2014 Alumni Award Honorees

Nick Woodman

Nick Woodman started the world’s fastest growing camera company in his father’s basement. He lived there for a year and rarely left. That’s dedication.

Woodman had an unorthodox trajectory. The thrill-seeking surf enthusiast entered UC San Diego to be close to the beach and majored in visual arts. After the failure of his game and contest website, Funbug, he went on a much-needed expedition around the world’s hottest surfing spots. While he was shredding waves in Indonesia and Australia, he started toying with the idea of creating a wrist strap for his camera—something that could capture the thrill of the ride.

He perfected the design and employing friends as sales people, GoPro took off, capturing the attention of buyers and investors around the world. Today, his company employs about 500 people and is worth $2.25 billion. It’s a way for athletes and dare-devils to capture and perfect their moves, it’s used by documentary film makers in lieu of bulky film equipment, as well as by researchers at UC San Diego in the Communications Department and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Spotlighted by Forbes and often called “the mad billionaire” for his eccentric and energetic ways, Woodman shows us how far passion, limitless persistence and a little madness can go a long way.

Larry Goldstein

Larry Goldstein received his undergraduate college degree at UC San Diego. He further pursued education at the University of Washington, Seattle; University of Colorado; and MIT. He was on the faculty of Harvard University from 1983-1993 as a tenured professor.

He returned to UCSD in 1993 as a member of the UCSD faculty. In November 2013, Goldstein was named director of Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center, personally recommended by Denny Sanford who recognized the scientist’s novel approaches to stem cell research. Goldstein’s research is focused specifically on Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and others. His lab has successfully recreated neurons from stem cells that show the effects of AD.

Goldstein also holds tenured positions at UCSD: distinguished professor in both the department of cellular and molecular medicine and the department of neurosciences and principal investigator at the UCSD Goldstein Lab. He is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Society for Cell Biology, the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine and was previously a member of the cell and developmental biology department at Harvard University. He recently retired from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

A strong and influential leader in the UCSD School of Medicine, Goldstein continues to work tirelessly to find cures for the deadliest diseases in and out of the lab. He has testified before both houses of the U.S. Congress regarding stem cell research and at National Institutes of Health.

Paloma Young

Don’t let Paloma Young’s relatively short career in costume design fool you. At the age of 34, Young has already received the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award, two Drama Desk Award nominations and a Tony Award. She won her Tony for the costumes in “Peter and the Starcatcher” which started its initial run at the La Jolla Playhouse.

She studied costume design at UC San Diego’s renowned graduate theater and dance program under her mentor, Judith Dolan, professor and head of design. With a researcher’s background – Young received a bachelor’s degree in social history at UC Berkeley – Young appreciated the department’s intellectual approach to costume design. She says, “I learned how to be a smart designer – how to take all the amazing random facts I had swimming around loose and arrange them and present them in a way that had meaning and narrative significance.”

Young’s costume design has been featured in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions as well regionally at the Old Globe Theatre, and many other regional theaters.

On occasion, Young returns to UCSD to speak to theater and dance students. Her busy schedule and high demand modestly reflect that she’s made her career in design a reality.

Julia Brown

As a parent of a UC San Diego graduate, Julia Brown is a passionate advocate for UC San Diego.

Brown believes in the power of higher education as an engine of innovation, talent development and economic impact. She believes in investing in bright minds and future generation leaders.

Brown demonstrates her passion for the University through service and contributions. As a trustee of the UC San Diego Foundation, she is immediate past chair, past vice chair, and past chair of the board's stewardship committee. She serves on advisory boards across campus including the Undergraduate Scholarship Council, Dean's Leadership Council for Biology, Director's Cabinet for Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Founder's Circle for The Preuss School, University Librarian's Advisory Board, the Rady School Dean's Advisory Council and UCSD Health System Advisory Board and advisory board for the Center for Brain Activity Mapping.

A successful executive, Brown has had a long career in the biomedical field. She currently serves on the boards of CONNECT, CleanTECH San Diego, Corporate Directors' Forum and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. She is a member of the National Advisory Board of the Union of Concerned Scientists. In 2012, Brown received UC San Diego's "Chancellor's Medal" for distinguished service to the University.

In 2010, CONNECT honored her for "Distinguished Contribution to the Life Science Innovation." Brown was named one of San Diego's "Women Who Mean Business" by the San Diego Business Journal, and was one of Girl Scouts San Diego's "10 Cool Women 2005" honorees. She was honored twice in San Diego's "Tribute to Women in Industry.".

Steven Schreiner, Muir '80

As a parent of a UC San Diego graduate, Julia Brown is a passionate advocate for UC San Diego.

Steve Schreiner has played a pivotal role in shaping a strong UC San Diego alumni presence. After five years of service on the Alumni Association Board, Schreiner became its president in 1995 and served until 1997. He also served as chair of Chancellor’s Associates from 2004 to 2005.

In 2003, he was appointed as UC San Diego representative to the UC Committee on Regental Rotation. Schreiner played an implemental role in increasing UCSD’s representation on the Board of Regents. His negotiation tactics within Board’s deliberations led to an increase of allocation in UCSD’s representation among the board.

His invaluable work made him a clear choice to serve as UCSD’s third Alumni Regent, during which time he helped develop the Regents’ first written report on alumni contributions to the University. He also successfully lobbied UC’s Office of the President to increase administrative funds for campus development and alumni relations operations.

Today, Schreiner serves on the UC San Diego Foundation board as nominating committee chair. When not serving UCSD as an alumni leader, Schreiner has also achieved success in his career as an attorney, having been named one of "Southern California's Top‐Rated Lawyers" by American Lawyer Media and the Los Angeles Times.