Alumni Career Network

The UC Alumni Career Network is a high-impact, online series designed to provide UC alumni and community members with the insights, information, and connections to launch, grow and expand your career opportunities.

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This volunteer-driven career education series is made possible by generous UC alumni like you. We invite you to participate in a future event or share your suggestions for future topics.

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Building a sustainable future: Careers in environmental justice

Join us for an enlightening conversation with UC Alumni who are making a difference in the world of environmental justice. Their mission is clear: to ensure equitable treatment for all, regardless of their background, in the development, enforcement, and adherence to environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Acquire insights from these dedicated professionals as they recount their journey into this field and the substantial impact they are creating to foster healthier communities for everyone.

Join us for an enlightening conversation with UC Alumni who are making a difference in the world of environmental justice. Their mission is clear: to ensure equitable treatment for all, regardless of their background, in the development, enforcement, and adherence to environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Acquire insights from these dedicated professionals as they recount their journey into this field and the substantial impact they are creating to foster healthier communities for everyone.

This webinar was originally recorded on May 9, 2023 as part of the UC Alumni Career Network webinar series.

Moderated by:

  • Cindy Lin '92, MS '94, PhD '02 (UCLA), Co-founder and CEO at Hey Social Good; Chair and President of San Diego Environmental Film Festival  

Featured Speakers: 

  • Jaimie Huynh '15, MAS '16 (UC San Diego), Environmental Justice Scientific Advisor at California Environmental Justice Alliance

  • Pooja Jhobalia-Pelham '06 (UC Riverside), Global Responsibility Lead – Food Waste and Hunger Relief Investment at Starbucks

  • Shah Selbe '04 (UC Riverside), Conservation Technologist and Photographer

  • Mario Abraham Zúñiga '13 (UC San Diego), Environmental Justice Coordinator at US Environmental Protection Agency

Recording Date: February 7, 2024

Redefining success: The first-generation college experience

Join us for an open and authentic conversation with first-generation alumni who will share their personal experiences, provide advice, and discuss what it truly means to be the first in your family to attend college.

Join us for an open and authentic conversation with first-generation alumni who will share their personal experiences, provide advice, and discuss what it truly means to be the first in your family to attend college. This webinar was originally recorded on November 8, 2023 as part of the UC Alumni Career Network webinar series.

Moderated by: Randell Rueda UC Merced ’11 & UC Davis ’17 Health Professional, Non-Profit Leader, UC Merced Alumni Association President

Featured Speakers:

Michael Markulim UC San Diego ’18

Symone Morales UCLA ’16

Dr. Sam Pak UCSF ’06, ’07

Perspectives on quiet quitting

On the one hand, “quiet quitting” has been framed as an empowered response to burnout and a bold rejection of hustle culture, and on the other, as a new term for a long-established workplace behavior: employee disengagement. This session will bring together emerging professionals, HR leaders, and career strategists to redefine quiet quitting, offer strategies employees and companies can take to leverage this shift, and explore tangible ways to create more sustainable workplaces.

On the one hand, “quiet quitting” has been framed as an empowered response to burnout and a bold rejection of hustle culture, and on the other, as a new term for a long-established workplace behavior: employee disengagement. Varying definitions and perspectives of this trend among employers and employees have sparked controversy and has inspired our upcoming conversation with UC alumni. This session will bring together emerging professionals, HR leaders, and career strategists to redefine quiet quitting, offer strategies employees and companies can take to leverage this shift, and explore tangible ways to create more sustainable workplaces.

Moderator: Alison Soberanis, UC Davis alumna

Panelists: Jaime Viramontes, UC Irvine alumnus

Mallory B Boeckman, UC Santa Barbara alumna

Cristina G. Banks, Ph.D. UC Berkeley alumna

Recorded October 18, 2023 12pm

Professional etiquette in a hybrid work environment

What does professionalism mean post pandemic? As we return to life post pandemic, etiquette in the workplace has changed. Should I shake their hand? Wear a mask? Order new business cards? How do I network using online tools? From interviewing to in-office and online interaction. Here tips and tricks for professionals about adapting to our new work environment.

Moderated by: Alfonso Salazar, Senior Director at KPMG US, Alumni Regent-Designee for University of California

Featuring: Dr. Tanya Erazo, Founder, Liberate Psychological & Consultation Services, Inc. Adjunct Professor of Psychology, University of San Francisco & John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York (CUNY)

Recording Date: August 9, 2023

Social mobility and adjusting to an office culture

All UC campuses stand out for advancing social mobility, but what happens once you join the workforce after growing up in a blue-collar work environment? Our panel of UC alumni will share how they adjusted to a work environment unlike anything they had experienced. Hear what advice they would have given to their younger selves.

Moderated by: Josefina E. Canchola ’88, Director of Secondary Programs for the University of California, Berkeley's Puente Project and President-Elect for the UCR Alumni Association Featuring: Frank Figueroa, Ed.D. ’14, City of Coachella Council Member & UC Riverside Financial Operations Manager CNAS Deans Office Cynthia Carter ’06, EPIC Program Manager, Mechanical Engineer at San Diego Gas and Electric Company

Retiring the concept of retirement

Retirement has always been framed as the ultimate end goal, but for many people over 55, it’s just the beginning. From joining new companies to leading multi-generational teams, professionals over 55 have found new ways to learn, contribute to organizations and create new pathways. Retiring doesn’t have to be the end goal, and this event explores what it’s like to rejuvenate your career goals and trajectory.

Retirement has always been framed as the ultimate end goal, but for many people over 55, it’s just the beginning. From joining new companies to leading multi-generational teams, professionals over 55 have found new ways to learn, contribute to organizations and create new pathways. Retiring doesn’t have to be the end goal, and this event explores what it’s like to rejuvenate your career goals and trajectory.

How to land a job at the University of California

UC is recognized as a top employer with outstanding professional careers. If you value a stimulating and diverse work environment and have an interest to contribute to the university’s core missions of public service, teaching and research, please join us to learn more about the exceptional benefits and career opportunities at UC.

UC is recognized as a top employer with outstanding professional careers. If you value a stimulating and diverse work environment and have an interest to contribute to the university’s core missions of public service, teaching and research, please join us to learn more about the exceptional benefits and career opportunities at UC.

Living the dream: Stories of entrepreneurial success

Meet fellow UC alumni who followed their dreams of starting their own business. Hear their stories of how their personal journeys gave them the resilience to overcome the challenges of a start-up and how their community uplifts and sustains their dreams today. This is an inspirational program that you won't want to miss.

Meet fellow UC alumni who followed their dreams of starting their own business. Hear their stories of how their personal journeys gave them the resilience to overcome the challenges of a start-up and how their community uplifts and sustains their dreams today. This is an inspirational program that you won't want to miss.

Building and retaining a healthcare workforce for health equity

Building pathways for healthcare professionals of diverse backgrounds is an important key to advancing health equity and treating vulnerable and under-served communities. Join UC President Michael V. Drake M.D. for an industry-specific conversation discussing how UC alumni serving in leadership positions across health professions are creating spaces for a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce in healthcare to advance health equity.

Building pathways for healthcare professionals of diverse backgrounds is an important key to advancing health equity and treating vulnerable and under-served communities. Join UC President Michael V. Drake M.D. for an industry-specific conversation discussing how UC alumni serving in leadership positions across health professions are creating spaces for a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce in healthcare to advance health equity.