Team Spotlight: UC San Diego Special Events & Protocol

By: R. PAUL VILLALUZ 

🎓 The Big One: Commencement Weekend

• When your team manages an average of 100-150 events a year, choosing the biggest is no small feat. But for UC San Diego Special Events and Protocol, one event rises above the rest: Commencement Weekend.

• And the experiences that come with the job can be pretty extraordinary.

• “One of the best parts of this job is the team itself, the cohesiveness we share and the way every day brings something new and a chance to be creative.”

• The team also gets to meet fascinating people along the way — from event partners like Show Imaging to notable commencement speakers including the Dalai Lama and, most recently, Bill Nye.

• “Beyond that, this role gives us access to unique experiences we simply wouldn't have otherwise.”

• And their least favorite part of event life?

• Budget challenges.
  (We have a feeling a few event professionals can relate. 😅)

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🌴 How the Team Recharges

• Event professionals know that after taking care of everyone else, finding ways to recharge matters.

• For this team, that often means spending time together outside of the event itself.

• They recharge through team potlucks, walks around the golf course during breaks, beach hangouts, and other outings. They also bring some fun into the office — including decorating their office doors during holiday celebrations.

• It’s a reflection of something the team clearly values: connection with one another.

✨ The UC San Diego Secret Sauce

• There’s one word Business Operations Coordinator Majda uses to describe this team:

• “Funkadelic.”

• And somehow, it fits.

• The Special Events and Protocol team is an all-women group that prides itself on being supportive, uplifting, and exceptionally good at solving problems behind the scenes.

• They consider themselves event fixers — the people making things happen so seamlessly that guests never see the challenges being solved behind the curtain.

• Or, perhaps, the perfect description of what event professionals everywhere do best:

• “We’re very good at making chaos look intentional.”

• UC San Diego Special Events & Protocol
  Events is our middle name.