Meet the Staff | Jacobs School of Engineering

The IDEA Center Team

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Alex Phan, Ph.D. (he/him/his)

Executive Director for Student Success

Triton Alumni!

alexphan@ucsd.edu | 858-822-4636

Schedule a meeting: Faculty, Staff & Community Partner | Current Students

See Alex for...

TESC & JGSC advising
Cross-department collaboration
Jacobs School of Engineering student success initiatives
Learn more about Alex

The advice I have for engineering students is... Do not wait for the perfect opportunity. Get involved early, stay curious, and let each experience guide your growth.

Jackie Duerr, Ed.D. (she/her/hers)

Director

jduerr@ucsd.edu | 858-246-5268

Schedule a meeting: Faculty, Staff & Community Partner | Current students

See Jackie for...

Strategic planning & initiatives
Jacobs School Scholars
IDEA Scholars
Summer Engineering Institute
Coaching
Good eats in San Diego

The advice I have for engineering students is... You'll actually remember more if you study in small doses rather than in one big sit. So take a break. It's good for your brain.

Jessica Baldis, M.S. (she/her/hers)

Strategic Initiatives and Assessment Senior Analyst

jbaldis@ucsd.edu | 858-534-6779

Schedule a Meeting: Current Students

See Jessica for...

GEAR Up2Research
Transfer Prep
Coaching
Assessment & Evaluation

The advice I have for engineering students is... College is more than just classes. It’s your training ground for the professional world, so make time to grow your professional skills. They’ll shape your future career as much as your coursework.

Sara Eckardt (she/her/hers)

Assistant Director

Triton Alumni!

sleckardt@ucsd.edu

See Sara for...

Engineering Learning Communities
Coaching
IDEA Study Lounge
Events and Operations Support

Schedule a meeting:

Faculty, Staff & Community Partner | Current students

The advice I have for engineering students is... remember to take a moment and reflect how much you've accomplished and not just what the end goals are.

Tyler Vuillemot, M.A. (he/him/his)

Student Success Coordinator

tvuillemot@ucsd.edu

Schedule a meeting: Faculty, Staff & Community Partner | Current students

See Tyler for...

IDEA Scholars
Summer Engineering Institute
Student Orgs
Coaching
Fun things to do in San Diego
Chat about sports, books, TV shows, & movies

The advice I have for engineering students is... nobody's path is linear. It takes time to adjust to a new environment, find your people, build new skills, and figure out your direction in life. Give yourself time and grace to find your way.