After more than 30 years at UC Santa Cruz, Stacey Sketo-Rosener is retiring from her role as assistant vice provost for undergraduate advising on June 27th. Stacey's remarkable career at the university began as a temporary staff employee in admissions and ultimately led to her establishing and leading the first Office of Campus Advising Coordination at UC Santa Cruz.
“Stacey has shaped undergraduate academic advising on our campus, building a community of exceptional professionals dedicated to supporting students,” said Richard Hughey, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education. “She has contributed so much for UC Santa Cruz and our students that her presence will be felt on campus far into the future.”
Throughout her career, Stacey has led groundbreaking initiatives in learning and development, including the annual UCSC Advising Forum, UC-wide advising events including the 2019 UC Advising Conference, and establishment of the Undergraduate Academic Advising Council. These efforts have united various advising communities to address critical issues and celebrate annual achievements.
In 2019, Stacey was honored with UC Santa Cruz’s Outstanding Staff Award for her distinguished service to student life, the growth and improvement of programs, and the preservation of the campus’s unique intellectual environment. This award recognized her efforts to enhance academic advising from a transactional to a transformational process, focusing on students' goals and aspirations.
“Giving one person the right advice at the right time or helping a student over a hurdle when things are difficult can make a whole bit of difference,” said Cathy Shender, a former Cowell College advisor. “Stacey is like a skilled nurse in the ICU with the best training. I truly think Stacey saved lives.”
Stacey believes that public education can profoundly impact people’s lives and the generations that come after them. As a first-generation student herself, she understands firsthand the significance of the academic experience.
Her journey into higher education began after she graduated high school in Salinas, California. Without a clear plan for college, Stacey enrolled in a couple of classes at Hartnell College while working as a receptionist at a radio repair shop. It was then that her sixth-grade teacher, Ann Peacock, reached out to her with a summer session catalog for UC Santa Cruz, encouraging her to choose any class that interested her, which would be her high school graduation gift. Stacey chose a philosophy class and remembers spending the last day of class in the Porter meadow discussing the meaning of life.
“That experience hooked me,” Stacey said. “I decided, this is the place for me. And so I transferred here when I could. It has just been an amazing home to me. I love UC Santa Cruz. I feel a real sense of gratitude to the university, my friends, colleagues, and the entire community who have been with me along the way.”
Throughout her career, Stacey led by example, with colleagues noting her expertise in developing strong partnerships, asking insightful questions, promoting effective collaboration, and creating an inclusive work environment.
“Stacey always keeps the focus on supporting students' goals, and removing barriers, all while upholding the spirit of policies at a world-class research institution,” said Danielle Mello, director of colleges advising. “Stacey’s leadership style is thoughtful and purposeful, and that comes through in everything she does.”
Reflecting on her career, Stacey recalled the mission statement she signed upon graduating from UC Santa Cruz many years ago, which asked her to consider the sociopolitical ramifications of any employment she found after college. She has lived that mission.
“While it is never a good time to say farewell to someone as exceptional and impactful as Stacey, the initiatives and teams that Stacey has developed are strong and well-prepared to ensure consistent innovation and excellence in support of our students into the future," said Hughey.
Following her departure, Stacey hopes the community will keep asking tough questions and amplifying student voices and experiences, saying, “The strength of UC Santa Cruz is the strength of its people.”
