Overview
Read past issues of our newsletter, EVCPO Spotlight.
December 2025
Dear Colleagues,
At year-end, I am thankful for the hard work and dedication of the staff of the EVCP Organization and I am delighted to welcome you to the inaugural edition of EVCPO Spotlight, a bimonthly newsletter for all staff in the EVCPO. The goal for this newsletter is to “educate and celebrate”— to provide a place where all of us can learn more about the incredible variety and scope of work that EVCPO units do and the many ways all of you contribute to fulfilling UCSF’s mission of advancing health worldwide.
In this month’s issue, you’ll meet Josephine Saechao, who runs the Parnassus and Mission Bay Food Markets and Pantries that provide free fresh and shelf-stable foods and personal care items to UCSF students, helping to ensure they have what they need to participate fully in their education. It’s vital work, and I’m thrilled you have the opportunity to learn more about it.
As we work to build a newsletter that is a valuable resource for our community, we want to hear from you. Please share your thoughts in our reader survey to help us craft a newsletter that you find interesting and useful in the new year.
Thank you for reading our first issue.
With best wishes for a joyful holiday season,
Catherine
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Meet Josephine from Student Life
Josephine Saechao, the Basic Needs manager in Student Life, shares how she supports students' well-being so they can stay healthy and focused on their educational journey.
Tell me about your role.
I oversee our student food programming. We partner with the SF Marin Food Bank to provide fresh produce at our weekly Student Food Markets. It’s a great way for students to access fresh and healthy food for free! I also manage our 24/7 emergency student pantries, which have hygiene products and shelf-stable foods, and partner with campus departments such as Student Financial Services to connect students with CalFresh and emergency resources, including housing assistance. Overall, my role is focused on reducing food insecurity and ensuring that students have the essential resources they need to thrive at UCSF.
How does the value of the work show up for you?
The meaningful interactions that I get from students on a weekly basis and the sense of community that the markets and pantries bring to the campus. We're seeing about 300 students per campus at the markets, and whether it's from our student workers or the students themselves, they're always showing so much gratitude. For me, as a first-generation college student who worked multiple jobs and dealt with financial insecurity during my undergraduate years, a program like this would have made a world of a difference in my educational journey. This role feels very affirming, like a full-circle moment.
What projects are you excited about?
We're collaborating with Fitness and Recreation and Student Mental Health and Wellbeing to emphasize movement and taking care of your physical and mental health.
What's bringing you joy these days?
I’ve been practicing yoga, which helps me reset since this work can be heavy at times. l always remind myself that I have to fill my own cup as I'm helping others.
Basic Needs Resource: To support students, a UCSF dietician created this low-cost and minimal prep cookbook for quick meals and snacks. You might find a new favorite recipe for yourself!
Learn more about Basic Needs for Students
EVENTS AND RESOURCES
December 16 (Mission Bay): Come to the Continuous Improvement Fair to learn about micro and macro operational excellence with talks and breakout sessions featuring UCSF leaders and colleagues.
December 16 (Mission Bay) and December 18 (Parnassus): Rise and shine for UCSF Staff Appreciation Breakfasts.
December 19 deadline extension: Submit a proposal for the UCSF AI and Education Symposium to be held on February 27. Events can be show-and-tell presentations, table discussions, or workshops.
The structural demolition of the School of Nursing site is expected to continue through January 2026. Please have patience with this progress. Earplug stations are dispensing one pair of earplugs at a time to ensure accessibility for all.
Did you know that UCSF employees are eligible for a 5% discount at Safeway? Find participating locations where you can sign up and read about other employee discounts.
CELEBRATING EVCPO
We recognize and are thankful for everyone's efforts to bring our EVCPO websites up to digital accessibility compliance according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), UC policy, and federal and state laws — an important institutional accomplishment.