UCSB Alumni

Looking back on an inspiring weekend with the UCSB Alumni Board, we’re feeling incredibly grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the UC Santa Barbara Alumni Association. 💙💛

Thank you to everyone who helped make this celebration so special. The future is bright, and we look forward to strengthening community, deepening connections, and creating meaningful opportunities for alumni to engage with and support UC Santa Barbara for years to come.



Image descriptions:
1. UCSB Board of Directors on an outdoor patio filled with blue tables and vibrant blue and yellow umbrellas.
2. A group of six professionally dressed alums in front of the Jeff and Judy Henley Board Room.
3. Two smiling alums wearing sunglasses and "Alumni Board Member" name tags, with one making a peace sign.
4. A group of alumni smiling while seated together around a bright blue circular table indoors.

Congratulations to our Class of 2026 UC Santa Barbara Alumni Interns! 🎉

Thank you for the dedication, creativity, and enthusiasm you've brought to the UCSB Alumni team. Your hard work has helped strengthen connections across the Gaucho community, and we're incredibly grateful for the impact you've made during your time with us. We're proud to have been part of your journey and can't wait to see all that you accomplish next.

Join us in congratulating our graduating interns and wishing them success in all that's ahead!

🎓 Eliza Bulanti, Programs Intern, B.S. Psychological & Brain Sciences
🎓 Mia Burlington, Programs Intern, B.A. Communications and Sociology
🎓 Sara Kalanther, Alumni Board of Directors Intern, B.S. Statistics and Data Science
🎓 Anton Hense, Greek Programs Intern, B.A. Economics
🎓 Isabella Goetschel, FVC Staffer, B.A. Global Studies and French
🎓 Dayanara Flores, FVC Staffer, B.A. Communications
🎓 Anita Ontiveros, FVC Staffer, B.A. Sociology
🎓 Serina Gonzales-Burgos, FVC Staffer, B.S. Psychology and Brain Sciences, Minor in Applied Psychology



Image descriptions:
1. Alumni staff and interns smiling together in front of a curved bookshelf.
2. Alumni interns wearing blue graduation stoles in front of the bookshelf, with three students kneeling in the front row.
3. FVC Director DeAnna Rodriguez with FVC Financial Officer Lesli Brodbeck and FVC Staffers Isabella Goetschel, Dayanara Flores, Anita Ontiveros, and Serina Gonzales-Burgos.

From Santa Barbara to cities across the globe, there’s a Gaucho community waiting for you 🌎

Through UCSB Alumni regional groups, you can stay connected with fellow Gauchos through networking events, social gatherings, game days, volunteer opportunities, and more ✨

Explore all regional alumni networks: https://ow.ly/Yf7m50Z7eMP



Image description: UCSB's campus featuring Storke Tower, with location icons reading "SD", "UK", "LA", "DC", and "NY" and text: "Regional Alumni Networks, Find your Gaucho Community!"

Long before guiding corporate leaders at Electronic Arts, Annalyn Cruz ’00 was guiding her peers through campus life at UCSB.

Drawing from her UCSB experience as a CAPS Stress Management Peer, an Orientation Staff member, and a leader in Anacapa Student Government, Annalyn learned the psychology of high-functioning teams and how to guide people through complex transitions.

She spent the next decade bringing those skills into the HR and Learning & Development space for both higher ed and corporate teams. After a year of preparation, she left the security of the corporate world to bet on herself to focus entirely on her true passion: coaching.

Today, Annalyn is an independent Leadership and Executive Coach and the founder of Grounded In Wisdom. Through her company, she empowers women and BIPOC leaders to overcome self-doubt, tap into their inner wisdom, and successfully rebuild, advance, or completely transition their careers.

Learn more about Annalyn's journey from campus leader to entrepreneur: https://ow.ly/Ysc150Z5Js7



Image description: Annalyn Cruz '00, with long, dark hair, wearing a white top and earrings. Overlaid text reads: "As a leadership and executive coach, Annalyn empowers individuals to align their identity, purpose, and career through self-reflection and growth. She was a part of Residence Hall Student Government, Orientation Staff, a Counseling and Psychological Services Stress Management Peer, and Resident Coordinator for Apartment Living."

Bring your family back to campus! The UC Santa Barbara Family Vacation Center is the perfect way to relive campus magic while creating new memories together. From beach days to family activities, there’s something for every age to enjoy.

Exclusive alumni perks include:
💰 $200 Alumni Discount off your stay

👶 Kids 3 & under stay FREE for Week 2 (limited availability)!

👥 Share a suite & save $150 per family

🤝 Bring a teen friend for 50% off

Make your next family vacation a Gaucho getaway. Book now: https://ow.ly/ysbZ50Z5Jqp

Image description: A smiling family of four poses together on a sandy beach at sunset while proudly wearing UC Santa Barbara apparel.

Build your network and join us for an evening of Gaucho connection at Olé SD's Alumni Panel and Networking Event!

The evening will include a dynamic panel discussion, followed by breakout conversations organized by professional interests and plenty of time to mix and mingle.

Register now: https://ow.ly/lmvj50Z4UIG

🗓️ Tuesday, June 16 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 3570 Carmel Mountain Rd #400, San Diego, CA 92130

Image description: A group of UCSB alumni smiling outside at a past networking event with overlaid text promoting an upcoming alumni panel on June 16 at 6 PM in Sorrento Valley, San Diego.

Our Olé in the Bay community gathered at Barebottle Brewing Co. Menlo Park Taproom to welcome UCSB’s new Susan and Bruce Worster Dean of Science, Dr. Shelly Gable!

From chatting about the future of AI and marine science to raising a glass with fellow Gauchos, it was the perfect reminder of how strong our alumni network is. Thank you to everyone who joined us!



Image descriptions: Various photos of UCSB alumni smiling and networking at a brewery reception welcoming Dean Shelly Gable.

2001 memories unlocked 🔓 Spot anyone you know?

Reconnect with fellow Gauchos at the All Gaucho Reunion, October 15–18, 2026, for a weekend full of nostalgia, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

Want to help make the celebration even more special? Join the reunion committee: https://ow.ly/GjHS50Z1UK1



Image descriptions:
1. The base of UCSB's Storke Tower with students on bicycles. Retro text in the corner reads "UCSB in 2001."
2. Smiling student in a wetsuit, riding a beach cruiser barefoot while carrying a surfboard.
3. A large, energetic group of students smiling and packed inside a bus.
4. A student wearing glasses and large headphones speaks into a microphone in a radio recording studio.
5. Two musicians performing live on bass and guitar at an intimate show.
6. Black-and-white group photo of UCSB students posing together inside a classroom.
7. A student in a white tank top smiling gently while talking on a black mobile phone.
8. A graduate in a cap and gown speaking at a podium with a raised fist.
9. Black-and-white photo of UCSB women’s volleyball players celebrating on the court with cheering fans.

Initially planning to stay just one year for a master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Al Yuen found a research environment at UC Santa Barbara that inspired him to stay for his PhD and sparked a lifelong career as a technology startup founder.

Guided by mentors like Dr. Evelyn Hu and Dr. Herbert Kroemer, Al immersed himself in compound semiconductor research. After spending the first 12 years of his career developing real-world technologies at Hewlett Packard, he transitioned to the startup space, co-founding his first company, Alvesta, alongside a former UCSB classmate and professor.

Today, he applies his core professional philosophy, "make everyone around you better," directly to the Gaucho community. As a past member of the UCSB Alumni Board, Al has focused on creating practical, hands-on opportunities for students to gain career experience. He founded and advises StartUC and has worked with student groups, including Women in Business, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Data Science Club.

When he isn't brainstorming his next startup idea while taking long walks with his dog, Oski, Al and his family stay deeply connected to their Gaucho roots by attending the Family Vacation Center (FVC) every year!

Read the full Q&A to learn more about Al’s journey: https://ow.ly/XFXM50Z1cVJ



Image description: Al Yuen '87 with glasses and silver hair in a professional meeting room. Overlaid text reads: "Al is a technology leader and startup entrepreneur who emphasizes collaboration and giving back, dedicating much of his career to guiding and inspiring the next generation of engineers."