Welcome to the Inaugural UCSB Graduate Open House!
Discover the vibrant community, high-impact research, and world-class graduate programs at UC Santa Barbara. Whether you are ready to apply this term or just starting to explore your options, our virtual Open House is your opportunity to connect directly with academic departments, student support centers, and the Graduate Division team.
JUMP TO SESSIONS
Graduate Division Featured Sessions
EVENT DETAILS
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Virtual Event via Zoom Events
REGISTER HERE
Make sure you save your registration confirmation.
This is your private link to access the UCSB Grad Open House.
Event Information
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Time Zones: All scheduled times are listed in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) [UTC -7]. Please adjust for your local time zone accordingly.
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Managing Your Schedule: Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to access the event dashboard. You can join different concurrent sessions throughout the day from this dashboard.
Event Schedule
Expect programming in three major areas:
Graduate Division
Featured Sessions
Get expert advice straight from the UCSB Graduate Division team on navigating the admissions process
UC Santa Barbara, nestled along the picturesque California coastline, offers a unique blend of academic excellence and natural beauty. Known for its stunning campus, which includes its own beach, UCSB is a world-class research institution with particular strengths in physics, engineering, and environmental studies. The university is home to six Nobel laureates and is renowned for its collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to education. The campus culture is characterized by a strong commitment to sustainability, a vibrant arts scene, and a laid-back coastal vibe. With its bike-friendly paths, beautiful lagoon, and proximity to the Santa Ynez Mountains, UCSB provides an unparalleled environment where groundbreaking research meets an active, outdoor-oriented lifestyle.
At UC Santa Barbara, we’re committed to providing prospective graduate students with clear, accessible, and helpful information as they explore their path to graduate education. Our outreach efforts are designed to demystify the admissions process, offer guidance on preparing competitive applications, and connect applicants with UCSB’s diverse academic community.
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Janine M. Jones
Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Affairs and Anne and Michael Towbes Graduate Dean
Michele Johnson
Graduate Division Director of Admissions, Outreach, and Diversity
Karen van Gool
Assistant Director for Graduate Division Outreach
Featured Speakers:
Anna Theogarajan
Graduate Professional Development Director
Dr. Grace Kimball
Assistant Director of Graduate Professional Development
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Robert Hamm
Assistant Graduate Dean
Rhiannon Parisse
Graduate Appointment Policy Analyst
The Graduate Division's Admissions and Outreach team will walk you through the graduate admissions and application process, provide answers to the most commonly asked questions, and take some questions live from our attendees. We look forward to meeting you!
At UC Santa Barbara, we’re committed to providing prospective graduate students with clear, accessible, and helpful information as they explore their path to graduate education. Our outreach efforts are designed to demystify the admissions process, offer guidance on preparing competitive applications, and connect applicants with UCSB’s diverse academic community.
Featured Speakers:
Michele Johnson
Graduate Division Director of Admissions, Outreach, and Diversity
Karen van Gool
Assistant Director for Graduate Division Outreach
Mallarie Stevens
Associate Director of Graduate Admissions
Dr. Ana Guerrero
Coordinator of Graduate Diversity Initiatives and UC LEADS Systemwide
Campus Resource & Support Sessions
Learn about the robust support systems available to UCSB graduate students, covering funding, professional development, and community-building.
Staff from the Office of International Students & Scholars will provide an overview of the international student immigration landscape and provide a high level overview of the immigration process after being admitted to UCSB. Q&A will be available at the end of the session.
Academic Program Sessions
Connect directly with Graduate Program staff, faculty, and graduate students from participating departments. Learn about specific application requirements, research environments, funding structures, and department culture.
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More sessions will be added here as they are scheduled.
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Ryan Stowers Assistant
Professor of Bioengineering & Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
UCSB Department of Bioengineering
Nicole Becker
UCSB Department of Bioengineering
Featured Speaker:
Carolyn Sattin Bajaj
UCSB Department of Education
Hear about Bren's two professional master's degrees and the PhD program from a member of our Admissions Team.
Featured Speakers:
Kristine Faloon
Executive Director of Student Services
UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science and Management
Kimberly Yom
Admissions & Student Affairs Coordinator
UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science and Management
Featured Speakers:
Sam Rifkin
UCSB Geography Department
Anna Trugman
Professor of Geography & Vice Chair of Graduate Programs
UCSB Geography Department
Dr. Amy Frazier
Professor & Jack and Laura Dangermond Endowed Chair of Conservation Science
UCSB Geography Department
Dr. Brian Codding
Professor
UCSB Geography Department
Dr. Zoe Pierrat
Assistant Professor
UCSB Geography Department
Featured Speaker:
Hailey Fletcher
UCSB Department of Global Studies
Featured Speakers:
Medina Price
UCSB Department of Mathematics
Hector Ceniceros
UCSB Department of Mathematics
Featured Speakers:
Erin Nerstad
MTM Executive Director, UCSB Department of Technology Management
Erin Moore
UCSB Department of Technology Management
Nelson Phillips
UCSB Department of Technology Management
Join us for an overview of the Technology Management PhD program. Hear from our Director of PhD Studies, Prof. Christine Beckman, about our research focus, the holistic admissions process, and how to craft a competitive application. We will conclude with a Q&A to discuss our research environment and life as a doctoral student in our department.
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Christine Beckman
Investment Group of Santa Barbara
Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
UCSB Department of Technology Management
Tricia Taylor
UCSB Department of Technology Management
Featured Speaker:
Matto Mildenberger
UCSB Political Science Department
Featured Speaker:
Juan Barrera Alcazar
UCSB Department of Statistics and Applied Probability
Featured Speakers:
Samantha Cole
UCSB Teacher Education Program Assistant Director
Cici Martinez-Lopez
UCSB Teacher Education Program
Katie Tucciarone
UCSB Teacher Education Program
The TEP general information session will introduce prospective students to the UCSB credential program with the Master's Degree in Education (M.Ed.), including what makes UCSB TEP unique, the structure of our program, and what their time with us might look like.
Featured Speakers:
Samantha Cole
UCSB Teacher Education Program Assistant Director
Cici Martinez-Lopez
UCSB Teacher Education Program
Katie Tucciarone
UCSB Teacher Education Program
Contact
Questions about UCSB Graduate Open House and other outreach events? Please contact Grad Outreach.