The 2021 PWA Unsung Heroines
M. Ofelia (Ofi) Aguirre Paden
Director, Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships
“A key feature of Ofi’s leadership is her unwavering commitment to CSEP's mission. Ofi believes in the value and expertise of all of the CSEP team members, whom she has purposefully assembled for our complementary skill sets. She trusts us to do our jobs, solicits and listens to our ideas, and has created an environment where we all feel safe and supported to develop professionally, make CSEP's programming better every year, and better serve the campus community.
When the pandemic started last year, CSEP was in the middle of the application process for its summer research experiences for undergraduates. While many programs decided not to hold their summer programming, Ofi felt it was really important that CSEP find a way to still provide these opportunities to students. Despite all of her responsibilities as CSEP Director, Ofi took the lead on reimagining our long-running summer bridge program for incoming freshmen, the Summer Institute of Mathematics and Science (SIMS), as a virtual program. Recognizing that SIMS aims to serve students who lack opportunities and resources, she made sure that students knew that if they lacked anything in order to participate virtually, that CSEP would provide them with it. She put a lot of thought into all the technology that students would need and made sure the selected students had everything so that they could fully participate. This was never about making something that was ‘good enough in a pinch’ - she made every effort to make the program excellent and innovative, and it paid off. Students were so happy with the program that several virtual elements are likely to become a permanent addition to the SIMS programming even after in-person activity is once again allowed.”
Giulia Brofferio
Business Officer, Technology Management Department
“For the several years that I have been the department chair, I can attest that Giulia goes above and beyond to make sure that other employees, staff, faculty, and UCSB community are considered in department, college, and UCSB decisions.
She trains all new staff, work-study students, and oversees all staff operations, acting as the ‘point person’ for advice, content knowledge, and morale. She is tough and she is fair. Giulia helps them learn not only their jobs, but also how their jobs affect the department, the college and UCSB. Several times I have observed that Giulia recommends one of our own staff for other UCSB positions that she thinks will advance their career. She recognizes that service to the *person* and the institution outweighs any particular hardship that a vacancy might present for her.
Giulia is also critical to our success in faculty hiring. I understand that involving staff in faculty hiring is not common on campus. Giulia and our staff are one of the BIG selling points that our faculty consider when deciding on accepting a job in the department. For every candidate, Giulia and the staff meet with the candidate and attend all job talks. One of our newly-hired faculty members wrote this, about her own experience with Giulia during the job search:
‘Giulia has been a key force in welcoming new faculty to the department. She has unwaveringly given hours of her time to get new faculty up to speed on department practices and connected with campus resources. From the moment you meet her, you are impressed by her dedication to LGBTQ rights on campus, including the promotion of pronoun labels in department correspondence. Giulia has especially gone above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has taken on the duties of at least 3 staff, including finance and grants, which involved patiently guiding new faculty through the submission of their first external grant applications. Giulia is a keystone of the Technology Management department, and deserves to be recognized as such.’”
Jessica Fougere
Clery Act Coordinator, UCSB Police Department
“Over this past year, Jessica volunteered to oversee all the procurement and travel processes for the department. This required her to learn all of the systems necessary to do the work, clean up multiple business processes for the department, and ensure all necessary work got done. To have mastered as many financial and procurement systems as Jessica did in one year’s time is a huge accomplishment! She did all this while still doing all of her work as Clery Act Compliance Officer.
Jessica launched Campus Security Authority (CSA) training via the UC Learning Center, bringing it in line with UCOP Clery policy. This allows her to track who has completed the required training across all department on campus. Jessica built and led a first-ever series of CSA trainings via zoom.”
“Working with Jessica is a true pleasure! She is one of those, ‘get things done’ people which is wonderful, even when she is holding me to task. Jessica makes me want to do better work and to be a better person. She is a champion for women’s empowerment.”
Marisela Márquez
Executive Director, Associated Students
“I don’t know anyone more dedicated to students’ success and growth than Marisela. She mentors, supports, and guides students with passion, patience and recognition of their own agency within the university and the broader community.
All aspects of Marisela’s work demonstrate her commitment to the mission of UCSB, as she does it with integrity, humility, and for the good of the students and the broader community. She has deftly steered the efforts of Associated Students for over a decade, firmly and unapologetically putting students first, and ensuring that they have a role in the governance of the University.
Much of her powerful work happens behind the scenes and might go unnoticed, but her decades of work on this campus and in the community have left a lasting and should be celebrated.”
Elisa Ortega Montilla
Woodshop Technician, Art Department
“Elisa has made such a huge impact for young women and people of color who are pursuing art through both the Art Department and CCS. She has shifted a very male-dominated space into an inclusive environment. She is the first woman hired to the role and she took on the responsibility of encouraging women to come to the shop and learn how to use the tools. She has made the woodshop an inclusive place where learning was not considered a weakness but something that can be mastered. She introduced empowerment to the learning process.
After George Floyd’s death last summer, Elisa jumped to action. She attended many antiracist and DEI training courses. Engaged in breakout groups and discussions on how to improve the department and cluster. She organized an antiracist book club for the entire cluster that has been ongoing since last summer. She continues to play a critical role in the learning, growing and supporting change.”
Megan Peterson
Student Affairs Officer, College of Creative Studies
“Megan has remained a constant pillar of support for the entire College of Creative Studies for the past five years. As an adviser, the primary goal of the job is to make sure that your students get into their appropriate classes and graduate. Megan has seen 5 graduating classes and has helped every single one of them get to that stage.
She has been navigating an immense workload amidst many staff and leadership transitions. [During these transitions], she worked over 40 hours every week and took no time off in order to be there for her students, faculty and other staff.
Megan is one of the most compassionate people that I know. She is also a founding member of the LGBTQ Staff Club and works actively to keep folks engaged and helps program activities for our queer staff community on campus. Megan is an incredible gem that has yet to be recognized!”
Consuelo Rivera
Staff Graduate Program Advisor and Student Programs Manager
“Consuelo is a tireless and phenomenal worker for UCSB’s Geography department. Consuelo has been a constant and reassuring presence throughout my PhD program, and her institutional knowledge of our department shows. She is always timely and organized in her communications regarding important deadlines and department events.
I can only imagine that COVID-19 has made Consuelo’s job more difficult, and yet, there has been no perceived disturbance in the department’s administrative capacities. If anything, it seems like Consuelo quickly adapted to the need for completely digital correspondence and has actively maintained communication with everyone. Consuelo’s efforts are instrumental to this department and deserve to be recognized; I cannot imagine anyone else being able to do what she does with the efficiency and grace with which she does it.
One of UCSB’s major missions is to support the educational experience of its students, and Consuelo has done this thoroughly. The UCSB Geography department may be regarded highly within the GeoSciences, but people like Consuelo uphold that prestige beyond academics by treating each one of us like we are deserving of respect and support. Consuelo makes our jobs easier, and her work ethic and professionalism demonstrate that this department is worthy of pride and investment in our shared legacy.”
Kathleen Vu
Campus Organizations & Activities Coordinator, Student Engagement & Leadership (SEAL/OSL)
“Kathleen is a ray of sunshine on a gloomy day. Everyone smiles when Kathleen is in the room (physically or virtually). Kathleen makes friends everywhere she goes. Her energy is infectious and you can feel her kindness fill your heart when you are around her.
She joined SEAL as our department was shifting in terms of decreased staffing and more work responsibilities to take on. She has always served as a team player and when she has witnessed a member of the team struggling, she is swift to reach out and support them. Her work goes beyond SEAL, she has taken it upon herself to serve as the Shoreline QUEEN. So many of our campus partners believe there is a large team behind the Shoreline Support email- it's really just Kathleen! This system serves over 57,000 folks and Kathleen has led our effort to extend service to students, staff, and faculty.
Kathleen is a UCSB alumnus. There's something special about our campus when we have so much love and admiration for our community. Kathleen's commitment to UCSB is evident in the work she has done in Admissions and now in SEAL. She embodies what I believe is service beyond self.”