1.Why did you run for Associated Students President?

Utsav Gupta

Gupta: I ran for Associated Students President because I felt that the Associated Students could play a more active role in bettering the student experience at UC San Diego.  I wanted to work on key issues that would tangibly affect student life, such as looking into expanding our athletic programs and forming a football team, making our annual Sun God Festival the best it could be, and working actively to keep college affordable and accessible.

2.As the Associated Students President, what are you most proud of and what has been the most challenging part of the job?

Gupta: I’m proud that we’ve empowered students and ensured that their voices are heard across campus.  We’ve been able to form a workgroup to seriously consider moving our teams to Division I and forming a football team.  We have engaged students with administrators, faculty and staff to better coordinate campaigns to protect UC San Diego from budget cuts.  I’ve extended UC San Diego’s reach into the community through my efforts to start the San Diego Association of Students Governments, a voice for students in higher education throughout the region.  I feel as though we are proving to the student body that, yes, their student government can play an active role in their student experience.

The job is challenging.  In some ways, I am the only student “administrator” on campus, the chief representative for the student body, and that can definitely keep you busy.  I think time management and ordering my priorities are the most challenging aspects of the job.  I have to remember that I’m a student first, AS President second!

3.Why did you choose to attend UC San Diego and live in the International House?

Gupta: This may be surprising, but the moment that convinced me to attend UC San Diego was my first bite into the Lemongrass Green Wrap at the Farmer’s Market. Sure, there were plenty of factors that led up to that point – the amazing bioengineering hall that I had the opportunity to tour, meeting students at UC San Diego who didn’t seem so stressed out and who exuded the feeling of being comfortable where they were – but it was really the fact I could have delicious food that sealed the deal for me. My father was a large part of my decision to live in the International House. He graduated from college in India and then went straight to UC Berkeley for his master’s and Ph.D. When he arrived, he decided to live in International House. I remember, as I was growing up, making several trips over the years to Berkeley. We would always pass by the International House, and my dad would describe all of his good times and the interesting people he met. I wanted to replicate that experience, so I chose to live in International House at UC San Diego.

4.What are your future goals and how has your experience at UC San Diego prepared you for those goals?

Gupta: From my experience at UC San Diego, I decided to pursue business and management, specifically in a firm that deals with innovative and exciting technologies. As a bioengineering: biotechnology major, UC San Diego has imbued in me a recognition of all that is possible through research and an aspiration to improve the human condition. I’ve even been able to perform some original research myself! I’d like to apply what I’ve learned in my academic studies with what I’ve learned through my experience in the Associated Students to benefit others.

5.Tell me about your research and what you enjoy most about the undergraduate research opportunities at UC San Diego?

Gupta: I’ve had terrific research opportunities here at UC San Diego.  I actually started in my second year at the Cartilage Tissue Engineering Lab, working with a graduate student on creating new cartilage tissue from cells harvested from total knee replacement surgeries.  I was able to spend my summer as a Calit2 Summer Scholar, investigating image-processing methods for quantifying immunohistochemical results. 

Just this past summer, I had the opportunity to travel to Japan through the Pacific Rim Undergraduate Experiences (PRIME) program, where I worked on developing image-processing methods for identifying the stages of osteoarthritis from 3-D radiological images.

6.As a Regents Scholar, a Jacobs Scholar and the recipient of the Regents Alumni Scholarship, how have the scholarships helped you and your family?

Gupta: With the cost of tuition rising dramatically over my time here at UC San Diego, it is because of my financial aid that I have been able to focus on academic and extracurricular activities, and have not had to take on a job.  I think my scholarships have made my time and service in the Associated Students possible.  Also, I’m one the very few students who hasn’t had to take out student loans, and my family hasn’t had to make large changes to afford to pay for my education.  Especially in this hard economic climate, I’m grateful for the support I’ve received.

Fun Faves

Favorite place on campus :Round Table Pizza

Favorite place on Earth: San Francisco

Favorite class: Culture, Art and Technology

Favorite hobby: Photography

Favorite food: Thai Spicy Basil Noodles

Favorite UC San Diego memory: Studying in the Sixth College Digital Playroom with friends before our weekly physics quizzes

Favorite words to live by: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

 

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