Desiree Jabson, a senior in Eleanor Roosevelt College and a political science major, health care and social issues minor, will graduate on June 12, marry her fiancé, Fredi Daniels, on June 15, and begin her new job as a health care consultant at Stockamp & Associates on June 27. She has served as Vice President of External Relations for the Chancellor’s Organization of Allied Students (COAST) and as Vice President of the ERC Student Council, and she has worked for four years as an administrative assistant in the office of the Senior Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs. She was interviewed on the patio of Café Roma in the Price Center, one of her favorite campus spots.

What were your first impressions of UCSD?

Jabson: When I first visited UCSD on Admit Day, it seemed like a very academic place; you could see people studying everywhere. I could tell that it wasn’t a “party school” and that the big leisure thing for students was to go to the beach.

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

Jabson: Challenge yourself in every way, in your academic life and your extracurricular life. Success happens when you take advantage of opportunities that come your way, and there are so many opportunities for students at UCSD. Also, make connections with your professors, your peers, and administrators. Anytime the Chancellor or Vice Chancellors hold an event, attend and make yourself known.

What has surprised you most about campus life?

Jabson: The dynamics of the college system really set UCSD apart. It encourages students to participate in campus life on an intimate level while also belonging to a large university. I also was surprised by the level of student leadership activities. You can excel at more than just academics. And the caliber of the faculty is amazing.

Which professors have had the biggest impact on your education to date?

Jabson: Charles Chamberlain, who taught me for two quarters in the ERC Making of the Modern World core curriculum. Victor Magagna in Political Science, who I had for three courses. And Charles Briggs, who is a professor of Ethnic Studies and also director of the Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies. These three helped me understand the importance of cultural and religious differences. They made me see the world in a global perspective, beyond just “I’m a Californian” or “I’m an American.”

If you could launch any new student program or activity, what would it be?

Jabson: That’s a wonderful question for me, because I’m currently launching a program. I’m Chair of “Dance-A-Thon at UCSD,” a brand-new SOLO [Student Organizations and Leadership Opportunities] organization that was created last fall. We’re trying to establish a tradition that is both fun and philanthropic, that creates a sense of unity among students and also gives back to the community. Dance-A-Thon activities will benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

What are your favorite spots on campus?

Jabson: I love the Price Center and Café Roma because it’s a hub for finding out everything that’s going on: you see lots of posters and people performing, and there are a ton of places to eat and hang out with your friends. I also love the Music Library in the lower level of Geisel Library, but for the opposite reason: it’s a quiet place with lots of plants, so it’s a great spot to study. And finally, at the very top of Tioga Hall in Muir College, there’s a spot where you can see the entire ocean, and it reminds you of the beauty of this coastal mesa.

What do you do to unwind?

Jabson: I love watching a good movie with all the works – popcorn, chocolate-covered raisins, soda – and with friends who also want to relax. I definitely love going to the beach and getting away from everything, which is one of the advantages of being in La Jolla. And every once in a while, I do a girlie thing, like get a pedicure.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Jabson: I see myself getting a master’s degree in public health or health administration – I’m looking at Harvard, USC, Stanford or Berkeley – and carrying on my career in an academic setting, a hospital, or a community clinic. Fredi and I will have been married 10 years, and by then, I hope we’ll have at least one child. And I do want to travel. UCSD has motivated me to reach out to other places in the world. If possible, I’d love to have a home here in California and a home in the Midwest. And one other thing: In 10 years, I will definitely be involved in the UCSD Alumni Association.