Professional Development
- Annual Professional Development Day
- Triton Time
- Additional Professional Development Resources
Annual Professional Development Day
2025 Theme - The Mindful Professional: Flow, Flourish, & Thrive
The eighth annual Professional Development Day will be held on Friday, December 12, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year, we're looking to focus on developing our staff both internally and externally with a mixture of workshops focused on stress management, exploring pathways for continued personal development, and possessing a growth mindset. After a busy fall quarter, we aim to center our staff and our collective work with an opportunity to recharge the spirit, reconnect with colleagues, and invest in the future.
Staff will engage in dynamic workshops that focus on self-care strategies, career development, and innovative practices in Student Affairs and Campus Life. Inspiring speakers from across the university will share insights on navigating challenges and fostering resilience. This is a wonderful chance to celebrate our shared mission and empower one another to thrive both personally and professionally. Let's embrace this chance to rejuvenate our spirits and rediscover the joy of making a difference in students’ lives.
Upcoming sessions included:
- Navigating Graduate Schools As A Professional
- Student Panels
- Professional Development During Complex Times
- And More!
Friday, Dec. 12, 2025
TIME: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
FORMAT: In-Person
LOCATION: Price Center West Ballroom
Food will be provided.
Meet Our Keynote Speaker: CHRO Terri Winbush
This year, we will be engaging in a fireside chat with UC San Diego's own, Chief Human Resources Officer, Terri Winbush. Terri S. Winbush serves as the Campus Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at UC San Diego. Prior to assuming her CHRO role, Winbush led the employee and labor relations units at UC San Diego as Senior Director of HR Strategy and Policy for eight years. Winbush is a staunch advocate for people and is credited for introducing the People Proposition - the foundation of her overall people strategy, and the guide for every decision made for the people of UC San Diego. She is the visionary behind employee development programs at UC San Diego, including the People Leader Network, and the HR Forum.
With her personal mission to incorporate the human back into human resources at the forefront, Winbush fosters campuswide conversations that strengthen respect, understanding, and community. She is also a strong voice for showing grace and making space for employees to bring their whole selves to work at UC San Diego. Before joining UC San Diego, Winbush was Deputy City Attorney with the City of San Diego for eight years. She has a B.A. in Government/Sociology from University of Texas, and a J.D. from University of San Diego Law School. She enjoys spending time with her family and helping people find their joy.
Schedule
Breakfast & Social | 8:30 – 9 a.m.
Price Center West Ballroom
A light continental breakfast will be served.
Fireside Chat | 9 – 9:50 a.m.
Keynote
Price Center West Ballroom
Presenter: CHRO Terri Winbush
Breakout Sessions Round 1 | 10 – 10:50 a.m.
| Session | Facilitators | Description | Price Center Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Being Your Own Career Strategist - Salary Setting and Career Pathways | Alexandra Galarza, Sr. Director, People Programs & Rewards | This session invites participants to pause, reflect, and take an empowered approach to navigating their professional journey. Together, we’ll explore how understanding market trends, evaluating your skills, and aligning opportunities with your long-term goals can strengthen your confidence in salary conversations and career decisions. You’ll leave with tools, questions, and strategies to advocate for your worth and design a career trajectory that reflects your purpose and potential. |
The Forum 4th Floor PC East |
| AI Super User Session | Pending |
Governance Chambers 4th Floor PC East |
|
| Managing Stress & The Science of Mindfulness | Cheryl Shah, Workplace Program Co-Director, CFM | This session invites participants to slow down, recenter, and explore evidence-based approaches to managing stress through mindfulness. Drawing on practices and research from the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness, we will examine how the mind and body respond to stress and how intentional awareness can support resilience, clarity, and overall well-being. Beginning with a brief overview of the science behind mindfulness interwoven with guided exercises that offer participants an opportunity to experience these concepts in real time. |
Warren College Room 2nd Floor PC West |
Breakout Sessions Round 2 | 11 – 11:50 a.m.
| Session | Facilitators | Description | Price Center Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Panel: Gen Z Navigating Change |
Claudia Pena, Ed.D. Justin Glover, Director of Muir College Center Student Panel |
Interested in how our students navigate major change? Come sit in for this Q&A with a panel of students from first years to upper division students giving insight on how they navigate major life changes. Use this raw data for your own personal growth and to get a deeper understanding on ways to support our students. |
The Forum 4th Floor PC East |
| Learning the Path Forward: Exploring Graduate and Doctoral Study |
Laura Kiralla, Ed.D. Ron Reyes, M.A. Lorena Quiroz, M.A. |
Thinking about graduate or doctoral study? This session invites Student Affairs professionals to pause, reflect, and learn what to consider before pursuing advanced education. Together, we’ll explore how graduate programs align with your personal and professional purpose, timing, and life. The session begins with a brief presentation on key considerations—purpose, readiness, and return on investment—followed by a candid panel discussion with colleagues who have navigated master’s and doctoral programs. Participants will leave with guiding questions, reflective tools, and next steps to help them design their educational journey with intention. |
Governance Chambers 4th Floor PC East |
| Headshots with Associated Students | Associated Students Photographers | This session offers participants an opportunity to refresh their professional presence with high-quality headshots provided in partnership with Associated Students (ASUCSD) Photography. Whether you’re updating your LinkedIn profile, preparing for a conference, or elevating your departmental materials, a polished headshot can help you present your work and identity with confidence. AS Photographers will provide on-site direction and capture multiple images that reflect your unique professionalism. Space is limited, not everyone will be guaranteed. | Price Center West Ballroom |
Breakout Sessions Round 3 | 1– 1:50 p.m.
| Session | Facilitators | Description | Price Center Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Being A Kid Again - Holiday Ornament Making | Kimberly Hillman and Annika Nelson, Craft Center | Join the UC San Diego Craft Center and recenter your inner child with some fun creative activities! They will be providing the materials for you to craft your own holiday ornament (with beads and sparkles, of course!) for you to let your artistic side show. Space is limited for this session, so be sure to fill out the session RSVP form! |
The Forum Fourth Floor PC East |
| Providing Pivotal Workplace Feedback | Christina Lambert, Ph. D., FSAP Counselor | Haven’t we all wished we could say what we mean and mean what we say when asked to give feedback in the workplace? Too often we may find we are lacking the right words to offer constructive and meaningful feedback for our coworkers, supervisors and teams. Whether we are asked for our opinion, simply need to give clearer direction to those we supervise or want to help shape the future of a project, this workshop will help participants learn an effective model for communication under high stakes circumstances. |
Governance Chambers 4th Floor PC East |
| Staff Learning & Development: Professional Development in Complex Times | Kimberlyn Greene, Ed.D., Staff Learning & Development | The Staff Learning and Development team supports Campus staff through professional development resources, managerial and leadership development programs, team development tools, learning technology tools, and instructional design strategy and support. This session will delve further into the professional development resources for skill development, continued learning, and certifications available through Staff Learning as well as creating a development portfolio with a growth mindset. |
Warren College Room 2nd Floor PC West |
VC-SACL Holiday Party | 2 – 4 p.m.
Price Center West Ballroom
The festivities will include food, beverages, gift drawings and fun!
Revisit Past Sessions
Thank you to everyone who attended Professional Development Day 2023!
For those who missed a session or want to revisit one, we've got you covered.
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