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Meet the Staff

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.

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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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Headshot Photo of Sara Eckardt

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.

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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

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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