SIS Trailblazers

We are thrilled to showcase SIS Trailblazers, a recognition campaign aimed at acknowledging and celebrating the incredible contributions of individuals within the SIS Project. 

What can you do?

Submit a nomination! Nominations are open to anyone in the university community, including those currently or previously serving on a project implementation team, on an advisory committee, as a subject matter expert or anyone else. Every task and every effort on the SIS Project is helping us realize our vision of "One University, One Student IT Ecosystem." 

Have someone in mind? We thought so!

Complete the SIS Trailblazers nomination form today to shine the spotlight on the impactful work your colleagues, teammates and coworkers are doing on the SIS Project. We look forward to receiving your nomination!

Cheryl Kettnich: Forging Results & Making Strides

This month brings a special recognition: Cheryl becomes our first-ever double nominee for SIS Trailblazers. Her work in IT Services has been focused on critical report remediation efforts in advance of the Triton Student System (TSS) Project launch.

Ken Keziah, Registrar QA Analyst for Enrollment Management, shares his nomination of Cheryl:

"I am pleased to nominate Cheryl Kettnich as an SIS Trailblazer in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the SIS Project’s report remediation efforts. When Cheryl joined the team, this effort had been facing significant challenges and was not progressing as anticipated. Her arrival marked a turning point. As the Cognos Report Developer for the team, Cheryl brought not only her technical expertise but also a proactive and solution-oriented approach that revitalized report remediation efforts. She quickly assessed the existing issues, streamlined development efforts, and helped establish a clear path forward. Her ability to collaborate effectively across teams and her attention to detail have been instrumental in our progress. Since Cheryl joined the team, we have made remarkable strides and recently reached the milestone of user acceptance testing. This is a significant achievement, and it positions us to soon release the new, improved reports to users across campus, which is a major step forward in enhancing data access and security as well as decision-making for stakeholders. Cheryl’s contributions exemplify the spirit of an SIS Trailblazer. Her dedication, technical skill, and impact on report remediation have truly made a difference, and I believe she is highly deserving of this recognition."

As a Data Systems Analyst for ITS, Galina Belokurova also nominated Cheryl and said the following: 

"Cheryl joined ITS as the Lead Analyst for Student Operational Reporting in October 2024. Everybody involved with moving the UCOP reporting to the activity hubs felt her impact almost immediately after she joined. The UCOP mandates all UC campuses to submit the census and related reports according to a rigid set of requirements, and the ESR Program can only be considered complete when these reports are rebuilt in the new data environment. Cheryl's work moved us very close to this goal. We are almost there!"

Chrystal Randler: Bridging Process, Policy and Progress

We are honored to showcase our first SIS Trailblazer for the CourseLeaf Project, Chrystal Randler. Chrystal was nominated by Katherine Levy, Business Officer at the Institute of Arts & Humanities. Thank you Chrystal for for bringing your expertise and creative solutions to the CourseLeaf Project's implementation team and advisory committee!

"Chrystal has been integral in the development of the CourseLeaf Project. Throughout her time on the project, she has communicated complex information with clarity, making it accessible to both novices and experts, and has been a key resource for questions and information. Her deep knowledge of the current systems, existing processes, institutional policies, and operational best practices has been valuable as the new system is being designed. Her steady leadership and grounded style have inspired confidence in both the process and the new CourseLeaf system."

Katie Michel: Championing the Advisor Experience

Congratulations to Katie, who was nominated as an SIS Trailblazer by Jonathan Whitman, Senior Director of Student Information Services. Learn more below about Katie's impact on the Triton Student System (TSS) Project:

"Katie is an amazing partner in the TSS implementation process, bringing a comprehensive wealth of knowledge and understanding that represents the entire campus advising community. Throughout the TSS design workshops and sessions, her thoughtful feedback on optimizing the TSS experience for Academic Advisors has been extremely valuable.

In addition, Katie has significant institutional knowledge on university policy and practices—and when she doesn't immediately know something, she quickly identifies where to get the information or who to connect you with. 

Katie's enthusiastic willingness to jump in and participate on the TSS Project, despite her already full workload and competing priorities, shows her unwavering care and commitment to UC San Diego and her dedication to the success of the TSS implementation."  

Recognition Gallery

Check out our other SIS Trailblazer recipients below! Thank you to all our nominators who are showing their appreciation for the dedicated efforts going on behind the scenes of the SIS Project.

Marlene Bochene: From Strategy to Advocacy

Thank you to Malia Mahi, Associate Director for Housing Administrative Services, for nominating Marlene Bochene for her contributions to the TSS Project. Read what she had to say about Marlene:

"As an early pioneer of the TSS Project team, Marlene has been instrumental in shaping the integration of housing and billing within UC San Diego’s new student information system. A preeminent IFIS/ISIS expert, she brings an unmatched depth of knowledge in housing and campus data, making her an invaluable resource for the project team. Her ability to navigate complex systems and provide critical insights ensures that housing and billing processes align seamlessly with the evolving technology landscape.

Marlene’s adaptability and forward-thinking approach exemplify the leadership needed to drive successful system implementations. She not only embraces change but champions it—guiding her colleagues and teams through transitions with expertise and dedication. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and willingness to go above and beyond make her a true trailblazer in RRSS/HDH and an essential contributor to UC San Diego’s technological advancements."

Aymme Olson: Driving UCOP Reporting Innovation

Aymme was nominated by Galina Belokurova, Data Systems Analyst for Information Technology Services. Read what she had to say about Aymme:

"Aymme is a veteran Registrar Systems Analyst who has been in charge of the UC San Diego Census and related reports for several years. She is now an invaluable resource for the workgroup that is moving the UCOP [University of California, Office of the President] reporting away from the legacy data systems and into the Activity Hubs in preparation for the launch of the new SIS. This work would not be possible without her deep knowledge of the UCOP requirements, processes and workflows."

 

 

 

Jared Church: Shaping the Path for 2025

Jared was nominated by Gayle Ta, Student Financial Solutions' Senior Director. Here is what Gayle had to say about Jared:

"Jared has been an exemplary contributor to the SIS Project, demonstrating a high level of engagement and expertise in every phase. His thorough and knowledgeable approach has been invaluable in the TSS design sessions, where he consistently provides clear, logical explanations of complex processes. Jared’s insights help the team navigate challenges and bring clarity to each discussion.

Not only does he offer practical ideas to streamline workflows and reduce manual effort, but he also makes himself readily available for impromptu discussions whenever the project team needs support. Jared's willingness to meet at a moment’s notice and answer questions in real time ensures that our business analysts and other stakeholders maintain a precise understanding of the project requirements. 

Jared’s commitment and contributions make him a true trailblazer within the SIS Project. We are grateful for his expertise, dedication, and collaborative spirit."

Rachael Lapidis: Our First SIS Trailblazer

Rachael was nominated by Joe Gandini, Change Practitioner for the SIS Project. Here is what he had to say about Rachael:

"Rachael Lapidis serves on the TSS Project's advisory committee. She always comes prepared with questions and actively engages with us in each meeting. She sent over several highly thoughtful and provoking questions after one of our TSS Project Design Review Sessions, which showed her deep interest in learning how the system might work and to help others understand it as well. As she said herself, she wants "to make sure [she is] taking advantage of the opportunities [we] have made possible to offer thoughtful feedback at early stages of the design process." Rachael also responded to my requests to answer questions for our article about the TSS Project advisory committee kickoff meeting. She has also been very kind in all my interactions with her. We are lucky to have her serving on our committee and advising on the project!"