Building Bridges and Opening Minds
Dr Mary Walshok, Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Programs, Dean of University Extension, thought-leader and author shared inside information about the new UCSD Downtown Extension.
UCSD Downtown: A Catalyst for Intellectual and Cultural Growth
A downtown extension for UCSD is under construction on Park Boulevard and Market Street in downtown San Diego. This block-long, four-story 66,000 sqft facility is designed to provide continuing education and community involvement. It will house education, research and development organization as well as provide community spaces.
The UCSD Extension strives to connect national, global and local individuals and organization. The facility and programs are designed to facilitate collaborative, interactive two-way exchanges on civic discourse and development.
It is one of many transformative initiatives underway, as summarized in this recent article by Dr Walshok. “Invention and Reinvention” recently published in the San Diego UT.
A Flexible Building = Endless Possibilities
With a goal to be a beacon for all San Diegans, the space designed to be flexible to accommodate many different activities. The first and second floors is a versatile hub that will include open space, a terrace and an amphitheater with screens.
Many types of events and activities, such as for visual art installations, performances, lectures, special events will be held at the Extension. There is also a potential for bistro to be located there, for community and social gatherings. All genres will be welcome – from pop and hip-hop to high culture and Mariachi. It will be a place to celebrate, educate one another on cultural traditions, build bonds of affection and understanding.
New Center of Gravity
The third and fourth floors will be dedicated to economic sustainability and civic resilience. The Extension will bring together and co-locate multiple organizations from the region. It is hoped that the Extension will help to remove cultural and social boundaries for individuals and communities in San Diego.
A centerpiece of the Extension is an Urban Colaboratorium. This center will co-locate and connect many local organizations - such as the Central Library, San Diego City College, High School of Performing Arts and Balboa Park - so they can partner to develop enhanced programs to support students and our community. Other programs expected to be housed out of the Extension include:
Wertheim School of Public Health for healthcare equality, delivery
UCDS Urban Planning and Real Estate for urban development, transportation planning, neighborhood development
Design Lab for Urban Studies
US-Mexico Study Center for cross-border cooperation
Malin Burnham Center for Civic Engagement
San Diego Workforce Partnership for economic health and stability
Black Chamber of Commerce for urban business collaboration and emerging business leader development
Connect San Diego for support small business and innovation support
Life-Long Learning
The Extension will play an increasingly important role in preparing individuals for productive careers, re-training and continuing education. The facility will have classrooms, computer labs and seminar rooms. It will offer certification programs for growth sectors like high tech and blue economy to prepare individuals for higher-paying new-economy jobs. The MTA Trolley connects the Downtown Extension to other campuses in San Diego as well as in Tijuana.
A key function of the Extension is to help develop the areas pre-college pipeline. More than 100,000 pre-college students are in pipeline programs, and this number is expected to grow when the new facility is open. It will provide local high school students access needed to gain the skills – especially technologies - they need to be ready to learn and/or work.
Our
Speaker
Dr Mary Walshok
Dr. Mary Walshok, an author, educator, researcher, & Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Public Programs/ Dean of UC San Diego Extension. She is a Thought Leader on the topic of workforce development and its role in fueling regional economic prosperity. She is the co-author of “Invention & Reinvention: The Evolution of San Diego’s Innovation Economy,” a book published by Stanford University Press that analyzes San Diego’s ever-changing sociological, political, and economic trends. She is the author of five other books and more than 100 articles and reports on regional innovation, the role of research institutions in regional economies and workforce development.
Walshok oversees a $45 million, 200-employee division in San Diego that annually serves more than 80,000 enrollees through innovative local and online programs, as well as provides access to a vast array of intellectual resources through the award-winning UCSD-TV and nationwide through UCTV, which reaches more than 6 million households and millions more around the globe via web. The Division also serves more than 3,000 foreign students annually.