From the Desk of Willie Brown V5N6
End of Year Reflection
As summer 2023 begins, I would like to express how grateful I am to lead such a talented and caring group of staff members. Reflecting on the past year, I am proud of our accomplishments. These would not be possible without your support and dedication.
We re-activated many successful programs in 2022-23, including welcoming back our first full complement of summer conferences after a two-year suspension due to the COVID pandemic. We also started new traditions, such as increasing the number of educational programs about housing on- and off-campus, including the first Rental Fair during Parents & Family Weekend featured in this issue of The Compass.
During 2022-23, UC Santa Barbara continued to offer programs and services to meet the basic needs of our students, and we helped in this effort. Campus Dining supplemented students’ nutritional needs by operating the Miramar Food Pantry and accepting CalFresh at Retail Dining establishments. Students with financial hardships also received help through the Housing Voucher program.
It wouldn’t be a typical year without a bit of adversity, and, as expected, HDAE staff members shined! When a record-setting storm battered our community in January 2023, our staff worked into the night to ensure ~50 UCSB staff members had a place to sleep.
At one time, a Strategic Plan value was “Continuous Innovation”, which still holds true today. This year we were the first in the UC system to begin preparing for a digital Access card, and we implemented the largest permitted use of recycled water inside buildings with the toilets in San Joaquin Villages.
We finished the year off strong with a successful Deepening Understanding Conference featuring keynote speaker Professor Gerardo Aldana and supporting UCSB’s Open House, where 200+ staff members welcomed future Gauchos and their families at the Housing Fair. The grand finale was Move Out and Commencement Weekend. Hundreds of HDAE staff members from Transportation & Parking Services, Campus Dining, Campus Store, The Club & Guest House, Residential Operations, Distribution & Logistical Services, Events Center, University Center, and Residential & Community Living worked hard to create excellent experiences for our Gauchos and their families.
We wouldn’t be who we are without already thinking about the next academic year — planning is underway for UCSB Move-In 2023! As always, we need everyone’s help to make it a smooth and welcoming event for students and their families. Until then, a special thanks to you, HDAE Team! We’ve learned and experienced much over the past three years, and your resilience and strength make this an exceptional workplace. I appreciate all that you do every day for the UCSB community!