contents
5 Message from the Dean
READ MORE
6 Finding her voice
Involvement in campus life and leadership helped triple major Amy Hu ’18 find the
confidence to speak at her graduation and with it, she wants to thank her father for
helping her and her sisters find UCI
READ MORE
10 Going with the flow
As CEO of Oru Kayak, Ardy Sobhani ’04 says the key to being a successful entrepreneur
is checking your ego at the door
READ MORE
12 In her own words
’18 Lauds and Laurels Outstanding Undergrad Iman Siddiqi will cap off an extraordinary
undergrad career by addressing a stadium of her peers as a commencement speaker
READ MORE
16 Breaking down poverty
UCI Visiting Distinguished Professor Martin Burt says that the key to eliminating
poverty is taking the focus off of income
READ MORE
18 Happy in hot water
UCI alumna Sashee Chandran ’07 ditched her Silicon Valley career to follow her passion
for tea
READ MORE
22 When passion & past pave way to profession
Growing up in a communist country shaped Nina Bandelj’s prolific career as a UCI sociologist
READ MORE
25 More than a game
Grad student Evan Conaway studies the relationships between computer gamers, servers,
and nostalgia
READ MORE
26 One day at a time
Sarah Mahoney ’18 is proof that the Anteater spirit can conquer just about anything
READ MORE
30 From cockpit to courtroom
UCI helped Marine Corps veteran Advaith Thampi ’16 find his path after military life
READ MORE
32 Seeing health in a cultural context
Professor Belinda Campos studies how the Latino approach to relationships yields mental
and physical benefits
READ MORE
34 Making her own path
How sociology major Priscilla Tenggara ’18 landed her dream job at Facebook
READ MORE
38 Business in bloom
Stephanie Domzalski ’03 creates community through floral art with BloomLA, a pop-up
art show debuting in Los Angeles
READ MORE
43 Excellence in teaching
First gen mentor and professor Davin Phoenix one of 19 honored at Celebration of Teaching
ceremony
READ MORE
44 Education champion
Alumna Nikita Patel left a comfortable job to volunteer with the Peace Corps - now
she’s ready to make change here at home
READ MORE
46 Making her mark
At only 34, Jennifer dos Santos ’05 has already toured the world as a musician, earned
top rankings in national bodybuilding competitions, and run a nonprofit empowering
people affected by limb loss
READ MORE
50 A fresh approach
UCI Aeberhard winner Alondra Lopez pushed through fear and jumped into her freshman
year with both feet – now she’s helping others get the most out of their educational
opportunities
READ MORE
52 National recognition
Dosher, Solingen honored by National Academy of Sciences for research achievements
in human cognition and nuclear proliferation
READ MORE
53 A research focus
UCI-led study identifies assets, needs of county’s fastest-growing immigrant community
READ MORE
54 Forbes top 30 under 30
Benny Luo ’10, founder and CEO of NextShark, recognized for work in media
READ MORE
56 Classroom crusader
Aspiring engineer turned education activist Daijanique Joseph ’18 is using her UCI
education to help children get equal access to quality schooling
READ MORE
58 Mentorship matters
A mentor changed Jeanett Castellanos’ life 25 years ago - she’s been paying it forward
ever since
READ MORE
61 In memoriam: Joseph White
Pioneering mental health professional, renowned scholar & beloved teacher-mentor was
an inspirational campus icon
READ MORE
62 Ventures in vino
Alumna Karen Nguyen left her established corporate career for the exciting world of
wine, art, and entrepreneurship
READ MORE
63
The quirks of controlling rent
Brian Asquith ’17 Ph.D. examines the hidden consequences of rent control in award-winning
dissertation
READ MORE
64 Sixty years in the making
How photos snapped by a young Fulbright scholar got new life six decades later, thanks
to a snowstorm in Italy
READ MORE
68 Homelessness in OC
UCI sociologists Snow and Goldberg conduct groundbreaking cost study
READ MORE
70 A legacy of giving
Christian Werner and his partner, Kathy Alberti, donate more than $4.4 million to
support fellowships
in the school’s top-ranked graduate programs
READ MORE
72 Lauds & Laurels
Investor-philanthropist Steve Borowski ’79 receives top honor; contributions of 20
prominent Anteaters –
including four more from social sciences – celebrated for campus and community
involvement
READ MORE
73 Making his case
Matthew Stein ’00, cofounder & senior partner, Law & Stein, LLP
READ MORE
74 Outlive Design
Alumna Mariam Ejaz helps clients crowd fund their interior design dreams
READ MORE
75 Alumni Network
Join today and stay in touch with your alma mater
READ MORE
be BOLD
- - - - -
a publication of the UCI School of Social Sciences
- - - - -
writers, designers, editors & photographers
Heather Ashbach, Bria Balliet,
Frank Cancian, Luis Fonseca, Pat Harriman,
Jill Kato, Roy Rivenburg, Peyton Wolonsky,
Steven Zylius
special thanks to contributing
photographers from:
Aristotle Capital Management LLC, BloomLA,
Inspired Art Wine, Law & Stein, LLP,
Oru Kayak, Tea Drops
- - - - -
School Leadership
Bill Maurer, Dean
Michael McBride, Associate Dean
Michael Lee, Acting Associate Dean
Dave Leinen, Assistant Dean
Development
Tracy Arcuri, Executive Director
Liz Dahl, Director
Rosemarie Swatez, Associate Director
Melissa Churlonis, Coordinator
- - - - -
Marketing & Communications
Heather Ashbach, Executive Director
Luis Fonseca, Digital Media Production
featured on cover:
BloomLA - co-curated by Stephanie
Domzalski ’03 - held a preview show in Griffith Park
Los Angeles to much applause.
- - - - -
connect with us