Susumi Tsuchihashi graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt College in June 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in management science. After working for seven years at one of the largest global consulting firms, he traded in his 401(k) lifestyle for the opportunity to open a imagawa-yaki shop that specializes in contemporary Japanese pastries.
‘When I was in college, I never thought to myself, ‘I’m studying at UCSD in the economics department because I want to be a pastry chef in a few years’,’ he said.
Tsuchihashi is one of many UCSD alumni who have veered’ from their degree’s typical postgraduate course since attending college.
‘[Many of these] people take on jobs that just don’t translate from what they majored in,’ Director of Alumni Services Paula Thomas said.
Similarly sidetracked alumni include Genetta Adams, Revelle 1992, who majored in theater and dance and is now the entertainment editor at the Associated Press, and Mike Judge, Warren 1985, who graduated with a degree in physics and went on to create the animated television series ‘Beavis and Butt-head,’ along with writing and directing cult comedy ‘Office Space.’
Although superficially their areas of study may not pertain to their careers, many alumni agree that while attending UCSD, they gleaned the general knowledge and experience necessary to get them where they are today.
‘A common thread that runs through the highly successful and influential alumni from UCSD is the way they speak to the breadth of the education they received here that made them the success they are today,’ said Mary Johnson, director of alumni engagement for the UCSD Alumni Association. ‘Taking required courses such as writing and humanities help put these people a cut above the competitors in their field.’
Tsuchihashi acknowledged the eventual worth of his education and how it propelled him to take the final steps toward his goal.
‘Going through [management science] and entering the consulting sector helped me think strategically, put together business plans and manage large projects,’ he said. ‘That’s what gave me the confidence to move forward and start my own business.’
David Brin received a master of science in applied physics and a doctorate of philosophy in space science from UCSD in 1987. He is a prominent science-fiction novelist and has won awards for many of his books, including ‘The Postman’ and ‘The Uplift War.’ Brin initially wanted to become a researcher and teacher ‘mdash; now, that educational path largely informs his creative writing. ‘Of course the engineering and astronomy and other courses, and working on original research, all helped me to better scan the world for possibilities,’ Brin said. ‘I also took courses in UCSD’s wonderful English and lit. and cognitive science departments.’
Ira Rubenstein, Revelle 1987, credits the university with his progress in the’ field of entertainment managment. He was a resident adviser and orientation leader, served as A.S. vice president and took a seat on the Revelle College Council, now informing his managment of diverse groups of people and helping him to work on a budget.
‘Outside of that broad scope of classes, UCSD prepared me for the real world,’ Rubenstein said.
When Rubenstein first enrolled, he planned to major in physics to acheive a career goal of designing stereo speakers. But taking an economics course during his sophomore year and discovering a newfound passion for the subject, he switched his major to management science. Presently, he is the executive vice president of Marvel Entertainment’s Global Digital Media Group. He also served as the executive vice president of Sony Pictures Digital and the vice president of marketing at Columbia TriStar Interactive.
Rubenstein took a computer programming class at UCSD in the early 1990s, when computers were just barely entering the business world, out of natural curiosity. The knowledge he amassed from that class was invaluable. He later went on to play a critical role in developing the first Internet-based movie marketing: While working in entertainment promotion he decided to market to college students, whom he knew would take advantage of free Internet access.
Tsuchihashi also attributes much of his success to the opportunities he took while attending UCSD. He participated in the Education Abroad Program in Tokyo, Japan, for one year, diving into his ancestral culture by attending a private culinary program on weekends. With his imagawa-yaki shop, he merges his Japanese heritage with Los Angeles upbringing: He has taken a traditional Japanese pastry, a sweet griddle-cake similar to a pancake, and revamped it with multicultural flavors to adapt to Los Angeles’ diverse pallette.
Tsuchihashi echoes the overall sentiment that his UCSD education, in the end, expanded his career possibilities.
‘Your college degree is not going to pin you down to your future. Being a management science major and taking tons of calculus classes ‘mdash; none of the courses apply to anything I do now,’ he said. ‘But it’s the overall college experience that applies to your future goals and careers. It’s the bigger picture that totally counts.’
Readers can contact Gloria Wu at [email protected].