UC San Diego hit the road again for the second year, showcasing the university and bringing lively topics to the doorsteps of alumni. The UCSD Near You effort is an opportunity for UCSD to reconnect with previous graduates through its successful nationwide tour. More than 600 alumni attended the March through May events, which offered an evening of lively discussion and networking opportunities. A survey of guests showed that 39 percent had never before attended a UCSD-sponsored event.

Presented by the UCSD Alumni Association and The Campaign for UCSD: Imagine What's Next, the UCSD Near You nine-city tour stopped in Sacramento, Los Angeles, Orange County, New York City, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, San Diego, Washington D.C. and Boston.

UCSD chancellor Marye Anne Fox was joined by featured faculty that included Richard Carson, Ph.D., Ken Melville, Ph.D., and Richard Somerville, Ph.D., discussing "Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned About Global Warming;" Laura Schreibman, Ph.D., presenting "Childhood Autism: Fact, Fiction and Why It Is So Important to Know the Difference;" Larry Smarr, Ph.D., talking about "Calit2 - A UC Experiment for Living in the Future;" Larry Goldstein, Ph.D., presenting "Stem Cells and the Therapies of the Future;" and Samuel Popkin, Ph.D., speaking about "The Changing Political Landscape." Former U.S. Congressman and UCSD alum Timothy J. Roemer, '79, offered "Insights into the 9/11 Commission."

"UCSD has over 100,000 alumni, with about 30 percent who no longer live in San Diego County," said John Valva, executive director of the UCSD Alumni Association. "UCSD Near You not only offers a great networking event for those who have moved away, but also provides the university an opportunity to bring our world-class faculty to alumni, parents and friends throughout the country."

Valva added, "We are particularly pleased to see so many new attendees. Our stellar faculty, together with extremely topical presentations, have become a draw that many can't resist. This year we engaged alumni with issues that affect daily life - whether it's learning more about autism, or understanding stem cell research."

Boston attorney J. Mark Waxman, a 1970 graduate of UCSD and host of this year's tour stop in his city, agrees that the UCSD Near You events present an excellent way for alumni to reconnect with the university. "I hadn't participated in an alumni activity in years, but after the 2005 event, I realized that I was long overdue to regain a connection with a place and time that were among the most enjoyable of my life," he said.

Waxman also learned that, despite living on the East Coast, his alma mater is never far from his heart. Hearing about UCSD's strengths and opportunities at last year's UCSD Near You event motivated Waxman to call his sister and fellow UCSD alum, Dr. J. Leslie Waxman, '75, to provide funds for the Waxman Family Alumni Leadership Scholarship endowment.