UCSB Alumni

Congratulations to our Class of 2026 UC Santa Barbara Alumni Interns! 🎉

Thank you for the dedication, creativity, and enthusiasm you've brought to the UCSB Alumni team. Your hard work has helped strengthen connections across the Gaucho community, and we're incredibly grateful for the impact you've made during your time with us. We're proud to have been part of your journey and can't wait to see all that you accomplish next.

Join us in congratulating our graduating interns and wishing them success in all that's ahead!

🎓 Eliza Bulanti, Programs Intern, B.S. Psychological & Brain Sciences
🎓 Mia Burlington, Programs Intern, B.A. Communications and Sociology
🎓 Sara Kalanther, Alumni Board of Directors Intern, B.S. Statistics and Data Science
🎓 Anton Hense, Greek Programs Intern, B.A. Economics
🎓 Isabella Goetschel, FVC Staffer, B.A. Global Studies and French
🎓 Dayanara Flores, FVC Staffer, B.A. Communications
🎓 Anita Ontiveros, FVC Staffer, B.A. Sociology
🎓 Serina Gonzales-Burgos, FVC Staffer, B.S. Psychology and Brain Sciences, Minor in Applied Psychology



Image descriptions:
1. Alumni staff and interns smiling together in front of a curved bookshelf.
2. Alumni interns wearing blue graduation stoles in front of the bookshelf, with three students kneeling in the front row.
3. FVC Director DeAnna Rodriguez with FVC Financial Officer Lesli Brodbeck and FVC Staffers Isabella Goetschel, Dayanara Flores, Anita Ontiveros, and Serina Gonzales-Burgos.

Our Olé in the Bay community gathered at Barebottle Brewing Co. Menlo Park Taproom to welcome UCSB’s new Susan and Bruce Worster Dean of Science, Dr. Shelly Gable!

From chatting about the future of AI and marine science to raising a glass with fellow Gauchos, it was the perfect reminder of how strong our alumni network is. Thank you to everyone who joined us!



Image descriptions: Various photos of UCSB alumni smiling and networking at a brewery reception welcoming Dean Shelly Gable.

Initially planning to stay just one year for a master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Al Yuen found a research environment at UC Santa Barbara that inspired him to stay for his PhD and sparked a lifelong career as a technology startup founder.

Guided by mentors like Dr. Evelyn Hu and Dr. Herbert Kroemer, Al immersed himself in compound semiconductor research. After spending the first 12 years of his career developing real-world technologies at Hewlett Packard, he transitioned to the startup space, co-founding his first company, Alvesta, alongside a former UCSB classmate and professor.

Today, he applies his core professional philosophy, "make everyone around you better," directly to the Gaucho community. As a past member of the UCSB Alumni Board, Al has focused on creating practical, hands-on opportunities for students to gain career experience. He founded and advises StartUC and has worked with student groups, including Women in Business, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Data Science Club.

When he isn't brainstorming his next startup idea while taking long walks with his dog, Oski, Al and his family stay deeply connected to their Gaucho roots by attending the Family Vacation Center (FVC) every year!

Read the full Q&A to learn more about Al’s journey: https://ow.ly/XFXM50Z1cVJ



Image description: Al Yuen '87 with glasses and silver hair in a professional meeting room. Overlaid text reads: "Al is a technology leader and startup entrepreneur who emphasizes collaboration and giving back, dedicating much of his career to guiding and inspiring the next generation of engineers."