Welcome to the School of Physical Science’s Student Success Center. The Center will offer services that support the career development for both undergraduate and graduate students in the Departments of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Mathematics, and Physics.
Thomas Hermann
Faculty Director | tch@ucsd.edu
Thomas Hermann studied chemistry at the University of Ulm in Germany and performed graduate research at the Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried. He received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich in 1996. Subsequently, he worked as a postdoc at the CNRS in Strasbourg, France, and at the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. In 2005, he joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UC San Diego where he currently is a professor. Thomas is a founding director of the Center for Drug Discovery Innovation and has served as the Associate Dean for Education and Students in the School of Physical Sciences since 2018.
Roxy Farkas
Director | rfarkas@ucsd.edu
Roxanne Farkas has a wealth of experience and knowledge. Her journey began during the thriving dot-com era during the Silicon Valley's boom when she embarked on an internship at the Career Center at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Throughout the years, she has accumulated both institutional and industry knowledge, which she now utilizes to support students in finding success by fostering connections with alumni, employers, and faculty.
Roxanne's expertise is an invaluable resource for students within the School of Physical Science. Her dedication to helping students achieve their goals in various fields, including research, academia, and industry, is unparalleled. She is committed to serving as a guiding light for the next generation, making sure they seize opportunities that align with their passions and ambitions.
Outside of her professional life, Roxanne enjoys spending quality time with her family and indulging in her love for the great outdoors and nature. Hiking and running are her go-to activities to stay connected with nature and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
If you ever get the chance to connect with Roxanne, you'll undoubtedly find her to be a warm, approachable, and supportive mentor, eager to help you navigate your academic and professional journey to success.
Tina Gov
Assistant Director | tgov@ucsd.edu
Tina Gov received her Master of Science in College Counseling & Student Development from Azusa Pacific University and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She was born to refugee parents from Cambodia and is a first-generation college student. She has 8 years of experience in higher education and has worked in various functional areas including Career Services, Student Disability Services, Judicial Affairs, Women’s Center, and Residential Education.
Tina serves as the Assistant Director of the Student Success Center in the School of Physical Sciences. She is responsible for supporting the development and outreach initiatives for physical sciences students.
During her free time, Tina enjoys spending time with her family, fiancé, and friends - whether it’s going on hikes or trying new restaurants. She especially enjoys checking out local dog events with her 2-year old dog Yumi, who was rescued from a dog meat market in Korea!
Francheska Morataya
Assistant Director | femorataya@ucsd.edu
Francheska Morataya is the Assistant Director at the Student Success Center in the School of Physical Sciences. She is responsible for providing advising, programming, student, and operational support to the Center. She graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Psychology in 2018 and has worked at UC San Diego since. Her experience as a first-generation minority student in college and a full-time employee in higher education has given her a unique perspective on student learning, development, and success. She is passionate about student mentorship, advocacy, and professional development, and is currently pursuing her M.S. in Higher Education.
Francheska enjoys trying new foods and drinks, exploring everything San Diego has to offer, and being with friends and family.
Student Employees
Omar Khalil
Marketing Director | okhalil@ucsd.edu
Omar is a 4th year undergraduate student majoring in Cognitive Science, Design and Interaction. He works as the marketing director at the Student Success Center by creating graphics (logos, flyers, infographics, etc.) to increase student engagement & outreach. He plans on pursuing a career in the field of UX/UI design post-grad and hopes to continue giving back to the community through various outlets as he continues on both his academic and professional journeys.
During his free time, Omar often enjoys spending time with family and friends. He loves discovering new coffee shops and new music and is always finding new things to try.
Carina Shuler
Office and Events Assistant | cjshuler@ucsd.edu
Carina is a current 2nd year majoring in Chemistry BS. She works as an events assistant at the Student Success Center. She plans on going into medical school after graduation in order to become an anesthesiologist or a dermatologist. She has grown up and traveled all over the world due to her military background.
Esther Park
Office and Events Assistant | eepark@ucsd.edu
Esther is a current 3rd year majoring in Physics. She works as an events assistant & program manager at the Student Success Center. She has two years of astrophysics research experience with the UC San Diego Astronomy Department. Esther has plans to obtain her Ph.D. in Physics and enter the field of astrophysics and space physics. Moreover, she is committed to helping students at UC San Diego find their footing at the university and reach their career goals. She will always be welcome to answer questions or help find available resources!
During her free time, Esther often climbs and spends time with friends and her dogs. She loves traveling to famous museums, aquariums, and parks.
Italia Clark
Office and Events Assistant | imclark@ucsd.edu
Italia is a current 1st year majoring in Physics w/Specializ Astrophysics. She works as an Office and Events Assistant at the Student Success Center. She plans on pursuing her studies, aiming for her Ph.D. in physics while exploring internships with space and defense companies.
During her free time, Italia dances as a hobby. She also enjoys her quiet time by reading, cooking, or exploring nature.
Johanna Sanchez
Office and Events Assistant | jos024@ucsd.edu
Johanna is a current 1st year majoring in Physics with a specialization in Astrophysics. She works as an Office and Events Assistant at the Student Success Center. Her plan is to pursue a career in the field of Astronomy while aiming for a Ph.D. Her dream is to find herself working for NASA but is open to exploring other options.
During her free time, Johanna loves to shop for Sanrio merch or play musical instruments such as flute and piccolo.