Welcome from Director, Parent & Family Programs, Cara Appel-Silbaugh, Ph.D.

Greetings Triton Parents & Family Members!

Thank you taking the time to visit the Parents & Families website to learn about the services and resources available for you as a parent or family member of a prospective or current UC San Diego student.  I am Cara Appel-Silbaugh, Director, Parent & Family Programs. I began my time at UC San Diego in 2002 as the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for Eleanor Roosevelt College, and then made the decision to leave the university and pursue my Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, College Park in College Student Personnel Administration. It is a pure delight to be back at UC San Diego - the campus community is vibrant and the students are some of the most talented and interesting I have ever encountered.

So, what is Parent & Family Programs? My position became part of the UC San Diego community in September, 2008 and is meant to increase parent and family engagement in the university experience. I am not affiliated with a specific College, rather I am housed in the Vice Chancellor - Student Affairs office. Think of my role as an additional level of assistance when you are in need of information, or if you do not know where to get help, start with me and I will direct you to the appropriate person or office. Also, I will be planning events and intentional outreach to foster a relationship between you and UC San Diego. Events like Family Weekend and the Triton Family Connection e-newsletter will help you to connect with your student and engage in university initiatives. To access more information, visit http://parents.ucsd.edu, call the Family Helpline, (858) 534-7273, or e-mail me at parents@ucsd.edu.

I have worked in higher education for almost 15 years in a variety of positions and functional areas - working closely with parents and family members at every step. I started my career in higher education at my alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, as an Admissions and Financial Aid Counselor. I assisted families in not only making the decision to come to Pitt but in making it affordable. I left Pitt to pursue my Masters degree in College Student Personnel at Bowling Green State University where I lived with 41 fraternity men as a House Director (ask me about that sometime!). After graduating from Bowling Green, I worked in a variety of positions including: parent/family and student orientation, leadership development programs, service-learning programs, senior council, transfer and commuter students, student conduct, academic integrity, and civic engagement programs. What this means to you is that I have a breadth and depth of experience to help you navigate the university experience with your student. I can assist with understanding policy and navigating crisis. I am here to help and provide assistance as you determine necessary.

It is my pleasure and an honor to be part of your UC San Diego experience. Please contact me so I can listen, assist, and support you in this journey. To contact me visit http://parents.ucsd.edu, call the Family Helpline, (858) 534-7273, or e-mail me at parents@ucsd.edu. I look forward to connecting with you during your student's experience at UC San Diego!