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 Master's Degree in Education (M.Ed.) from the University of California, Los Angeles.

See Alisa For: Meetings with the Provost

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

Acting Dean of Academic Advising | seventhadvising@ucsd.edu
Hometown: San Diego, California

Cyrus received undergraduate B.A. 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, M.A. (She/They)

Academic Advisor
Triton Transfer Ally
Hometown: San Diego, California

Claire received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Marine Biology from UCLA and her M.A. in Education with a Concentration in Counseling from San Diego State University.

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!

Kai Vilar (They/Them)

Academic Advisor
Hometown: San Clemente, California

Kai received their B.A. in Literature/Writing from UC San Diego. 

See Kai 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!

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.

Briana Aguilar, M.A. (She/Her/Ella)

Coordinator of Student Activities | b3aguilar@ucsd.edu
First-Generation College Student, Additional Language Spoken - Spanish
Hometown: Denver, Colorado

Briana received her Bachelor of Arts and Master's in Higher Education from the University of Denver.

See Briana for: help building community, student leader support, and student leadership opportunities

Advice to Seventh College Students: You may not know what is on the other side of many doors that offer you opportunities, but do not be afraid to step through those doors! Try to do as many new experiences as possible. Always remember that you belong here. Also, be confident to ask for help, there is no shame in getting help whether that be homework or looking for directions to a building.

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!

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

Eunice Li (She/Her/Hers)

Eunice received a B.A. in Sociology-Social Inequality from UC San Diego.

See Eunice for: Move-in/Move-out, Keycard Access, Connecting to resources, Any questions you have about Seventh housing

Advice to Seventh College students: Being here is a great opportunity to learn about yourself and others. Take advantage of all the resources you have at UC San Diego and use those resources to explore who you are and who you want to be. Stay connected with peers, staff and faculty because those connections can help you in your future journey. Also, university can be very hectic sometimes but please don't forget to take a break and take care of your well-being!

David Shapiro (He/Him)

Residence Life Administrative Assistant | dsshapiro@ucsd.edu
Hometown: Los Angeles, California

David received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UCSD.

See David for: Fiscal management for Resident Assistants, distribution of conduct cases for Seventh College Residence Life, and co-supervising the Office Assistant team. I've also worked as a Resident Assistant for Seventh College for 2 years if you have any questions of what it is like working in residence life.

Advice to Seventh College students: Explore the campus as much as you can. The benefit of Seventh College is being one of the farther colleges from main campus, this is a great excuse to explore more of campus, as well as off campus areas like Gliderport.

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, California

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.

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.

Ryan Dagamac (He/Him)

Front Desk Intern
Hometown: Danville, California

Ryan is majoring in Urban Studies and Planning and minoring in Chinese Studies and Real Estate Development.

Advice to Seventh College students: Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new! You never know if you never try :)

Sequoia Chamlee (She/Her)

Front Desk Intern
Hometown: Santa Barbara, California

Sequoia is majoring in Education Sciences & Sociology: Law and Society and minoring in History & Climate Change Studies.

Advice to Seventh College students: Enjoy and take full advantage of everything Seventh has to offer! Being at the furthest edge of campus you will find Seventh really becomes a close community. You'll find plenty of fun events, provide free resources, strong support, killer ocean views, and truly amazing people. Seventh is the perfect place to get involved and find your community!

Damady Verganza (She/Her)

Front Desk Intern
First Generation College Student, Additional Language Spoken - Spanish
Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Damady is majoring in Human Developmental Science with a Specialization in Equity and Diversity.

Advice to Seventh College students: Enjoy every moment! Use all the resources available to you and never be scared to ask for advice or help!

Katrina Panoringan

Jai Rajput

Isabella Pan

Renzel Tansiatco (He/Him)

PACE Fellow
First Generation College Student, Additional Language Spoken - Tagalog
Hometown: San Francisco, California

Renzel is majoring in Structural Engineering.

Advice to Seventh College students: Try to know more today than you did yesterday.

Gila Cohen

Amy Nannan