Women of RMP

Jen Bowser, Sustainability Resource Center Manager

As the center’s manager, Jen is the face of campus sustainability, routinely receiving accolades from students, faculty, senior leadership and staff for her outstanding support in promoting campus initiatives. In addition to managing the SRC, Jen oversees the highly successful Green Office and Green Labs certification programs, as well as UC San Diego’s Earth Month activities. She is also RMP’s liaison and advisor to several student, staff and alumni sustainability organizations. In recognition of Jen’s hard work and dedicated service to the campus community, she was selected as UC San Diego’s 2016/17 Principle Staff Employee of the Year.

Stasi Chase, JD, Principal Information Practices Coordinator

Anastasia, or Stasi Chase handles complex information governance matters involving highly sensitive compliance requirements. Stasi has been with the campus for more than 10 years, starting her UC San Diego career in Summer Session. Currently, Stasi is part of the team examining ways to meet the strategic plan objective by process re-engineering. Stasi has attained a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and will spend the next year working on campuswide enterprise projects as part of the Enterprize Resource Planning effort. 

Nicole Cheng, Program Manager

Nicole has worked at UC San Diego since 1999 and has been with Capital Program Management (formerly FD&C) for her entire 19 year career here. Nicole started as an associate engineer and currently serves as the Program Manager for all mechanical and electrical engineers in the department. She is responsible for ensuring electrical and mechanical infrastructure projects are planned and executed in a timely manner to support campus growth. Nicole is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in electrical engineering with eight years of design experience and one year working with an electric company prior to joining UC San Diego. Nicole received her B.S. in electrical engineering from University of Hawaii, Manoa in 1990 and worked in Honolulu before moving to San Diego in 1999. Nicole works closely with Facilities Management to develop and update campus design standards and specifications to ensure campus buildings are constructed with the appropriate level of quality to meet users' needs. 

Anu Delouri, Assistant Director, Community Planning

Anu has worked at UC San Diego since 2003. She works tirelessly as Campus Planning's communication liaison with local communities where UC San Diego owns or leases property — University City, La Jolla, Hillcrest, Point Loma and others. She also collaborates on planning matters with local and regional agencies, including the City of San Diego, SANDAG and the California Coastal Commission. As the campus continues to grow, Anu’s role in collaborating and communicating with local communities and agencies becomes even more important.

Sarah has rapidly risen through the Facilities Management Department to her current position as a Journey-level maintenance mechanic. Sarah started on the custodial team, interviewed and was selected to a Sr. Building Maintenance Worker position and then to her current maintenance mechanic position. Sarah is hard working, driven to learn, progress and serve the campus community.

Ashley Engstrom, Quality and Process Analyst

Ashley is an exemplary, determined and motivated individual on the path to success, which shows in her accomplishments during the past year: APPA FPI data gathering/ coordination for UC San Diego; Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification; development of CMMS/ Maximo training program and monthly user group sessions; and Facilities Management metrics reporting.

Lorre Escalona, Landscape Services Administrative Assistant

Lorre is involved in daily landscape operating procedures, equipment care and maintenance, safety procedures and safety training documentation. She is currently pursuing a Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper certification to further her knowledge and understanding of efficient irrigation water use. She is a licensed General Contractor, and co-owner/operator of Alpha Y Omega Construction since 1995.

Valerie Fanning, Environmental Compliance Program Manager

Valerie is a UC San Diego graduate with a Bachelor’s in Chemistry. As an Environmental Compliance Program Manager with Environment, Health & Safety, Valerie has over 20 years of experience in permitting, environmental compliance and environmental management. Valerie leads UC San Diego’s Clean Air Program and manages a variety of environmental protection programs. She is passionate about environmental protection and has developed engaging and productive collaborations with university staff.  

Gloria Gallardo, Central Plant Operator

Gloria performs operation and maintenance duties at UC San Diego’s central utilities and cogeneration plant. She operates and maintains 15 MW gas turbine generators, steam turbines, 350⁰ high-temperature water system, thermal energy storage, 250 psi steam systems, steam and electric driven chillers, cooling towers and all auxiliary equipment necessary to provide efficient and reliable power, heating and cooling for campus buildings. Gloria joined Facilities Management in 2017.

Christine Gonzales, Landscape Technician

Christine has worked at UC San Diego for 16 years and came to Facilities Management as a Landscape Technician from the campus bookstore. She has a passion for landscape maintenance and is always looking to improve her skills and knowledge. She is a recycled water site supervisor and a Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper. Always an advocate of health and fitness, she has been a UC San Diego Recreation Fit Life instructor for about 10 years, teaching aqua fitness, Zumba and strength training allover campus. She gets a great sense of satisfaction FROM helping others

Yvonne Haywood-Cole, Building Services Superintendent

Yvonne appreciates Facilities Management for the opportunities it provides and serves as a shining example for other women in the department. With her dedication and commitment, Yvonne is helping transform Building Services into a customer-centric organization with a focus on staff empowerment.

Joan Kingery, Project Management Administrative Assistant

Joan is an excellent team player who works hard to ensure that our contractors have completed the required agreements so they get paid in a timely manner.

 Christine Lam, Building Services Administrative Assistant

Christine has grown within Facilities Management. She enjoys the daily challenges her job provides and working with the great people on her teams. She is extremely resourceful, hard-working and results-oriented with a focus on organization and continuous process improvement.

Maria Magana, Carpenter

As a carpenter, Maria receives many accolades from building occupants for her professional, high-quality work. Maria began as a custodian and took advantage of a Facilities Management skills development program that trained her to become a carpenter. She is a great asset to the university.

Tracey Mantilla, Enrollment Coordinator

Tracey graduated from UC San Diego with a Bachelor of Science in 2012. While studying, she joined the Early Childhood Development Center as a teaching assistant in 2009. After graduating, she continued at ECEC as an administrative assistant, but with her strong attention to detail and understanding of quality care and education, she became our enrollment coordinator in 2014. In her role, she acts as liaison between families and teaching staff and has become the “glue” that holds our program together. She promotes and supports campus community and teambuilding events at ECEC and provides exceptional customer service support.

Sara McKinstry, Campus Sustainability Manager

Often working behind the scenes, Sara is committed to providing only the highest level of service as she manages a variety of campus sustainability initiatives, including the Green Labs and Zero-Waste programs. Sara is also responsible for ensuring that the campus provides timely, high-quality sustainability related reports, tirelessly working across the campus to gather detailed, and often complex, data required for reporting.

Michelle Perez, Energy Engineer

Michelle is a California registered Professional Mechanical Engineer and leads the campus Strategic Energy Program, focusing on reducing energy use in campus buildings. Michelle serves as the main technical liaison for an energy efficiency program that has delivered over 70,000,000 kw/hr of savings through more than $100 million in retrofit and commissioning projects since 2008.

LaWana Richmond, Business Development Manager

LaWana practices what she preaches in terms of professional education and development, having earned a joint doctorate in educational leadership from UC San Diego and CSU San Marcos while working at UC San Diego. LaWana held several different positions in Business & Fiscal Services before joining Transportation Services, where she’s leading organizational development and the department’s Lean Six Sigma initiative. LaWana has been an active volunteer and leader on campus, most notably as Chair of the UC San Diego Staff Association and as the Staff Advisor to the UC Regents.

Jennifer Rodgers, Parking Sales & Field Operations Manager

Jennifer is a 25-year veteran of UC San Diego auxiliaries who, for many on campus, has become synonymous with the campus parking program since making the jump from the Bookstore 18 years ago. She’s had several different roles over the years and has never shied away when asked to step up and help the department in times of change. Today, she’s putting her passion for helping people navigate UC San Diego, literally and figuratively, into practice leading parking sales and operations, including oversight of parking offices, events, pay stations and parking facility maintenance.

Rebecca Sayegh, Program Coordinator

Rebecca’s calm manner, knowledge and expertise in supporting children with special and unique needs has been an asset to the Early Childhood Education Center over the past 10 years. She is instrumental in bringing staff together and her creative flair in combination with her wonderful baking skills enrich our teambuilding experiences. In her role as program coordinator, she wears many hats but ultimately ensures that our educational program is strong and meaningful. Rebecca is a dedicated supervisor who over the past year has supported staff with STEM training and nurtured a Monarch Butterfly garden, identified as California Waystation #17604 by Monarch Watch.

Wendy Schiefer, Work Management Team Manager

Wendy makes a significant impact on Facilities Management through her expert stewardship of the university’s deferred maintenance program and her strategic management of our computerized work management system. With over 30 years supporting our campus, Wendy’s dedication and commitment serves as a positive example for everyone in the department.

Colleen Sheehan, Multimedia Communications Manager

Colleen has worked at UC San Diego since 1997. She started in an Organizational Development role and currently serves as Multimedia Communications Manager. She is responsible for using digital platforms to set direction and advance RMP’s content strategy. Collen has deep expertise in digital marketing, content best practices and web content optimization with strong journalistic and editorial insights. Colleen holds a M.A. in Mass Communication with a background in statistical modeling and Organizational Development. Colleen works with all RMP units to develop their marketing strategies to generate campus awareness in relevant developments, such as the $3 billion Capital Program. 

Esther Shin, Business Manager

Esther is a UCLA alumnus and when she joined the Early Childhood Education Center team, she brought her knowledge and expertise with the Infant Development Program operated by their Psychology Department. Her many talents have positively affected the program over the past 10 years in her role as teacher, lead teacher/ literacy coordinator, enrollment coordinator and currently, business manager. With her support and attention to detail, the program continues to receive excellent results for the annual audit, federal and state reporting and grant applications. She is task oriented and collaborates with other auxiliary units to implement and coordinate projects that maintain a safe and healthy environment at the center for children, staff and families.

Donnamarie Smith, Principal Business Development Manager

Donnamarie joined UC San Diego in 1994 after working at the County of San Diego as a Database Manager. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information Systems, many professional certifications and is currently concluding her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. As Environment, Health & Safety's Principal Business Development Manager, Donnamarie ensures the security, accuracy and efficiency of all department data. The tools Donnamarie has developed and maintains help to ensure safety and compliance for UC San Diego's research community.

Gina Sunda, Risk Management Analyst

Gina transitioned to UC San Diego as a Risk Management Analyst after working in the insurance industry for over eight years. She studied business administration at Cal State San Marcos and is a licensed claims adjuster and certified driver safety trainer. Working as a senior commercial claims examiner for a large auto insurance company, she experienced first-hand how unforeseen events can change lives in a split second. One of her primary roles at UC San Diego is auto safety, where she conducts driver’s safety training both in the classroom and behind the wheel for 800 attendees annually, participates in the UC Driver Safety Workgroup and reviews accidents and near misses with drivers and their departments. Her mission is to ensure that all UC drivers have the knowledge and experience in accident avoidance to reduce incidents and injuries. 

Deirdre Vernon, Policy Analyst

Deirdre has worked at UC San Diego since 1993, starting her career with the university in administration for Scripps Institution of Oceanography. During her service, Deirdre has focused on serving Policy & Records Administration’s customers and the campus. Deirdre leads the campus notaries and provides training and education for her team. She is highly regarded by her peers for her efforts to provide this essential service. Currently, Deirdre serves as a Policy Analyst ensuring the accuracy of the campus Policy Manual and Delegations of Authority.