Meet the OSE Staff

Dr. Maricela Alvarado has over 18 years of experience in higher education in various Student Affairs areas, including Student Conduct, Upward Bound, Educational Opportunity Program, Summer Bridge, Student Life, and Fraternity and Sorority Life. In her previous role as the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in the College of the Arts at California State University, Fullerton, she developed and led college initiatives related to student success, specifically in the areas of improving advising, retention, graduation rates, and closing the achievement gap of underrepresented students. Maricela was also instrumental in opening the college’s Student Success Center, which supports over 600 students annually. Currently, she serves as the inaugural Director for Online Student Experience where she leads a variety of initiatives and strategic projects that facilitates change and positively enhances access to Online Student Experiences at UC San Diego.

Dr. Alvarado is a first-generation college graduate, having earned a bachelor’s degree in human services with a mental health emphasis from California State University, Fullerton, and a master’s degree in public policy and administration from California State University, Long Beach. She earned a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Azusa Pacific University (APU), where she was the inaugural recipient of the Presidential Fellowship. Maricela worked directly with former President Paul Ferguson to conduct research to support university-wide strategic initiatives. Maricela’s research centers on issues of equity, transformational practices, and becoming a student-ready practitioner. As a scholar-practitioner, she has co-authored publications on becoming a student-ready educator. She believes educators play a critical role in student success, especially for historically underrepresented students. She is passionate and dedicated to serving students.

Sheri Liebovich has a diverse background creating programs and opportunities that help students connect, grow, and find their path. Her work has spanned mentoring, workforce development, international education, leadership development, and social impact, supporting students at many stages of their educational journeys from high school and undergraduate students to graduate students.

Before joining Online Student Experience, Sheri spent nearly a decade with Study Abroad UC San Diego, where she advised undergraduate students through the study abroad process, managed international education programs, and helped students connect global experiences to their academic and professional goals. She later developed and managed experiential learning programs for graduate students at Rady School of Management. Her work included building partnerships with nonprofit organizations, alumni, international institutions, and community and industry partners to create opportunities for students to apply their learning beyond the classroom.

Earlier in her career, Sheri worked in nonprofit workforce development, supporting high school students through career exploration, job readiness, and educational programming. Across these experiences, she has enjoyed helping students discover possibilities for themselves and build the confidence, skills, and relationships to pursue them.

In her current role with Online Student Experience, Sheri brings her experience in student engagement, program development, and mentoring to initiatives focused on strengthening connection and belonging across UC San Diego. She believes that every student benefits from having someone they can count on—a supportive resource who can offer encouragement, positive energy, and guidance while helping them build bridges to people, opportunities, and communities. She is excited to help create mentoring experiences where students feel supported, valued, and empowered throughout their UC San Diego journey.