Assistant Dean for Academic, Career, and Student Services
Dr. Parikh joins ECP to help build more academic support and career development opportunities, and streamline processes for our fabulous graduate students. Monica's Ph.D. is in higher education administration and her masters in student affairs, so she's thrilled to work with our future teachers, school leaders, therapists, and advocates, ensuring they have what they need to make our world a better place. She taught in our higher education masters programs around 2010 when she happily worked in the Drahmann Center as director of academic advising outreach and the campus tutoring center.
Monica is back over the hill after 10+ years growing Summer Session at UC Santa Cruz, where she doubled enrollments by adding classes students needed, popular faculty, more financial grant aid, and welcoming support services. She also built their popular programs for new frosh, new transfers, and visiting high school students.
Her career, like her dissertation, focuses on student success, especially around academic exploration and adventure, careful planning, and using campus resources. She believes it's our responsibility as administrators to level the playing field for our diverse students and ensure we support the whole person. As a whole person herself, she's a proud mentor to first-generation college students and dedicated non-profit leader, including the Board of the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Walnut Ave Women's Center, and the Honolulu Botanical Gardens system. She's committed to her yoga and meditation practice and an avid reader of fiction by women of color, and identifies as a women of color herself, of Indian origin. Outside of work, Monica can be found at the ocean, selling seafood, swimming, and paddleboarding.
Email