The IDEA Center Team
Alex Phan, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
Executive Director for Student Success
alexphan@ucsd.eduÌý| 858-822-4636
Office hours: By appointment
Responsibilities: Dr. Alex Phan provides leadership and direction for student success-centered initiatives, programs, and curriculum refinement. He works closely with IDEA Center staff to optimize resources, create access points to programs within Jacobs School of Engineering and general campus, and develops strategies to foster students’ personal, academic, and professional excellence. As the EDSS, Alex strives to synergize the six departments within the Jacobs School of Engineering through programs, initiatives, and research focusing on areas vital to student success in engineering.
Jackie Duerr, Ed.D. (she/her/hers)
Director
jduerr@ucsd.eduÌý| 858-246-5268
Schedule a meeting:Ìý Ìý Ìý|ÌýÌýÌýÌý
Responsibilities: Jackie provides leadership, supervision, and direction to the IDEA Engineering Student Center team to ensure studentsÌýare supported academically, personally, and professionally. Through an equity-minded, student-centered lens, Jackie works closely with the team by providing management, strategic planning, and oversight of student programs. As the Director, Jackie strives to ensure the IDEA Engineering Student Center is pioneering cutting-edge retention and professional development programs, ensuring the pathway to engineering is possible to all students.Ìý
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Sara Eckardt (she/her/hers)
Assistant Director
sleckardt@ucsd.eduÌý| 858-822-3780
Responsibilities:ÌýSara manages and coordinates the center's academic success programs:ÌýEngineering Learning Communities, Guided Engineering Apprenticeship in Research, and Academic Achievement Program.
Jessica Baldis, M.S. (she/her/hers)
Strategic Initiatives and Assessment Senior Analyst
jbaldis@ucsd.eduÌý| 858-534-6779
Office hours: By appointment
Responsibilities: Jessica develops and implements methods for assessing the impact of IDEA Engineering Student Center initiatives on student retention and success.
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Ruben D. Rodriguez, M.A. (he/him/his)
Program Coordinator
r1rodriguez@ucsd.eduÌý|Ìý858-534-9939
Responsibilities: Ruben manages the IDEA Scholars program and serves as the instructor for the ENG 5 course. He coordinates the Engineering Overnight Program for admitted students and co-coordinates the Summer Engineering Institute. He is also advisor to the diversity student organizations NSBE, SHPE, SWE, oSTEM, WIC, and SASE.Ìý
Alejandra Arguelles, M.A. (she/her/hers)
Program Coordinator
marguelles@ucsd.eduÌý| (858) 822-3778
Responsibilities: Alejandra serves as an advisor for engineering student organizations. She offers Academic Coaching to engineering students and oversees resources for engineering student organizations such as Engineering Leadership Summit, and DEI Requirements. Alejandra also coordinates the Jacobs School Scholars program and WISE Sessions, and co-coordinates the Summer Engineering Institute.
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Gwen Maley, B.A.Ìý(she/her/hers)
Operations and Events Coordinator
gmaley@ucsd.eduÌý| 858-246-1556
Responsibilities: Gwen provides administrative, logistic, and fiscal support for the IDEA Engineering Student Center's programs and activities. She also oversees the IDEA Center's communications, office operations and courses. Gwen coordinates the Student Travel Fund, Transfer Prep, Welcome Week Engineering Fair, Matching Funds, Project Spaces and the Ring Ceremony.
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Student Interns
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Mery Phung
Administrative and Events Intern
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Caroline Huynh
Design and Graphics Intern
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Chanta Chea
Social Media and Graphic Intern
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Hou (Hugh) Wan
Administrative and Events Intern, Transfer Student
Matthue Walsh
Administrative and Events Intern, Transfer Student
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Jean Paul
Media Intern
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Chirag Agarwal
Research and Assessment Intern
Ariel
Research and Assessment Intern
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Karen Yan
Academic Assistant
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Contact Us
Campus Location:ÌýJacobs Hall (EBU-1), Room 1400Ìý
Map and Directions »Ìý
Mailing Address:
IDEA Engineering Student Center, Â鶹´«Ã½
9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0429
La Jolla, CA 92093-0429
Phone:Ìý(858) 534-6105
Email:Ìýidea@ucsd.edu