Commencement 2024

Graduate Spotlights

These undergraduate and graduate students share their advice, memories, gratitude, and encouragement for their fellow Gauchos. Read their words below — just make sure the tissues are in reach!

Victoria Korotchenko stands next to Henley Gate wearing a white dress and graduation stole.

Victoria Korotchenko

English, History, Russian and East European Studies
COLLEGE OF Letters & Science
Sacramento, CA

What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?

Don't be afraid to be excited about something. The best people will be excited with you.

What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?

I am pursuing my MA in history and literature at Columbia's Reid Hall in Paris! UCSB has allowed me to fully realize my love for history and to explore what it means to be a historian-in-training, from working with professors in classes to doing my own research and getting it published.

What about your UCSB experience has been special?

I came to UCSB with no imagination of what my future might even look like, but I am leaving excited to further pursue my now-realized interests and with an amazing group of people by my side who I originally met here.

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Sophia Leiker

Master of Environmental Science & Management
bren School
chico, CA

What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?

It’s all about the people! I learned so much in classes, but arguably an equal amount from my peers and friends around me. Fostering a strong and supportive community is one of the most beneficial things I have done during my time at UCSB.

What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?

I will be working at the intersection of remote sensing (data from satellites) and regenerative agriculture for ecosystem health. My goal? To bridge the gap between scientists and those enacting important on-the-ground change. Collaboration at the nexus of science, policy, and economics is vital to ensure environmental strategies are effectively implemented and the skills gained at UCSB have prepared me to integrate data science into spaces such as holistic land stewardship. I will be working with The Nature Conservancy here in Santa Barbara to develop strategies to track nature-based solutions and ecosystem monitoring that can then be applied at larger scales across California and beyond.

What about your UCSB experience has been special?

The opportunity to study something I love in the incredible environment that is Santa Barbara. Taking time to experience this unique place not only through the lens of Santa Barbara being the birthplace of many environmental movements, but also through the lens of spending time outdoors- surfing, running, biking, and playing volleyball and soccer.

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Tianyu Cao

Anthropology
College of Letters & Science
Beijing, China

What's your favorite memory from UCSB?

I had the opportunity to enter Professor Gurven's laboratory and routinely engage in the activities organized by the Integrative Anthropological Sciences unit as the only undergraduate student.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?

Throughout one's lifetime, there may be occasionally remarkable accomplishments, yet the majority is filled with trivial actions and even ordinary behavior. Only those who possess the perseverance to withstand mediocrity and unpleasantness can aspire to embellish themselves with magnificent garments of sanctity and grandeur. The true warrior embraces life wholeheartedly, even in the face of acknowledging its realities.

What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?

I am interested in disease and health, with a particular focus on the field of cardiovascular health. My time at UCSB has not only nurtured my passion but also provided essential insights into the path of becoming a qualified scholar. It has guided me in the right direction, equipping me with the necessary skillsets and knowledge to pursue my academic aspirations.

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Marian Walker

Environmental Studies
College of Letters & Science
CORONA, CA

What's your favorite memory from UCSB?

Getting involved in my first research project with Dr. Jennifer King's lab in the Geography Department, alongside The Cheadle Center. As I embarked on this journey, I had little idea of what to anticipate or the extent of what I might accomplish. Little did I know, this would be the start of my involvement in a series of projects that have allowed me to gain a breadth of experience in fieldwork and laboratory procedures as well as present my work to the broader scientific community. The opportunities I’ve had to collaborate with nonprofit organizations such as The Nature Conservancy or Channel Islands Restoration have even further enriched the research experiences I've had at UCSB. I am immensely grateful to my peers, graduate students, and faculty mentors that have supported all of my creative endeavors and the beginnings of my future career.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?

Embrace change. In many ways, pursuing an undergraduate degree is a transformative journey into adulthood. It teaches you not only academic lessons but also how to take care of yourself and when to seek support from those around you. As a first-generation and financially independent student, shouldering the responsibilities of coursework and extracurricular activities while sustaining an income has been a balancing act. Through these experiences, I have honed two invaluable skills: adaptability and communication. Life doesn't slow down, but learning to go with the flow and building a supportive community of friends and UCSB faculty have made all the difference in my journey.

What about your UCSB experience has been special?

The love this community has for each other. Until moving to Santa Barbara, I hadn't experienced a community where I felt so free to explore my interests and embrace my desire to make a positive impact. The way UCSB's students wholeheartedly support one another is truly remarkable. Whether it's spontaneously attending a concert to cheer on a friend's new band, gathering in the late hours of the night at the library with Yerba Mate in hand to group study for an exam, or dedicating time to meaningful social causes, you can always rely on the unwavering presence of the students here to show up for one another. At UCSB, there is an ingrained culture of solidarity and collective support, which I feel so lucky to have been a part of.

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Ángela Godoy-Fernández

Ph.D. in Education
Gevirtz School of Education
Salinas, CA

What's your favorite memory from UCSB?

Being a teaching assistant for SOC170 with Dr. Martinez! I have loved every week that I am working with the students from that course, whether it be about the material itself or mentoring students in their graduate applications. I truly do believe that to be in community is to experience the soul be gravitationally defiant. I have found an abundance of comfort in the community SOC170 has built.

What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?

I will always be working in the east side of Salinas, the space that has nurtured me and prepared me for my undergraduate and graduate experience. UCSB has connected me to people outside of my limited universe who are also working in similar spaces. I've learned there are multiple ways to connect with people and grow in community. Community is geographical, yes. It's also spiritual — UCSB as a space that has within itself a population of like-minded individuals has prepared me for connecting spiritually to those who may not be in geographical proximity.

What about your UCSB experience has been special?

The undergraduate students! If my kids read this, it has been a privilege to assist you in your academic journey. I go to every graduation I am invited to, and I appreciate every end-of-the-quarter email. Undergrad students get 120% of me, muchas gracias mis pedacitos de cielo!

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Owen Convery

Electrical Engineering
College of Engineering
San mateo, CA

What's your favorite memory from UCSB?

My favorite memory from UCSB has most certainly been the entire senior capstone sequence. My team has had the opportunity to develop cutting-edge radar technologies and interact with other teams working on other very inspiring projects.

What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?

After graduation, I will work at Astranis Space Technologies as an RF Systems Engineer Associate. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department has prepared me very well for this role with its extensive three-quarter communications circuits class and outstanding professors.

What about your UCSB experience has been special?

This year I served as the president of UCSB's student chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers as well as the president of our Tau Beta Pi chapter. Both of these roles have allowed me to connect with several amazing students and professors within the College of Engineering!

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Xochitl Clare

Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology
Glendale, CA

What's your favorite memory from UCSB?

My favorite memories at UCSB have been when I have been able to mentor the next generation of marine scientists. I also have enjoyed sharing my unique cultural lens and disciplinary background in performance — dance, directing & writing — with other conservationists, biologists, social scientists, educators, and artists to protect our blue backyards while at UCSB.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?

It's important to be your "authentic self" in academia. As a Latina African American with Caribbean heritage, the importance of life at sea is interwoven in my culture via storytelling. Over the course of my time at UCSB I set forth to explore our underwater world using the combined power of science and performing art while inspiring others to find their own path in marine science during my time at UCSB.

What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?

My training at UCSB has helped me become a highly skilled marine scientist with the ability to investigate climate change stressors in an interdisciplinary fashion. I was awarded a three-year Washington Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship to serve as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington in the Padilla-Gamiño Lab. In my next steps, I will use my expertise in eco-physiology and scientific storytelling to understand and mitigate the effects of pollution and ocean warming in Placencia, Belize. My postdoctoral work will be in collaboration with educators and NGOs that are currently advocating for conservation in Belize.

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Chloe Wang

Actuarial Science & Physical Geography
College of Letters & Sciences
Dalian, Liaoning | China

What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?

The biggest lesson I have learned during my time here is that every individual possesses unique talents and abilities in their respective fields. Everyone has spark! I used to be proud of myself. However, as I interacted with more students at UCSB, I came to realize the immense talent that exists within our community. The person sitting next to me in class might be a remarkable sports team leader, while someone I encounter in the dining commons might be a gifted pianist hosting their own concerts. The more I acquaint myself with the people around me, the more I appreciate their distinctive abilities, which make them exceptional in their own way. This experience has humbled me and taught me the importance of recognizing and valuing the strengths and merits of each individual. It is an invaluable lesson that I have truly learned during my time at UCSB.

What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?

I want to become an actuary and I'm currently working towards obtaining the FCAS credential. My journey toward this career path began at UCSB, where I was introduced to the field. From my very first year, I actively engaged with the UCSB Actuarial Association, which provided me with valuable insights into the profession. Over the next four years, I had the privilege of learning from exceptional and knowledgeable faculty members who not only guided me academically but also taught me valuable life lessons about being a diligent student and a well-rounded individual. The support and resources offered by UCSB for actuarial students were truly remarkable, providing me with both financial assistance and academic support, propelling me closer to my dream of becoming an actuary.

What about your UCSB experience has been special?

UCSB has been a remarkable place for me to explore my varied interests and satisfy my curiosity across different fields of study. Throughout my five years of study, I have completed a total of over 330 units of coursework, delving into two completely different majors. Additionally, in my final year, I pursued a spatial study minor, allowing me to gain a deeper understanding of a wide range of topics in the world. The diversity of classes I have taken is truly impressive, spanning various disciplines. From accounting and art to history, philosophy, environmental studies, and entrepreneurship. I have had the opportunity to engage with a broad array of subjects. One particular aspect that captivated me was the study of different languages. In my last year, I embarked on the journey of learning both French and German, and I am immensely grateful that I made that decision. The experience has enriched my perspective and opened doors to new cultures and possibilities. I am grateful to UCSB for providing me with the platform to explore my passions, expand my knowledge across different fields, and embrace the joy of lifelong learning.

Mohamed Faynus headshot

Mohamed Faynus

Ph.D. in Biomolecular Science and Engineering
College of Engineering
Toronto, Ontario | Canada

What's your favorite memory from UCSB?

Celebrating my first scientific finding with my labmates.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?

Enjoy the journey. I had this big idea of how exactly graduate school would go and was in a rush to finish. Fortunately, my colleagues had the foresight to teach me the importance of the journey and how the people you meet and the fun things you do are equally important to personal and professional development.

What about your UCSB experience has been special?

UCSB and the people I have met here have built the foundation of who I am as a scientist. I can safely say that the environment at UCSB builds amazing scientists and I am happy that I got to experience and live in that space!

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Chloe Ferraiuolo

Communication & Anthropology
College of Letters & Science
Colusa, CA

What's your favorite memory from UCSB?

Putting on programs and events for my residents as an RA.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?

Having a strong support system of friends and mentors can make the tough days easier and the good days great.

What about your UCSB experience has been special?

There’s nothing quite like UCSB’s campus community. Despite being one of the most rigorous and competitive public universities, the students here support and encourage each other to achieve great things, and we have a great time doing it!

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Caroline He

Biology
College of Creative Studies
Sunnyvale, CA

Where is your favorite study spot on campus?

My favorite study spot is at the Arbor! Specifically at a table in the shade of one of the palm trees, with a matcha latte.

What's your favorite memory from UCSB?

My favorite UCSB memory is from my first year, during the fall quarter when you'd still have hot days sometimes. I had a class that ended later in the evening in Buchanan. I remember that I had a test this day, and the class let out about an hour and a half before sunset. I immediately ran to my dorm room in Anacapa, changed into a swimsuit, and rushed to Campus Point to get a paddle board from the adventure program people. A couple of my friends were there already, so I was paddle boarding with my friends in the ocean during golden hour. I remember being offshore and looking at the cliffs, then turning around and looking at the Channel Islands and thinking that there was no way this was real. It was just so beautiful.

WWhat are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?

I'm beginning my Ph.D. in neuroscience at UC Berkeley this fall, and I want to ultimately be a research scientist who studies aging and neurodegeneration. I feel like spending the last four years here at UCSB, and in CCS, has prepared me for this better than any other university could have. I was able to begin my career as an undergraduate researcher in my first year, and I found a group of incredible and diverse mentors among the faculty members, graduate students, and staff here. I also found a larger community of undergraduate researchers on campus, which prepared me to engage with the scientific community as peers.

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Liam Dow

Ph.D. in Biophysics and Bioengineering
College of Engineering
West Newbury, MA

Where is your favorite study spot on campus?

My desk, underneath a framed print of the epithelial cells that I study!

What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?

Since being at UCSB, the biggest lesson I've learned has been how to communicate with others. We can't assume we know how people are thinking and feeling. It's just as important to let others know how we are thinking and feeling. This is especially true when working in collaborative environments. I believe most problems can be mitigated by communicating more effectively. However, communicating effectively doesn't necessarily mean writing out more words or sending emails more often. Some people learn better visually or through analogies.

What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?

After I earn my Ph.D., I'm excited to be a part of research and development in the biotech industry. My research has taught me how to problem solve effectively in the face of technical challenges or interpersonal challenges. I'm excited to bring these skills to a team environment and learn new skills as well!