Liora Kian-Gutierrez is a member of a distinctive group at UCSD: employees who are alumni. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Revelle College, she is a 1984 graduate of Muir College who began working at UCSD as a half-time employee in the School of Medicine. In her 26 years as a UCSD administrator, she has served in a variety of positions, including many volunteer roles. She was interviewed at the Stuart Collection’s “La Jolla Project” (aka Stonehenge) , one of her favorite campus spots, just hours before she participated in the ceremonial Watermelon Drop at the culmination of Revelle College’s year-long 40th anniversary celebration.

What were your first impressions of UCSD?

Kian-Gutierrez: That it was a picturesque campus. I was an East Coast transplant. I moved to California from New Jersey after my husband and I married, I worked briefly at UC Davis, then I transferred here as a junior. I loved being so close to the ocean, and I was in awe of the reputation of the Sociology Department, which was founded by faculty members from the University of Chicago. It didn’t hurt that my husband was a UCSD graduate from the Sociology Department.

What advice would you give to an incoming freshman student about succeeding at UCSD?

Kian-Gutierrez: Make connections with faculty and administrators, and make them in the first quarter that you’re here. Sit in the front row and go to your professor’s office hours, which is one of the best things that I ever did as a student. Show that you can work hard, and raise your hand when you hear someone ask, “Who wants to do this?” And always remember that faculty and staff at UCSD work for you and are here to help you.

Which professors had the biggest impact on your education?

Kian-Gutierrez: Bud Mehan. I did very well in his class, and he offered me a job as a reader, which is what we used to call undergraduate teaching assistants. I learned even more from that experience than I did in class, and it led to an internship and then to a summer job doing research for the Teacher Education Program. Having Bud for a professor and mentor made me realize how much some faculty really care about students. Bud is a standout.

What are some “outside the classroom” life lessons you learned as a UCSD student?

Kian-Gutierrez: Don’t be afraid to go up to anybody and ask, “Would you study with me?” That’s how I got a study partner. I also learned that it’s okay to leave dirty dishes in the sink. You shouldn’t try to be a perfectionist; you need to have a life. And I learned that students who need to work to support themselves should get jobs on campus. When I was an employee in the School of Medicine Student Affairs office, the staff were like my second family; they gave me a lot of support.

What are your favorite spots on campus?

Kian-Gutierrez: As a student, my favorite spot was La Casa in Third (now Marshall) College. You could sit there with a cup of tea and just study. The manager was an older gentleman who would always come by and ask me how things were going. Now, my favorite spot is Stonehenge (La Jolla Project). We used to have commencements here for Warren and Revelle Colleges, and we’ve had special events here, like Tom Bond’s retirement as Revelle Provost. Students come here to study. People from Theatre and Dance come here to practice performances. Professors bring classes here. It’s a “beyond the classroom” learning place, and it’s also a place where community people come to exercise or play with their dogs.

What has your career at UCSD been like?

Kian-Gutierrez: The day after I graduated, I started working for Carmel Myers, who was Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. I worked in the Equal Opportunity Program and also in the Relations With Schools Office doing outreach with high school and community college students. I was the chair of the 1987 Open House; the theme was “Take a Peek at UCSD,” and I still have the poster. Pat Ledden was my immediate supervisor, and he took me under his wing. I never had a class with Pat as a student, but I learned some incredible things from him as a staff member. I also directed the campus tour guide program and hired and trained student tour guides. In addition, I coordinated the UCSD-sponsored Southern California College Bowl Competition.

How has UCSD changed
since your undergraduate days?

Kian-Gutierrez: The students are phenomenally smarter, and they are more engaged with the surrounding community, partly because they have so many community service opportunities. And they have been so programmed by their families to succeed, so they are very determined about their future. The campus has changed so much that I sometime get lost, and I used to be the campus tours director. There are so many new buildings, and more research labs. I never thought I’d say this, but it’s grown more beautiful. Speaking as a former East Coast person, I think you don’t have to have ivy to have a beautiful classic university.

What do you like best about working here?

Kian-Gutierrez: The students and the colleagues; they really inspire me. I am excited to come here each and every day, and I never look at the clock. This is the last week of school, and also the end of the Revelle 40th anniversary celebration, so it has been a whirlwind. A few weeks after the students are gone, I always feel a little sad and lonely. I’ve been an assistant dean at Revelle for 15 years, and I never thought I’d stay in the same job that long. But I love watching students grow from the first time you see them at orientation to the time you shake their hands at commencement. I love being there for them.

What do you like best about being a UCSD alumna?

Kian-Gutierrez: I love the UCSD Alumni Association. I used to be on the Alumni Board of Directors, and I love working with Tracie Davee. When the Alumni Association calls to ask me to do something, I immediately say, “Yes.” The Association connects you with other alumni from different years, so you get to meet the most incredible people, and it’s always fun. One of my fondest memories was when I was at an alumni function for student scholars at the Chancellor’s House. Bob Dynes had just become Chancellor, and Marjorie Caserio introduced me to him. She said, “Not only is Liora Assistant Dean at Revelle, she also is an alumna.” And the Chancellor stuck out his hand and said, “Well, then, Liora, I’m Bob, and I work for you.”