Tricia ( Thompson ) Simpson ’ 84
Muir , Communications
Why do you give to UC San Diego ? The short answer is to provide access to students who need it . I come from a long line of UC grads , and my siblings and I all graduated from UC San Diego ( Tricia ’ 84 , Scott ’ 86 and Karen Thompson ’ 88 ). There was never a question that we would attend college , and frankly , we never considered going anywhere other than a UC campus because of their status as premier public universities . We were fortunate that our parents were able to plan and save for our tuition and housing , while we were individually responsible for books and personal expenses . I give because I want ambitious students who aspire to graduate from UC San Diego — particularly those who are financially independent — to have access to resources to help them earn their degree like we did .
What are you most proud of from your time here ? I ’ m most proud of my internship with the public defender in Washington , DC . It was the most broadening experience I ’ d had at that point in my life . I didn ’ t know what I was getting into , but it worked out . I ’ ve repeated similar leaps of faith several times in my career , opening up great opportunities with equally good outcomes .
What impact do you want to make at UC San Diego ? I want to ensure that the foundation for future students is sound : world-class professors , educational opportunities off campus , and an inclusive and diverse campus that welcomes and challenges students . I want graduates to leave with the confidence that they are ready for their next steps in the world and with a degree from a university they can always be proud of .
Kim MacConnel ’ 68 , MFA ’ 72
Muir , Visual Arts
Why do you give to UC San Diego ? The great minds I was exposed to as a student and came to love way back then inspired me with their unsparing generosity . I want that to continue . My career as an artist , indeed the “ art movement ,” started at UC San Diego . I helped found Pattern & Decoration , or P & D , as it became known in the mid- ’ 70s . It began with early discussions with another student , Robert Kushner ’ 71 , and our mentor and friend Amy Goldin . It was life-changing .
What are you most proud of from your time here ? I ’ ve had a long history with UC San Diego — as a student , alumnus , professor and department chair — and it all speaks to why or how I became committed over time to honoring the institution , teachers , ideas , discussion , and certainly fellow alumni and students who benefit from a life-changing education . My commitment to UC San Diego only gets stronger .
What impact do you want to make at UC San Diego ? Whether through our yearly gift or through our estate trust , my wife and I aim to support the university ’ s teaching mission and Visual Arts students for some time to come . Be it bringing in visiting artists to give talks , or covering materials so students have what they need for projects , we want to support student progress . I hope our giving might encourage others of like mind to do the same .
Nate Wilbanks ’ 18
Roosevelt , International Studies
Why do you give to UC San Diego ? I became involved with philanthropy and community conscientiousness early on with the Student Foundation . Our campus was my first home away from home , and I have always been inclined to give back to my community . The Student Foundation was a perfect fit as I was able to give and fundraise in the name of student support and success .
What are you most proud of from your time here ? I ’ m proud of those early days and events in the Student Foundation , where I met the students that were directly receiving the support we were working so hard to provide . Seeing our hard work and interminable hours of tabling and cold-calling for donations come to fruition in the form of scholarships and programs has been a deciding factor in my continued career in philanthropy .
What impact do you want to make at UC San Diego ? I want to support mental health resources on campus . Student success is aided by much more than receiving scholarships — mental health plays a huge role in helping every member of the Triton community be their healthiest and most capable selves . No one in our community should ever feel alone , unseen , or unheard , and there is so much that we can all do , including giving , to help make our community stronger .
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