UCSD - University of California - San Diego
09/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/16/2025 07:13
UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies Showcase 2025 Connects Campus, Community, and Workforce
Story by:
- Joy Frye- [email protected]
Published Date
September 16, 2025Article Content
On Monday, October 6, UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies will host its annual Showcase, celebrating the division's expansive role in advancing the university's mission through education, workforce development, and meaningful community partnerships.
Held at the division's home at 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive-just across from the main UC San Diego campus-the event will highlight the economic, cultural, and collaborative impact of the division's work across the region and beyond.
"Each year, Showcase exemplifies how Extended Studies serves as a bridge, connecting learners, faculty, researchers, employers, and innovators to shape the future of our workforce and community together," said Dr. Hugo Villar, Dean of UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies.
Showcasing Services, Sparking Collaboration
This year's program invites UC San Diego faculty and staff, as well as community members and regional partners, to connect with the division's leadership team. Participants will explore how the Division of Extended Studies supports their goals through custom training solutions, grant development and evaluation, international engagement, and more.
Guests are invited to enjoy light refreshments prior to the program, after which Dean Villar will offer opening remarks and provide an overview of the division's evolving role in connecting campus innovation with global and regional communities.
Meet the Team
The session Meet the Extended Studies Team will introduce several of the division's key leaders, each spearheading programs that bridge academia, industry, and the public:
- Georgia Kovacs, Executive Director, Center for Research and Evaluation
- Natalie Walsh, Executive Director, UCTV
- Patti Juza, Associate Dean and Executive Director, International Programs
- Shannon McDonald, Director, Corporate Education and Custom Training
- Ed Abeyta, Associate Dean, Education and Community Outreach
These leaders will share how their units support faculty and community partners through research, workforce initiatives, outreach, and global programming.
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Campus partners discuss their collaborations with Extended Studies at the 2024 Showcase. The division currently works with more than 30 campus units to help expand educational access and create opportunities for faculty, students, staff and the broader community.
Highlighting Campus and Community Partnerships
In Campus Partnerships with Extended Studies, four UC San Diego leaders will explore how collaborations with the division expand access to education, create opportunities for faculty and students, and strengthen connections between the university and the broader community.
UC San Diego panelists include:
Lisa Ordóñez, Dean of the Rady School of Management
An award-winning scholar in behavioral economics and leadership, Dr. Ordóñez is the first woman to serve as dean of Rady, shaping the school's vision for the future.
Shara Freeman Hoefel, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni Engagement
Hoefel oversees programs and initiatives that connect UC San Diego's 250,000+ alumni worldwide, building lifelong engagement and philanthropy.
Ashley Gambhir, Executive Director of Transformation at UC San Diego Health
An accomplished leader in organizational improvement, Gambhir directs enterprise-wide innovation strategies, advancing patient care through operational excellence.
Kyle Hofer-Mora, Director of External Relations & Educational Innovation, School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences
Hofer-Mora develops and implements the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute's education and training programs and leads expansion of the program portfolio.
The conversation will be moderated by Shannon McDonald, Director of Corporate Education and Custom Training, who develops custom learning solutions for regional employers.
Campus to Community Partnerships
The program concludes with Campus to Community Partnerships, a panel on how higher education, workforce agencies, and regional leaders can work together to address talent needs, advance equity, and prepare San Diego for the future of work. The discussion will be grounded in workforce insights presented by Kelly Nielsen, Assistant Director at the Center for Research and Evaluation, who studies labor markets and higher education outcomes across the region.
Community panelists include:
Mark Cafferty, President & CEO, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation
A leader in advancing regional prosperity, Cafferty oversees strategies that align workforce development with innovation and infrastructure to meet the needs of a changing economy.
Kaylah Mackroy, Senior Director of Sector Initiatives, San Diego Workforce Partnership
Mackroy designs workforce development initiatives that create career pathways for underserved communities and strengthen regional talent pipelines.
Tina Ngo Bartel, Executive Director, Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research, San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges
Ngo Bartel leads research that informs program design and policy decisions, helping education providers respond to labor market trends with data-driven precision.
Together, they will share strategies for cross-sector collaboration that meets the moment-fostering equity, innovation, and long-term community impact.
Join the Conversation-and the Celebration
To wrap up the event, a networking happy hour will allow attendees to connect directly with guest speakers and the Extended Studies team to explore partnership opportunities.
Registration for Showcase 2025 is now open. UC San Diego faculty, staff, and community partners are invited to attend. Whether you are developing workforce programs, exploring custom training solutions, advancing community engagement locally or globally, pursuing a new grant or grant evaluation services, or seeking other partnership opportunities, this event offers a chance to connect with the Division of Extended Studies. Join us to discover what's possible through collaboration.
"Partnership is our engine for lasting change," said Dean Villar. "At Showcase, we welcome new collaborators ready to expand educational and economic opportunity in our region and beyond."
"Partnership is our engine for lasting change. At Showcase, we welcome new collaborators ready to expand educational and economic opportunity in our region and beyond." - Hugo O. Villar, Dean, UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies
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