Championship Mettle

Gaucho alums Ajay Mitchell and Shane Bieber level up in the pros

Ajay Mitchell playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder
Photo: Courtesy Oklahoma City Thunder

2025 NBA Champion

Ajay Mitchell ’24 is a guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who outdueled the Indiana Pacers to secure the W in the most recent NBA Finals. He is the second Gaucho to win it all in the NBA, following Brian Shaw ‘88, who won three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Shane Bieber pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship
Photo: Associated Press

2025 AL Champion

Shane Bieber ’16 is a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, who bested the Seattle Mariners for the American League Championship and took the Los Angeles Dodgers to an epic game 7 in the 2025 World Series. A repeat MLB All Star, Bieber won a Cy Young Award in 2020.

 

Fall / Winter 2025

Features


Nobel laureates John Martinis and Michel Devoret

A Nobel pursuit

UCSB professors Michel Devoret and John Martinis win the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for discoveries in quantum physics

Chancellor Assanis and wife Eleni speaking during a development event

A bright future

Chancellor Dennis Assanis brings global experience, academic excellence and a spirit of innovation to guide UC Santa Barbara

Ben Hallpern with ocean in the background

Ben Halpern

The marine ecologist hopes we can look back on this era as the moment we decided to band together and avert disaster through collective and consistent action.

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On Campus

Short takes, lively stories and snapshot looks at the UC Santa Barbara campus and community open a window into our dynamic environment and diverse culture.

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Alumni

Alumni profiles, news bites and insights both from and about the UC Santa Barbara Alumni Association foster a strong sense of connection and Gaucho pride.

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