Alumni Spotlights feature outstanding UC Santa Barbara alumni succeeding in their careers, proud of their Gaucho heritage.
Nominate your fellow Gauchos for the Alumni Spotlight series!
Growing up in Sweden, moving to Isla Vista for undergrad brought forth a lot of life changes for Mahsa Afsharpour ’05. Embracing the social nature of UCSB, Mahsa appreciated her time both in and out of the classroom with friends and peers. After studying Forensic Psychology for her Master’s degree, Mahsa made a career change into her current line of work: interior design.
Paul Dimalanta was always passionate about visual arts, but didn’t begin his photography career until he graduated from UCSB in 2005. Initiated by an interest in magazine work, the artist found himself working his way up in the luxury photography industry. After over a decade, Paul boasts a rich portfolio featuring a diverse range of artwork.
Monte Schulz ‘83 attended UC Santa Barbara for a Master of Arts in American Studies. He honed his passion for writing by immersing himself in diverse literature and has since published a plethora of novels, including Crossing Eden and Metropolis.
Martin Carranza ‘18 became a Gaucho after serving four years in the U.S. Marines. The veteran found his passion for helping others during his undergraduate years through his involvement in a variety of student organizations. Now, Martin applies his skills and shares his experience during sessions with other first-generation college students as an Education Opportunity Program Counselor.
Adam Jorge ‘15 attended UC Santa Barbara’s master's program in Environmental Science and Management in order to further his interest in the public policy space. Almost a decade later, Adam finds himself enrolled in a PhD program alongside his full-time industry career, eager to continue his education.
Lois Phillips ‘86 arrived at UC Santa Barbara with a strong foundation of Communication and Education experience, having studied at Queens College and the University of Massachusetts for her respective undergraduate and Masters degrees. During her time at UCSB, Lois focused her research on women at the podium as part of a greater academic discussion about women in the workplace and the changing nature of the family unit. Now, Lois utilizes her extensive knowledge to aid her consultancy clients with their professional coaching and communications needs.