February 2021
QUARTERLY Magazine
Making history by changing the way it's taught
A Message from Dean Hayes
Vince Steckler And Wife Amanda Donate $10.4M to UCI
Table of Contents
A Message from Dean Hayes (Page 3) Making History by Changing the Way it's Taught (Page 4) Where are they Now: Arundhati Sawant (Page 5) #Gradeater Spotlight (Page 6) UCI Alumnus Vincent Steckler '80 and his Wife Amanda Donate $10.4 Million to UCI (Page 7) RSVP for Virtual Grad Slam (Page 8) Introducing Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series (Page 9) Upcoming Events (Page 10)
A MESSAGE FROM DEAN HAYES
Dear Anteaters, I hope your 2021 is off to a great start! Despite the chaos still happening in the world, this will be a big year for UCI. Our students and post-docs are still producing innovative research and taking excellent classes, and we are excited to connect with you, the incredible UCI graduate alumni base. In this issue you’ll read about inspirational research, life-changing alumni stories, and more. As a reminder, we have some great alumni focused events on the horizon, beginning with our inaugural virtual UCI Graduate Alumni Chapter meeting on February 16th at 6 pm PT. Please come, share your support and ideas for the future! While it’s not the typical event we’re accustomed to, if you’ve never experienced a UCI Grad Slam Event, you’re certainly going to want to make sure you do. In a digital format, you’ll be able to see 10 brilliant UCI graduate scholars present years’ worth of mind-bending research in just three minutes each. Read ahead in this magazine for more! Thank you again for taking the time to read this edition of the UCI Graduate Division Quarterly Magazine! We look forward to engaging with you to help make the Anteater Family the best it can be in 2021. Take care,
Gillian R. Hayes Vice Provost of Graduate Education Dean of the Graduate Division Robert A. and Barbara L. Kleist Professor of Informatics University of California, Irvine
" History for the longest time, has been Taught from a single lens."
UCI is a special place where innovative research takes place every day. It is a place where leaders are shaped for the future and life-changing discoveries are made. Whether it’s research to find a cure for cancer or an effort to finally support long term life on Mars, BIG, out of this world things are happening at UCI. However, for Khamia Powell, a fourth-year PhD candidate in UCI’s School of Education, her research has taken her down a much different path. Khamia doesn’t need find out how much hydrogen or how many gallons of liquid oxygen it will take to get to Mars. She doesn’t need to figure out how to stop cancer cells from dividing inside the human body. What she needs, is to understand how changes in Jayden’s environment produce such drastically disparate outcomes Jayden? Is that a new planet or a new type of cancer? No and no. Jayden is a person. He is a special, bright, and talented seventh grade student who loves to erupt in a lyrical freestyle at any given moment, although waits to rap a detailed synopsis of Ms. Powell’s history lesson at the end of each class- an agreement which fulfilled his inclinations yet reinforced the lesson content for others. This ability was actually a form of giftedness that went unnoticed by other teachers. Normally a happy teenager in her class, Jayden’s attitude was noticeably different one particular morning as he marched into Ms. Powell’s World History class. “I remember it vividly,” Khamia recalls. “Jayden came into class, slammed down his books, and said ‘Ms.------doesn’t like me!’. “I got the others started and we stepped aside where I asked him why he thought that, and he explained how he was treated differently than the other kids in her class and expressed how maybe school just wasn’t for him.” Differently? Exactly what did he mean? “I was curious. So, a couple of days later I casually spoke to the teacher who had triggered this drastic change in his disposition,” says Khamia. “She said that Jayden was such a pest in her classroom and not well behaved. She went on to say that he was disruptive and didn’t even care about school. I thought to myself, well that couldn’t be more different than how he acts in my class. He’s never been anything but respectful, cheerful, and an overall stellar student.” There was one obvious and distinct difference between the teacher and Jayden. Jayden was a Black student, and the teacher was white. That’s when Khamia knew, she had a higher calling. As much as she loved teaching and adored her students, she became profoundly aware of her desire to influence, perhaps even change the way teachers taught. It was time for her to become “a teacher of teachers” which became her new life’s mission and the focus of her research. “My principal would always tell me how great I was at not only teaching students but other teachers as well. This was an unintended by-product of my work and collaboration,” Khamia says with a chuckle. “It is not something I went out of my way to do, it just happened. But I realized that situations are viewed from my own lens- based on my culture, my history, and my background. Therefore, what I understand and experience, may be drastically different than someone else. So I became intentional about considering this in my teaching practice, and created classrooms and now professional development that seeks to do the same.” “It’s always interesting to me when someone says, ‘I don’t see color’. When people say that it is intended to be a positive sentiment of “sameness,” meaning everyone is alike and because of that they don’t acknowledge differences, consequently assuming that everyone shares a common experience- which is not the case. It is important to acknowledge one’s race because it recognizes and affirms one’s personhood, acknowledges that circumstances and experiences are particular to individuals, and thus our lived experiences likely differ. Teachers with “color blind” ideologies render students of color invisible in classrooms. Which was likely why Jayden felts so disconnected from his other teacher.” “I think history has for the longest time has just been taught from a single lens,” Powell says. “But the reality is, many Black, Indigenous, People of Color, have contributed to the world, yet those histories are missing from modern curriculum. To be an inclusive classroom all students should be provided opportunities to see themselves positively represented in a curriculum so in turn they can see themselves as future scientists, artists, mathematicians, etc. Students like Jayden come to think school is not for them because they don’t feel seen, understood, or represented in classrooms.” Khamia’s current research examines the influence of a teacher intervention that focuses on the development of empathy and color consciousness. It strives to design a method to develop teacher pedagogy in ways that facilitates, motivates, and supports the enactment of culturally responsive pedagogy. However, as fulfilling as it is for her, the decision to pursue her Ph.D. was one of the most bittersweet decisions of her life. “I remember telling my seventh-grade classes that I was applying to graduate school at UCI,” says Khamia. “I also remember thinking to myself, if I get in, I get in.. if I don’t I’ll stay here, and I’m happy with that too. I didn’t know what to expect. One morning before class I checked my email and saw that I received my acceptance letter. I cried, feeling such a whirlwind of emotion; not sure if it was because I was happy that I got in, or sad that I was leaving my kids. Actually, it was both.” “Later that morning, when I came into class, I put what you might call a guessing game on the whiteboard where the class had figure out what my big news was. They guessed it immediately. The cheers of excitement were followed by dead silence. We all knew this meant I had to leave them. That was the hardest part.” While Khamia’s acceptance to UCI meant she was temporarily leaving the classroom, it also meant the world was about to benefit greatly from her knowledge. Khamia has developed her skill and pedagogy as an educator with over 10 years of experience in Title I schools. She is certified in Early Childhood Education, Middle Grades Social Sciences, STEM, and Gifted/Exceptional Learners. Additionally, she has collaborated with the Department of Education to develop the a World History Social Studies curriculum, that integrates culturally responsive research-based practices that engage both teachers and students in the learning process. In her current research, Khamia has partnered with a local high school in California, to implement a professional development that aims to create more inclusive classroom cultures and a more representative curriculum. One of the greatest challenges is developing educators in ways that allow them to feel empowered and committed to implementing more culturally responsive teaching practices to meet the growing and shifting demands of educating a more diverse student demographic. “This is why my research is so important,” says Khamia. “The United States is becoming more diverse than ever, and so teachers must be developed and empowered in ways that facilitate the enactment of more culturally responsive practices. We want the best for our children, but gaps likely exist because of this disconnect- as was evident with Jayden in the two very different classrooms that produce very different academic and social outcomes. Change begins with our teachers taking a more inclusive approach to learning, teaching, and interacting with diverse student populations.” Khamia is still in the data collection phase of her research. While others’ research may have suffered because of the events of the last year, Khamia’s preliminary results have been incredible based on thousands of student survey responses, student focus groups data, and over one hundred teacher survey responses. All of which, have informed the development of the professional development that she’ll implement in the upcoming months with the teachers. “Honestly, as challenging as this last year has been with a global pandemic and social justice issues, and political upheaval, these events brought heightened awareness to my research,” Khamia says. “The principal and administrative staff enthusiastically embraced my research and have collaborated with me every step of the way, relative to access, time, and dissemination of measures. The only questions they ask are ‘how can I help more or what else do you need?’. What I find most encouraging is the acknowledgment that change is not only needed, but from all indications, it’s wanted. That is what gives me hope.” Khamia’s stellar research led her to receive an Inclusive Excellence Ambassador Fellowship from Graduate Division last summer. “It was wonderful to see Khamia receive the Inclusive Excellence Ambassador Fellowship,” says co-advisor and Distinguished Professor Jacquelynne Eccles “Her research has a chance to change the way we think about how our students are taught moving forward.” Dr. Adriana Villavicencio, her other advisor says, “Khamia’s research is rigorous and innovative in design. The amount of data produced will prove invaluable.” Fellows were selected for their academic achievement and their commitment to inclusive excellence. They received a $5,000 summer stipend to support their research and are expected to remotely mentor incoming graduate students who are first-generation and/or from a minority serving institution to help them prepare for the start of their graduate studies at UCI. So while Khamia may not discover the cure for HIV/AIDS nor solve the global warming crisis, she will create a process whereby the teachers’ lenses are developed in ways that allow them to create more equitable learning environments and opportunities for every student- inclusive environments where students feel seen and can belong, curriculum where they feel represented and acknowledged, and thus can see their lives in the foundation of this nation and thus feel free to dream big dreams. This work is for the benefit all students, but especially the Jaydens.
Where are they now: Arundhati sawant
"I definitely would go back to UCI."
When someone makes the investment to attend a university, it’s undoubtedly a significant sacrifice. That person invests their finances, time and normal way of life into an experience they hope pays off for them in the future. For UCI alum Arundhati Sawant, the sacrifice has been all of this and more. In 2017, Arundhati traveled nearly 10,000 miles from India and left her career, friends, and family behind to earn her graduate education at UCI. As we fast forward to 2021, not only did Arundhati receive her Master of Science in Software Engineering in 2018, she now works full time as a Software Engineering Manager at Zillow Group in San Francisco. She’s been with Zillow for over two years now and earned a promotion from Software Engineer to Software Engineering Manager a few weeks ago. UCI caught up with Arundhati to find out more about her personal journey and just how she’s gotten to where she is now. UCI GD: California is a long way away from India. What went into your decision to make the trek to UCI. Arundhati: I received my undergraduate education in India, and I felt like I received a very good education. I had a good background on how to be an efficient coder. I wanted to learn the people aspect of software engineering though. There is more to it than just the technical side and I felt UCI could give me that holistic approach. UCI GD: How did you hear about UCI? Arundhati: I had actually always wanted to come to the United States and UCI has a very good reputation. I knew a few peers who had attended UCI and they had great things to say. UCI GD: Was it scary risking everything you had and coming to the United States? Arundhati: It certainly was. There was no guarantee that my job would be here if I came back and going to another country is scary in itself. Luckily, I was able to get into contact with a few faculty members in my program before my arrival on campus. They made me feel very welcome and comfortable making the move. UCI GD: You seem to have made a great career for yourself at Zillow. What went into getting that job and did UCI help you with that? Arundhati: Zillow is a wonderful company and I love it. UCI played a big role in getting my foot in the door at Zillow, as I was actually able to obtain an internship there in the Summer of 2018. That internship eventually turned into a full-time position where I have been ever since. UCI GD: If you had to make your decision all over again, is there anything you would do differently? Arundhati: No, I would definitely go back to UCI. I think everything happens for a reason, and I truly enjoyed my time there. I had no idea I would stay in the United States after my schooling, but I’m happy I did. UCI GD: What was the biggest challenge during your journey? Arundhati: The biggest challenge was getting used to America. The culture was very different. Pretty much everything is different. UCI had such a diverse background and adjusting to a new culture was hard. It seems like everyone has a different story and background. UCI GD: When you’re not working, what are some hobbies you enjoy? Arundhati: I love driving and going on hikes. UCI GD: Once COVID-19 is over, what’s the one thing you’re looking forward to doing again? Arundhati: Being able to travel and eat good food. It’s a tie between those two things. For information on the graduate programs UCI has to offer, visit us at www.grad.uci.edu and contact us at grad@uci.edu.
In this edition of the #GradEater Spotlight UCI Graduate Division features Reginald T. Gardner, a third-year PhD candidate in Informatics specializing in Games Studies. In addition to their studies, Gardner is heavily involved and dedicated to serving the UCI community and has made public service a top priority. An alumnus of Alpha Phi Omega, a national public service fraternity, they have served on several committees dedicated to improving student life during their time as an undergraduate and masters student. Serving as the Vice President of Internal Affairs for Associated Graduate Students (AGS), Gardner continues to serve as a linkage between students and administration, and hopes to actively promote efforts that improve graduate life. Gardner is also active in UCI’s Connected Learning Alliance, which focuses on making it so all young people have access to participatory, interest-driven learning that connects to educational, civic, and career opportunities. UCI caught up with Reginald to ask about their studies, work on UCI’s campus, and more. UCI GD: Why did you decide to continue your education at UCI? Gardner: I received my undergraduate education and then earned an MS in Student Affairs Administration, an M.P.A., and a Certificate in Community College Teaching from Binghamton University. I loved it there and accomplished some good things, but after it all I really wasn’t happy with where my career path was going. I decided I wanted to do something different. Anyone who knows me knows my passion for gaming. UCI had and still has a growing esports program and it’s something that intrigued me a lot. Naturally, California was about as far away as you can get from New York, so that also made sense. I’m currently receiving my PhD in Informatics, where my focus is on Games Studies. UCI GD: You’ve had such an interesting journey so far. Esports is something that is seemingly getting more popular by the day. Why are you so intrigued by esports and why has it grown? Gardner: Gaming has always been a big part of my life. Not only is it fun, but you learn to interact as a team, strategize, and it’s a totally different way of thinking. Esports has really expanded upon the social side of gaming. A lot of people don’t realize the social aspect to it and the communication that goes into it. Gaming to some has been seen as an introverted activity, but it’s not really the case. I experienced this firsthand when I played for the New York Fury League of Legends Team for a short while. UCI GD: Akil Fletcher is a PhD student in UCI’s anthropology department. He’s currently researching the navigation of Black video game players online. He recently wrote a piece for UCI’s Esports page talking about the racism and bullying that still goes on in online spaces. What are your thoughts on that topic and why do you think it exists? Gardner: Unfortunately the piece Akil wrote is very accurate and extremely valid. When it comes to anything in a virtual space, whether it’s social media, forums, gaming rooms, it’s so easy for someone to make comments they wouldn’t normally make in person. They’re not in the same room and it’s easier to feel like that person doesn’t have consequences for their actions. That person can hide behind the keyboard or headset. When people game, while for some people it may be an escape, for others it’s an outlet to deal with real world frustrations. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and has different views. Depending upon the game you’re playing, you don’t know who you’ll be stuck with. UCI GD: As terrible as the COVID-19 pandemic has been, have you noticed an increase in the popularity of esports because of it? Gardner: In some respects, yes. I’m not sure how much of the growth has to do with the pandemic, but I will say the television exposure has been much bigger for the gaming industry. Aside from platforms like Twitch and Kickstarter, even mainstream television networks that normally wouldn’t have paid attention to the gaming world have paid attention and used the gaming industry for content. For example, ESPN showed a few 2K basketball tournaments and TNT fully broadcasted a League of Legends Tournament a few months back. Those outlets I think have really helped capture a different demographic and at least boost awareness. I think from a player’s perspective, people have simply had more time on their hands and have taken up gaming on a more serious level. UCI GD: Talk about your role in AGS as Vice President of Internal Affairs. What goes into that role and why have you taken the time to be a part of AGS? Gardner: I’ve always believed in giving back and serving the greater good. I believe it’s part of my duty to be a leader and advocate for what’s right. In my role, I really try and serve as an effective bridge between UCI’s student body and the administration. Sometimes it can be difficult to see what either side is thinking. With the pandemic, I think this task is more difficult, but also more important than ever before. UCI GD: What’s your favorite part about UCI? Gardner: I can’t narrow it down to one thing. There are a lot of great things going on here. For me personally, I think I’ve finally figured out what I want to do with my life. As a whole, my favorite part about this place is the people. I know so many incredible researchers and have so many peers that I know are in the process of making the world a better place.
#GRADEATER Spotlight: Reginald T. Gardnar
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UCI Alumnus Vincent Steckler '80 and his wife Amanda donate $10.4 million to UCI
A $10.4 million gift to the University of California, Irvine from the Steckler Charitable Fund, formed by Vincent and Amanda Steckler, will support art history students as well as the creation of a center committed to making the field of computing more inclusive. Vincent Steckler, who earned both a B.S. in information & computer science and a B.S. in mathematics at UCI in 1980, is the former CEO of Avast Antivirus Software, a company that he transformed from a small regional business into a global provider of internet security. He and his wife, Amanda, live in Singapore and California. About half of the donation – $5 million – will establish the Center for Responsible, Ethical and Accessible Technologies within the Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences. The unit will focus on creating a computing industry that’s inclusive, accessible, safe and equitable for all. The other half of the gift – nearly $5.4 million – will largely be allocated to endowed funds that support graduate and undergraduate students pursuing coursework in art history by providing experiential learning, research-related travel, mentoring, career-building opportunities and fellowships. “I believe that the Center for Responsible, Ethical and Accessible Technologies could dramatically change some of the toxic tendencies within Silicon Valley. And if we change the way Silicon Valley operates, we can change the world,” Steckler said. “At the same time, art is a crucial part of the human experience. The art history courses I took at UCI made such an impression on me. What I learned ignited a lifelong passion for and appreciation of art that I’ve been able to share with my wife, Amanda, and our five children.” Mentoring that art history students receive during their college years is crucial for them to be successful in the often challenging years immediately after graduation, he added, noting that internships better prepare students for careers. The Stecklers made a donation to the art history department last year that significantly expanded paid internship possibilities for students at museums and cultural institutions throughout the country and funded a student field trip across 1,900 miles to see artworks embedded in the environment. “We are so grateful to Vincent and Amanda Steckler for their support of art history undergraduate and graduate students,” said Tyrus Miller, dean of UCI’s School of Humanities. “By offering them a variety of opportunities for paid internships and career path development, the Stecklers’ generous gift will make an indelible impact on the lives of students for generations to come.” Of the portion of the donation dedicated to computer science, $2 million will establish a faculty chair, the first holder of which will be the inaugural director of the Center for Responsible, Ethical and Accessible Technologies. The rest of the gift will finance endowments to support CREATe activities and a graduate student fellowship, while also providing programmatic funds for the center’s first four years. CREATe will leverage UCI’s position as a federally designated minority-serving institution to lead the way in making technology more inclusive. It will bring together experts in computing research and education with those focused on policy, law and ethics to ensure that innovative technologies will be designed with vulnerable populations in mind. “I am grateful to Vincent and Amanda for their vision and generosity,” said Marios Papaefthymiou, dean of the Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences. “Their transformative gift propels our school to the vanguard of research and educational institutions around the globe that promote fairness and inclusiveness in the information-driven societies of the future.” Vincent Steckler previously donated $1 million to the ICS school to support women in computing, creating an endowed fellowship for graduate students as well as an endowed scholarship for undergraduates that receives permanent matching funds. He was inducted into UCI’s Information & Computer Sciences Hall of Fame in 2018. Twenty percent of the $10.4 million gift has been earmarked for graduate fellowships, which will be matched for the first 10 years by the Graduate Division. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for UCI, and I’m excited to leverage the funding match for the graduate fellowships because it offers such a high return on investment,” Steckler said. “I believe it’s our responsibility to give back to the society and institutions that have helped us over the years. I am proud to recognize the importance of art and computer education to society,” Amanda Steckler said. Dean Gillian Hayes worked closely with the Stecklers to envision their new center – and to facilitate the matching contribution from the Graduate Division. “Graduate students are the engine that drives the academic enterprise. These students lead many of the most innovative research projects and mentor our excellent undergraduates,” Hayes said. “Support for them is support for the entire campus, and we’re glad to match this incredible gift.” UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman added, “This extraordinary gift from one of our most successful alumni demonstrates the impact that philanthropy can have on students from all backgrounds. And in today’s difficult economy, when students are feeling financial strain, that kind of support is more important than ever.”
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What is Grad Slam? Grad Slam is a systemwide competition that showcases and awards the best three-minute research presentations by graduate scholars. This competition not only highlights the excellence, importance and relevance of UCI graduate scholars and their research, but it is also designed to increase graduate students' communication skills and their capacity to effectively present their work with poise and confidence. It is an opportunity to share accomplishments with the campus, friends of UCI, the local community, and the broader public.
YOU'RE INVITED!
Watch Last Year's Winning Presentation
Greg Campbell
About the Series: Each quarter, Dean Gillian Hayes will host a talk with a prominent leader in our world. In her first talk, Dean Hayes will sit down with Greg Campbell. Greg is a leadership coach and has served in Senior Management positions for Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group and Richard Ellis, Inc. Greg has provided leadership coaching and consulting for high profile executives as well as young professionals. He'll talk about the importance of mentorship and how your network can make all the difference when cultivating a mentoring relationship. Greg is the author of The Surprising Power of the Coil. Greg currently serves as the chair for Graduate Divisions Dean’s Leadership Council.
INTRODUCING: The Graduate Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series Featuring: Greg Campbell
When/Where: May 4, 2021 | Virtual via Zoom Time: 5 pm - 6 pm PT More info forthcoming via email!
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UPCOMING GRADUATE DIVISION EVENTS
Graduate Alumni Chapter Opening Meeting When/Where: February 16, 2021 | Register here Time: 6 pm - 7 pm PT UCI Graduate Alums Talk Transitions: Featuring Jill Pestana, MS' 15 When/Where: February 18, 2021 | Register here Time: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm PT Grad Slam When/Where: March 4, 2021 | Register here Time: 5 pm - 7 pm PT After the Slam: Co-hosted by UCI Graduate Division and UCI Graduate Alumni Chapter When/Where: March 25, 2021 | Register here Time: TBD Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series | Featuring: Greg Campbell When/Where: May 4, 2021 | Virtual via Zoom Time: 5 pm - 6 pm PT UCI Graduate Alums Talk Featuring Renee Reid, MHCID '19 When/Where: April 22, 2021 | Register here Time: Noon PT - 1:00 pm PT
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