TRITON Magazine Fall 2020 | Page 64

LETTER FROM THE ALUMNI PRESIDENT

WE ’ RE IN THIS TOGETHER

As I write this note , many of us have lives , economies , and communities still walloped by the force and spread of COVID-19 . While so much of how we live , learn , work , and play has been upended — or worse , obliterated — UC San Diego alumni have responded with characteristic innovation , cooperation , and generosity . Thousands lead on the front lines in medical and technical fields , while others have devised safety procedures for cities and communities around the world . On campus , students volunteered and participated in testing protocols for the university ’ s Return to Learn program . Faculty and staff organized webinars addressing how we confront economic and racial inequities — longstanding crises compounding the impact of coronavirus . And many of you helped raise nearly 1 million dollars for the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund , a critical resource to support our campus communities , most especially students . The university and our Alumni Board thank you for your participation .

“ As we work to end this pandemic , UC San Diego has significant achievements to recognize as well .”

As we work to end this pandemic , UC San Diego has significant achievements to recognize as well . This fall , the university welcomes its largest and most diverse first-year class ever . Even though gameplay is postponed , our athletics programs are now officially in the Big West Conference and Division I competition . Coming up on October 19 – 25 , we will join together virtually to show our spirit — and lift our spirits — with Homecoming @ Home . You can find the full roster of online events on the next page . And make sure you visit homecoming . ucsd . edu to view virtual yearbooks and contribute your own photos and memories .
Lastly , on a personal note , over the past several years I have had the honor to serve as a mentor to current UC San Diego students . I now find that these regular chats with young Tritons have become much more meaningful in these months of distance , providing a balm during a time of such upheaval . I ’ m confident you will feel the same — please consider signing up on Tritons Connect to mentor a student or another alumnus . And if you need a mentor , you can find one the same way — tritonsconnect . com
We are all in this together , so please join us to connect , celebrate , support , and learn .
With Triton pride ,
Kimberley Phillips Boehm , Warren ’ 82 , PhD President , UC San Diego Alumni Board of Directors
62 TRITON | FALL 2020