Meet the Team

Victor Ferreira, Ph.D.

Associate Vice Chancellor
Faculty Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Professor, Psychology
vferreira@ucsd.edu

To schedule a consultation with Interim AVC Ferreira, please submit a meeting request or contact vcedi-faculty@ucsd.edu.

Victor Ferreira is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in 2022 and a Professor in the Department of Psychology. He has been at UC San Diego since 1997. His leadership roles have included serving as a department chair for six years and co-convener of the Council of Chairs for four, as well as chairing the Academic Senate Committee on Academic Personnel and the Committee on Research. Additional leadership experience includes co-directing the Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders and serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Memory and Language. Ferreira was a member of VC-EDI’s Advisory Council on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, served as an EDI Advocate and Influencer, which helped develop UC San Diego’s first strategic plan for Inclusive Excellence, and is also a faculty affiliate of the Triton FirstGen student initiative.

MarDestinee Perez, M.S.

Center Director
(858) 246-1923
m3perez@ucsd.edu

As Director of the Center for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion, MarDestinee Perez oversees the development and implementation of campus initiatives to advance faculty equity, diversity, and inclusion. These include cluster hire efforts, inclusive search training, postdoctoral fellowships, faculty development and success programs, writing retreats, and climate assessment. MarDestinee enjoys partnering with faculty and academic leaders to reimagine academia as a supportive, empowering environment, and to innovate programs for organizational change. She is an ICF-certified leadership coach, trained mediator, and ProSci change management practitioner. Prior to working in higher education, she designed international development programs and international study programs for professionals. MarDestinee has a B.A. in Criminology, Law and Society from the University of California, Irvine and an M.S. in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with her daughter and dog.

Julia Cai

Faculty Diversity and Inclusion Program Analyst
juc034@ucsd.edu 

Julia Cai is the Program Analyst at the Center for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion (C-FDI). In her role, she supports advancing faculty diversity initiatives and retention efforts, and helps develop, implement and evaluate C-FDI’s programs and activities. Julia completed the UC San Diego Financial Accounting Program and also manages the Center’s grants and finances. Prior to UC San Diego, she worked at Harvard University for over 14 years first preparing high school students from Boston, Cambridge and Somerville public schools for success in college and beyond, and then supporting China studies at Harvard and the University's engagement with China. Julia has an A.B. in English and American Language and Literature from Harvard College, and an A.L.M. in Nonprofit Management from the Harvard Extension School. Outside of work, she is part of an amateur dance team and enjoys exploring San Diego with her husband, young son, and fluffy dog.

Olga McConnell

Executive Assistant
omcconnell@ucsd.edu

Olga McConnell is a seasoned administrative professional with extensive high-level executive support experience. At the Center for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion, she provides executive support to AVC Victor Ferreira and the Center's Director, MarDestinee Perez. She also serves as the Center's Operations and Event Coordinator, organizing workshops, conferences, receptions, and other high-level events, and ensures that the C-FDI's operations are running smoothly. Olga has a foreign Master's degree in English Linguistics and Translation from Orenburg State University, and an MBA from California Miramar University. Prior to her work at the C-FDI, she supported the founder of UC San Diego Design Lab, Don Norman: a world-renowned scholar, author, and UX Design guru. Olga's contributions were essential in winning the bid for the World Design Capital 2024 for the cities of San Diego and Tijuana. Olga uses a human-centered, empathy-oriented approach in her work, and she is really passionate about equitable and inclusive practices. Outside of work, Olga enjoys reading, kayaking, singing karaoke, and playing board games with her son.