Navigating your professional growth at the UC often relies on the connections you make. These connections are made not only within your department and division, but also with those who do what you do at different departments and campuses. Nearly 20 years ago, this panel worked at UCR's Bourns College of Engineering in Grad Advising roles, leaning on each other for support and advice. As careers progressed and individuals moved to different departments and eventually different campuses, they've kept in touch and are coming together here to show you how they've navigated their careers from advisor to leader.

Will Lee-Ladouceur

Will graduated from UC Irvine with B.A.'s in Criminology, Law & Society and Psychological Science. He has worked for over 18 years within the UC system at UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz and his current position at UC Merced. Two common elements throughout his career have been graduate student programs and recruitment. Will is passionate about helping graduate students achieve their degree path and career goals.

Julia Nemeth

Julia graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in History (with a goal of teaching high school) and has since worked at UCSB, UCR, UCI and UCSD in a variety of roles. Despite a Master of Education in Cross-Cultural teaching and an attempt to work in private K-12, Julia keeps coming back to the UC system and especially graduate student programs at each new turn. Throughout her career, she has worked to maintain connections with those who have taught her everything she knows today and strives to learn something new from everyone she meets. She cries many tears of joy, and many of frustration, and holds onto the belief that a graduate degree should be attainable by anyone who wants one.

Jennifer Morgan

Jen is a dedicated leader with a people-oriented approach, emphasizing effective people management, mental health, and work-life balance. With a B.S. in Business Administration from UC Riverside, she began her career as a graduate advisor and later transitioned to roles in procurement, events, financial analysis, and eventually as Chief Administrative Officer.
Throughout her journey, Jen has remained committed to impacting students' lives, fostering growth and well-being. Her academic knowledge, hands-on experience, and passion for empowering others make her a powerful driver of personal and organizational success, creating a supportive work environment with a profound impact on those she leads.

Amy Ricks

Amy has over 15 years of UC experience between the Riverside and Irvine campuses and currently serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the Samueli School of Engineering at UC Irvine where she is responsible for the oversight of strategic initiatives, administrative operations, and management of department financial, personnel, student affairs, teaching, and research support infrastructure operations. Amy received her undergraduate degree in three departments (English, Comparative Literature, Psychology) and more recently, her Master of Education degree with a specialization in Leadership in Higher Education. She is proud to be an advocate, advisor, mentor, ally, analyst, and leader on her campus and is known for her integrity, ability to effectively teach and lead, facilitation and problem-solving abilities, and general operations management both large and small scale. Amy strongly believes in care, consideration, accountability, and diversity in society and the Institution. She brings a strong force of positivity, energy, and process improvement to the organization and works to help empower systemwide leaders (including work leaders and those aspiring to be) to channel and develop their best selves, and form collaborative relationships as we navigate through challenges together in the UC, in service of our communities, academics, students, staff, and each other.