Connecting the Classroom to the Community

a letter from Dean Jeff Elman

As you may know, the campus has spent much of the past year evaluating its goals for the future. The strategic plan is not quite finalized but a few major themes have clearly emerged. These include, among others, a renewed commitment to education – both the education of our own students and students in local K-12 schools and community colleges – and a re-dedication of our mission as a public university to serve the public. The Partners at Learning program, featured in this issue’s spotlight, is a wonderful example of how these two themes can come together. Read More

Money for nothing: GiveDirectly.org, a nonprofit co-founded by UC San Diego economist Paul Niehaus, sends cash to poor people with no strings attached.



 

Do we, like, all talk like Valley girls now? According to new research by UC San Diego linguistics graduate student Amanda Ritchart the answer is ‘totally.’
 

Using numbers when you talk to your toddler may give her a better head start in math according to an international study led by psychologist David Barner.



 

The fall issue of UC San Diego’s alumni magazine, Triton, is bursting with stories focused on Education Studies’ 40 years of scholarship and outreach.
 

Strength in numbers – and beauty, too. A new psychology study examines why people appear more beautiful in groups.
 

Does race matter in online dating? A study by sociologist Kevin Lewis suggests that racial barriers to romance are not as insurmountable as we might suppose.



 

Social Sciences Dean Jeff Elman discusses UC San Diego’s foray into massive, open, online courses, or MOOCs, with KPBS.
 

Find us on Facebook! Connect with Social Sciences and stay up-to-date on news from the division.
 

UC San Diego is a top producer of Fulbright students. Sharon Seegers, a political science alumna, is one of them.
 

Social Sciences Supper Club, January 29, 2014 – Does the U.S. have a future as an industrial economy? Join Gordon Hanson of Economics and the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies as he discusses “China and the Future of U.S. Competitiveness.” Location: UC San Diego Faculty Club. Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Cost: $65/person or $40/UC San Diego alumni; includes wine reception, dinner and parking at the Faculty Club. For more information, contact dpkurtz@ucsd.edu.

In Gratitude: Thank you to alumnus Mark Freund ’76 and his wife Trice Koopman, Professor Emeritus Norman Anderson and Professor Emeritus David Jordan who have all made recent gifts to support undergraduate and graduate education and research.

Support the Future of Education: California public schools are about to face a shortage of qualified teachers. UC San Diego is trying to help. So can you.

To learn more about how you can support the Social Sciences, please contact Doug Kurtz at (858) 822-0805 or dpkurtz@ucsd.edu.

Alma (Key) Hills, Third/Marshall ’82 (History), M.A. ’95 (Education Studies) is currently the principal of Freese Elementary Arts and Culture Magnet School in San Diego. She served as a teacher for 17 years prior to becoming a school administrator. An educational consultant and speaker, Hills was also named 1999-2000 San Diego County Teacher of the Year.

Jacqueline Kirby Lovell, Third/Marshall ’80 (Sociology), M.A. ’82 (Sociology) is teaching kindergarten in Bangkok, Thailand, at a private international school. Previously, she was a teacher with the Vista Unified School District and taught in a teacher education program as well. Lovell also earned a masters of education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and an administrative credential from UC Santa Barbara.

Jose Manuel Villarreal, Ed.D. ’10 (Education Studies) is the senior director of the San Diego County Office of Education Juvenile Court and Community Schools program. He began his career as a high school counselor and taught at California State University, San Marcos. He was also the founding principal for Vista Magnet Middle School in the Vista Unified School District.

Robert Baracz, ’89 (Communication); Dan Nadir, ’87 (Cognitive Science); and Larry Weintraub, ’90 (Economics) served as alumni panelists for “What I’ve Learned from Life, Work and UCSD.” The annual event is presented to current students and young alumni by UCSD Alumni and Associated Students. The panelists share their transition from college to their careers and the experiences they have had along the way.

To send your update and learn more about reconnecting with campus, please contact Lisa Kellogg at (858) 534-9394 or lkellogg@ucsd.edu.