I am of second second-generation descent, Filipino and El Salvador. I got into the industry through a sense of passion for video production. Numerous individuals are entering the industry with different stories and paths, yet the same feelings of collectiveness and enthusiasm for sports inspired me. - Eli Alfaro, Director of Video Production
I am Filipino on my mom’s side. I was born in Milipitas in Northern California, and my family lives currently in Salinas, CA. I got my start in the industry as a baseball student-athlete at Menlo College in Palo Alto, CA. Through the baseball team, I was able to start interning for the Menlo College Athletic Department. I oversaw editing of the weekly web series “Unrooted” and helped with press releases and game recaps on the website. During the summer between my Junior and Senior year of college, I was fortunate enough to do an internship as a Marketing and Promotions Intern at San Jose State, where I gained experience in promotional giveaways, marketing plans, and run of show scripts. By doing this internship, it opened doors to other internships, such as a corporate partnerships intern at the 49ers, and a Grad Assistant Position for the SJSU Marketing Department during my two years of Grad School from 2020-2022. After receiving my Masters degree in Sports Management at SJSU, I was fortunate to start my current role as the Assistant Director of Fan Experience and Community Outreach at UC Irvine, where I help oversee all of Game Day Production/Presentation for our ticketed sports, our Mascot Program, and all community outreach efforts. - Aaron Flores, Assistant Director for Fan Experience
I am a second generation Taiwanese American. When I was an undergraduate at UCLA, my interest in community outreach and education led me to a student marketing and community relations internship in their Athletics department, where I discovered a passion and aptitude for the industry. That led to a full-time position in corporate sponsorship after graduation and eventually a role in Olympic sports administration. There, I was fortunate to gain valuable experience across multiple areas of athletics. When I joined UC Irvine as an executive assistant, my background naturally led me to my current position focused on fan experience, which allows me to continue working with both fans and teams while staying connected to the community. I truly enjoy the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating a production and brings a fun, welcoming environment for our fans. I feel fortunate that I’ve found a career being part of the energy and excitement of college sports, while helping shape the experience for others. - Helen Hsueh, Assistant Athletic Director for Fan Experience
I am a second-generation Filipina-American. I got into the industry by reaching out to the UCI Athletics department to inquire about any opportunities to volunteer as an intern. That led to an internship with the Fan Experience and Marketing departments in January 2022 during my college’s winter term. I returned again to intern in Summer 2022, and now I’m working full time with the Marketing Department. With both of my parents being proud UCI alumni, this role represents a full-circle moment for me — from attending UCI athletic events as a Jr. Anteater, to cheering on the ’Eaters through middle and high school, to interning during college. Now, having the opportunity to help oversee some of the very programs I once participated in feels incredibly special. I’m truly grateful for the colleagues and mentors I’ve met here, many of whom are also AAPI, and it’s empowering to be part of that representation. I’m excited to keep learning, growing, and giving back to a community that means so much to me and my family. Go ’Eaters! - Lauren Ilano, Marketing Director
I am second generation Korean-American. I began my journey as a biology major at UC San Diego with plans to attend medical school, but over time realized it wasn’t the right path for me. Still, I intended on finishing my degree and after graduating, I looked for a way to blend my academic background with my personal interest in sports, which led me to potentially explore athletic training and sports medicine. I enrolled in the Kinesiology graduate program at San Jose State University, where a sports marketing class taught by the Assistant AD of Marketing opened a new direction. I asked for an internship opportunity, quickly discovered a passion and talent for it, and went on to complete my master’s in Kinesiology with a focus in Sport Management. That internship turned into a full-time role with San Jose State Athletics soon afterwards, thus launching my career in college sports marketing. - Josh Moon, Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing
I am a proud Hapa and Yonsei (fourth generation) Japanese American. My great grandparents came over to Hawai’i where my dad’s side of the family has lived ever since. My dad was 100% Japanese with all the Aloha spirit. I grew up in Southern California and my parents helped build my passion for sports as they put my sisters and me in almost everything - softball, soccer, basketball and volleyball (I don’t know how they managed to get us to every practice and game). Volleyball was the one that stuck for all three of us – my older sister was on Long Beach State’s 1998 national championship team, and my younger sister was an All-American setter and Hall of Famer at UC San Diego. I ended up playing volleyball and softball at Occidental College where I got my first taste of working in athletics. I was a student worker in the athletic department office starting my sophomore year, while I also kept stats at our men’s and women’s basketball games to help my volleyball coach who was the part-time Sports Information Director. It was fun but not something I expected to be a future profession. As a kinesiology major, I thought I would go the physical therapy route but after a summer internship I didn’t feel it was the right fit for me. I knew I wanted to work in sports, I just wasn’t sure in what capacity so I enrolled in the Sport Management program at Long Beach State. That is where I discovered that working in Sports Information/Media Relations could be a career. I started out as an intern at LBSU during my time as a graduate student, then got a job at San Diego State after I completed my master’s. I returned to Long Beach State for a while before coming to UC Irvine in 2016. I've been lucky enough to learn from and work with some of the best. - Andrea Ohta, Assistant Media Relations Director
My background is Filipina. As a former student athlete, I discovered my passion for supporting student-athletes academically during my time as a graduate assistant at Fresno State. Now, as a Senior Athletic Academic Coordinator at UCI, I help student-athletes thrive not only in academics but also emotionally, socially, and in preparing for life after college. My goal is to empower them to find intrinsic motivation beyond sports that will carry them through and after their college years. - Megan Parayno, Senior Athletic Academic Coordinator
I am the true definition of a "poi-dog" - Among other ethnicities I am an amalgamation of Chinese, Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), Samoan, & Maori heritage. I started off wanting to capture photos of my friends playing sports in high school and continued into college - before I knew it I had the opportunity to turn my hobby into a profession through graduate school and eventually arriving in Irvine. - Jacob Thompson, Marketing and Creative Services Specialist
I am second generation Chinese-American. I got a job working in the UCLA Central Ticket Office as a freshman in college and worked part-time there my entire college career. Upon graduation, they offered me a full-time job and was hired as the Assistant Fiscal Manager for about three years before getting an opportunity to move over to the Athletics Department as the Director of Finance. After nearly nine years, I applied to be the Associate Athletics Director (AD) for Business and Finance at UC Irvine. I was in that role for six years before also incorporating the responsibilities of the external functions of the department. I assumed the roles of Associate AD for Business and Finance and External Affairs for several more years before ultimately becoming the Senior Associate AD for External Affairs exclusively. A role that I currently continue to serve in. - Phil Wang, Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs
