Over the past decade, our strategic plan has guided the remarkable physical, intellectual and cultural transformation of UC San Diego as a destination university for arts and culture, world-class education, research and health care. As we continue the process to refresh our strategic plan to reflect our current context and sharpen our focus on forward-looking campus activation, I have asked Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Alysson Satterlund to take on additional responsibilities to support our ambitious vision and goals for the future. Effective January 1, 2024, Vice Chancellor Satterlund assumed the role of Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life, reflecting the broader scope of her leadership responsibilities and the diverse constituencies she serves.
Vice Chancellor Satterlund has consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership and has been instrumental in fostering a campus environment that extends beyond the student body, engaging with parents, community members and various stakeholders. Her commitment to ensuring student well-being and advocating for student needs has been evident through projects, including her collaboration with Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Becky Petitt, student leadership, the Black Resource Center, Center for Student Involvement and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) to develop UC San Diego's NPHC Plaza – an achievement that stands as the first of its kind on any UC campus and in the state of California.
In co-leadership with UC San Diego Health CEO Patty Maysent, Vice Chancellor Satterlund successfully advanced the development of the forthcoming Triton Center’s new Student Health and Well-Being building – which will be home to world-class, fully integrated student health and well-being resources – and also co-led the development and launch of UC San Diego’s Triton CORE mobile crisis response unit in partnership with student leadership. Additionally, Vice Chancellor Satterlund oversaw the successful opening of the award-winning Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego, chaired the COVID-19 Monitoring Team in support of UC San Diego’s nationally recognized Return to Learn program, and partnered with student leadership, Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth Simmons and Dean of Undergraduate Education John Moore to open the inaugural Hub for Triton Transfer students.
Building upon these achievements, Vice Chancellor Satterlund will now oversee an expanded portfolio that includes several key areas geared toward enhancing the campus experience for students and visitors alike. Her new responsibilities encompass the following:
Campus Activation Initiatives
Vice Chancellor Satterlund will spearhead campus activation initiatives, overseeing vision, infrastructure, programming and shared spaces management for arts, conferences, major events and more. This expansion complements her ongoing work with the Campus Performances and Events Office, Athletics, Recreation, student leadership organizations and other campus partners, with the goal of delivering the highest-quality audience experience to our diverse campus community.
Arts and Engagement Infrastructure
Leveraging the investments made over the last decade in the arts and engagement, Vice Chancellor Satterlund will initiate a new era of institutional commitments to campus arts and creative engagement at UC San Diego. This includes aligning expertise from our Epstein Family Amphitheater, ArtPower, Stuart Collection, Meta Gallery, Craft Center and forthcoming Glass Center to develop collaborative programming and shared facilities management. Her focus will extend to strengthening campus arts committees and enhancing public art and performing arts programs.
To uplift and further distinguish the creative works of our exceptional arts faculty, students and community members and build upon the efforts of the Arts Strategy working group and our visionary arts supporters, I have asked the Dean of Arts and Humanities, Dr. Cristina Della Coletta, and VC Satterlund, to co-lead my inaugural Chancellor’s Arts Initiative. Together, Dean Della Coletta and VC Satterlund will provide strategic leadership to the continued development of the arts ecosystem needed to further advance my vision of UC San Diego as a destination for arts and culture.
Triton Center
Vice Chancellor Satterlund will play a crucial role in activation of the new campus Welcome Center, which will be housed within our forthcoming Triton Center when it opens in 2026. Additional Triton Center inhabitants – the Alumni Center, Celebration Space and Meta Gallery – represent a significant enhancement to campus life, while addressing the growing needs of campus entities and welcoming and engaging visitors to our vibrant community.
Police Accountability Board Leadership
Vice Chancellor Satterlund will also lead the newly formed Police Accountability Board, directing its efforts in support of community safety objectives. This role will involve integrating community safety into new and existing campus life programming and campus infrastructure.
Please join me in congratulating Vice Chancellor Alysson Satterlund on her expanded role in dedicated support to UC San Diego students and our community. I have full confidence that she will continue to contribute significantly to the enrichment of our campus community and ensure that UC San Diego remains a leader in providing a student-centered, inclusive and dynamic Triton experience.
