UC San Diego Extension

In 1966, in a small wooden building situated among a grove of eucalyptus trees, UC San Diego Extension first opened its doors. Under the guidance of Dr. Martin Chamberlain, a former Peace Corps director in Africa, Extension quickly established a reputation for being a reliable source of knowledge taught by national experts. The first educational programs reflected the social turbulence of the times, with courses in radical rhetoric and international affairs. Other offerings included a statewide lecture series on integrated circuits for engineers and performances by prominent jazz musicians like John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk. With an entrepreneurial mindset, Chamberlain's staff assured Extension's viability by providing instruction focused on personal growth and career advancement, with courses in accounting, real estate, nursing and women’s studies. Chamberlain also helped create a lecture series presented by Latino and African American community leaders and launched an English as a Second Language program for international students. “What makes a good administration is looking at what’s going on in society and determining how you can contribute to that,” Chamberlain said. Please Contact: 9600 N Torrey Pines Rd San Diego, California.