What We Keep from Wild Times
Nineteen months ago, COVID-19 thrust us into a different way of life—six feet apart, behind paper masks and plexiglass shields, convening virtually on screens and interacting in our little Brady Bunch boxes. As we slowly start to emerge back into a life that feels familiar but also somehow new, the questions remain—what have we learned from these wild times? What do we keep from this experience?
For UC San Diego alumni, the short answer is that we will keep connecting. During these times of pandemic, the Triton community has endured as a powerful resource, one made even stronger as we stay connected with our university, our fellow alumni and our current students.
Though these times have been a challenge, Tritons have come together in unprecedented ways. Membership on our networking platform, Tritons Connect has surged—now upwards of 13,242—as Tritons continue to lend a hand and mentor students entering a world of uncertainty, and alumni from all walks of life support each other with advice, opportunities, guidance and goodwill.
Living through wild times requires unconventional approaches to staying connected. With a full roster of our Alumni Signature Events having taken place virtually, alumni the world over were able to share in our school spirit at Homecoming, tackle important topics at the Triton Leaders Conference and champion our collective achievements during Alumni Celebration Weekend. This online accessibility was a revelation in bringing our vast Triton network together and is worth carrying forward into our future.
You can see a snapshot of our new Triton connections on the adjacent page, as well as in our Impact Report on p.18. Please know that we will again get together in person, as Tritons, and as real, live people enjoying each other’s company. There is no substitute for the authenticity of real and true human interaction. But as alumni know, just getting “back to normal” is never enough for us. We always seek to improve, to learn, to grow and make things better. That is what we will do with this experience, as that is our way at UC San Diego and the heart of who we are as Tritons.
With Triton pride,
Kimberley Philips Boehm, Warren ’82, PhD
President, UC San Diego Alumni Board of Directors