'm here to assist with roommate and apartment conflicts, provide support for room changes, and offer information on Student

Advice to Seventh College students: Join Seventh Resident Council to contribute to event planning and develop leadership skills – open to all Seventh College residents. As members, you'll have the chance to shape traditions for years to come!

Baylee Lunz, MPH (She/Her)

Assistant Director of Residence Life | blunz@ucsd.edu
First Generation College Student
Hometown: Tehachapi, California

Baylee received her B.S. in Kinesiology as well as her MPH in Community Health Education from California State University, Northridge.

See Baylee for: Roommate and apartment conflicts, community standard concerns and residential conduct, getting involved in residence life, and general support + questions related to your experience living at Seventh College!

Advice to Seventh College students: Prioritize yourself and your wellbeing! Take advantage of the wellness resources available to you on campus such as CAPS, The Zone, Tritons RISE, and a variety of Recreational Services. Check out more programs here: https://students.ucsd.edu/well-being/index.html

Brenden Thomas Cashatt, M.Ed. (They/Them)

Assistant Director of Residence Life | bcashatt@ucsd.edu
First Generation College Student, LGBTQ+ Safer Space Ally
Hometown: Descanso, California

Brenden received a B.A. in English with an emphasis in Poetry, minor in LGBT Studies from California State University, San Bernardino, and their M.Ed. in Student Development Administration from Seattle University.

See Brenden for: ways to get involved in the Seventh Residence Life community or on campus at UCSD, to talk about all things LGBTQ+ community, and any questions you have about living in Seventh College.

Advice to Seventh College students: This is an opportunity for you to really learn about yourself, to meet new people who come from different backgrounds, and see life in an entirely different way. When I was in college, I was able to grow and better understand myself and solidfy my values because I got involved and met new people. I highly encourage you to explore any interests you have, inside or outside of the classroom. It goes by fast, but it is one of the most valuable experiences you will ever have! Good luck!

Madenn Walikis, M.Ed. (They/Them)

Residence Life Housing Assistant | mewalikis@ucsd.edu
Hometown: Santa Cruz, California

Madenn received their B.A. in Dance as well as their M.Ed. from the University of California, San Diego.

See Madenn for: Room changes, housing contract terminations, and general housing and residence life information

Advice to Seventh College students: Get involved however you can on campus and find your people! A good support system of friends and chosen family really makes all the difference for your UCSD experience.

Z Todd (He/Him)

Residence Life Administrative Assistant | m2todd@ucsd.edu
Hometown: Portland, Oregon

Z received his B.A. in Climate Change and Human Solutions from UC San Diego.

See Z for: Feel free to contact me with any questions about living in Seventh, community guidelines, and if you are interested in connecting with campus resources.

Advice to Seventh College students: Find your passion and don't be afraid to follow it!

Dani Mendez (They/She)

Residence Life Operations Assistant | d3mendez@ucsd.edu
First Generation College Student, Transfer College Student, Additional Language Spoken: American Sign Language
Hometown: Oxnard, California

Dani received her B.S. in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience from UC San Diego.

See Dani for: Help connecting to campus resources or residence life-related questions. I can also help answer transfer student and first-generation student related questions and provide resources.

Advice to Seventh College students: As soon as you can, make a list of everything you want to do during your time at UC San Diego and when in your academic experience you want to prioritize engaging in them. The years go by quickly and deadlines even faster, it can be easy to get caught up in everything and miss opportunities that you really want to partake in. Plus, participating in extracurriculars makes for a well-rounded resume and grad school application, opening more doors for your future.

Jill Gladstein, Ph.D. (She/Her)

Director of Synthesis Program, Full Teaching Professor | jgladstein@ucsd.edu
Changemaker Fellow
Hometown: New Jersey

Jill earned a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from University of Wisconsin - Madison, and an M.S. Ed. in TESOL and Ph.D. in Reading, Writing and Literacy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Brenna Gormally, Ph.D. (She/Her)

Associate Director of Project-Based Learning, Assistant Teaching Professor | bgormally@ucsd.edu
Triton Transfer Ally
Hometown: Mountain Lakes, New Jersey

Brenna received her B.A. in Biology from Pomona College and her Ph.D. in Biology from Tufts University. She is interested in breaking down the traditional classroom and empowering students through project-based learning. 

See Brenna for: Synthesis 100, Teaching Assistant (TA) opportunities, project-based learning

Advice to Seventh College students: Feel confident saying "I don't know," and be excited to discover the answer.

Brittany Birberick, Ph.D.

Associate Director of Writing, Assistant Teaching Professor | brbirberick@ucsd.edu
Hometown: Gilbert, Arizona

Brittany received her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago and her Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from University of California, Berkeley.

See Brittany for: Synthesis 1, Synthesis 2, Synthesis 150, research and writing

Advice to Seventh College students: Sometimes you have to start writing to find out what you think about something. Don’t be afraid to write without knowing exactly where you're going to end up.

Stephanie Pineda, M.A. (She/Hers/Ella)

Assistant Director, Program Operations | s7pineda@ucsd.edu
First Generation College Student, Triton Transfer Ally, Additional Language Spoken - Spanish
Hometown: Escondido, CA

Stephanie received her B.S. in Human Biology from UC San Diego, Revelle College and an M.A. in Higher Education Leadership from the University of San Diego.

See Stephanie for: Information regarding the SYN Project Portal and the Synthesis Microgrant Program

Advice to Seventh College students: Be kind to yourself and ask for help when you need it! This time is meant for you to learn from any hiccups along the road as you lean on your Triton community.

Nathaniel Edds, M.Ed. (He/Him)

Program Coordinator | nedds@ucsd.edu
Hometown: Singapore

Nathaniel received his B.A. from Denison University and M.Ed. from University of Southern California. Nathaniel is passionate about interdisciplinary and innovative approaches to education and is thrilled to support the Synthesis Program.

See Nathaniel for: Information about Synthesis Program and writing programs, TA applications

Advice to Seventh College students: Relish the beauty of learning!

Chloe Thomas, M.A. (She/Her)

Events and Digital Communications Coordinator | cht040@ucsd.edu
Hometown: Denver, Colorado

Chloe received her B.A. in Sociology from UCLA and M.A. in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Assistance from the University of Denver.

See Chloe for: Information about Synthesis Programs and Events for students and faculty.

Advice to Seventh College students: Never stop learning and creating.

Gila Cohen

Amy Nannan