UCOP’s Oakland Community and Connection Fair returned on Oct. 28, drawing more than 350 attendees from across the Office of the President, including colleagues from all divisions, employee resource groups, local restaurants and strategic partners. With a festive Halloween theme, the Broadway Conference Center transformed into a lively hub of connection, creativity and UCOP pride.

Throughout the afternoon, guests visited tables hosted by departments, ERGs and local vendors to learn about local resources, pick up giveaways and network with colleagues. Popular Oakland cafés — including High Noon, Mr. Espresso and Bocanova — offered crowd-favorite treats. Technology collaborators Dell, AWS and Oracle were on hand to share updates, while promotions vendor ID.me drew steady traffic with a wide range of swag.

A highlight of the event was the always-anticipated costume and table-decorating contest, showcasing the imagination and enthusiasm of the UCOP community.

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

Table Decorating Contest winners

• Most Creative: IRAP
• Scariest: Blood Drive
• Judge’s Choice: UC Health

Costume Contest winners

• Most Creative: Rachal Valtakis (SGR)
• Scariest: Marisa Strong (CDL)
• Judge’s Choice: Nicole Vital (ANR)

Thank you to everyone who made this event a success

The event was made possible through the support and dedication of many volunteers.

• The 2025 Community and Connection Fair Committee provided leadership, planning and coordination throughout the process: Shirley Bittlingmeier and Mahjabeen Yucekul (co-coordinators), Blaze Farrar, Hilary Steinman, Marjo Keller, Tiffany McBride, Kathryn Stein, Gina Cauthen, Alan Wan, Sean Villa-Carlos and Steve Pease.
• Day-of volunteers kept operations running smoothly: Anna Chan, Lily Dimitrova, Regana Staccato-Johnson, Paul Anderson, Edwin Martinez, Daniel Aguilar, Justice Mickels, Alice Cheng, Mey Saechow, May Saechow and Rebekah Fernandez.
• Event coordinators Stephanie Chew and Jamie Frick offered essential guidance and support.
• UCOP senior leaders Nathan Brostrom, Rachael Nava, Cain Diaz, Jenny Kao, Meridith Turner, Yvette Gullatt, Alex Bustamante and Cathy O’Sullivan joined the festivities, underscoring the importance of connection and collaboration across the organization.

Check out more event photos! Log in to Box to see bonus photos of this year’s event.

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