At the same time I was working with the Library, I was offering my time with UCSD Basic Needs as I saw there were many volunteer & student employment opportunities where I could use my skills as a UX designer and make a difference in my local community at the same time.
During my time at the Basic Needs, I became a data analyst and started the first official UX/IA team for The Hub, shooting off from the Marketing & Admin team. I spearheaded the transformation of the website and feel of the Instagram & TikTok pages, where we saw a growth of 426% engagement across our platforms.
I wore many hats, duties including helping out at the food pantry and at the front desk when students had emergency evictions, campaigning, and advocacy work with student government for more basic needs support. I also helped start the Annual Basic Needs Report that UC measures across the other sister campuses during the spring quarter.
Bringing data analysis and into the mix was huge as it opened the administration’s eyes to the fact that many of their students could barely afford to be there and opened the door to more grants for student centers and basic needs resources. In measuring our impact of our mutual aid programs, 24/7 student services, and social media outreach, we’ve seen improvements in food security resources at UC San Diego since the Hub’s creation.
As UC San Diego is now the largest UC across all of California–our marketing & outreach efforts serve as a model for the other campuses that are also struggling to keep up with basic needs for students.
Source: Students Basic Needs Dashboard 2026
Source: UC Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES)
What these databases and annual reports do is give a voice to underrepresented student groups. Our research findings directly aligned with the lived experiences and who we saw the most often: BIPOC and first-gen students, immigrant students looking for opportunity.
UC San Diego is the only UC with food security for all 45,000 students, including international and undocumented due to the partnership developed with the San Diego Food Bank, a partnership with the city that no other UC has, which I am proud of! I can say I contributed to food insecurity awareness and the barriers BIPOC students faced–these increased funding efforts and expansion of advocacy work at The Hub are due to boots on the ground research and interviewing students who much like myself, lived/live the reality of choosing between basic needs and getting their education.
It started with remaking the website from scratch and having each of the services offered in one place, then with growing our social media footprint by consistent posts, looking at our analytics to see what worked, what trended, and with interacting/giving back to the community with events and celebrating our diversity, overcoming the obstacles that institutions put in front of us by doing it together. Educating. It truly takes a village. Because of my experiences at The Hub, I’ll always be passionate about mutual aid and want to continue learning.
I firmly believe in meeting people where they are at, and the goal of making basic things (information, food, community, housing) accessible for everyone.