RECognition: Sophia Salas, TEC Cafe
Recreation's monthly series to highlight and celebrate our staff
By Shawn Cyr
Assistant Marketing Director
If she’s being honest, Sophia Salas didn’t even know her position was part of REC when she started.
See, she’s not an intramural official or a lifeguard or a front desk attendant at one of our facilities. Sophia, who joined UC San Diego Recreation way back in February 2022, has been a key cog in the machine that ensures all of UC San Diego Recreation — and the larger north side of campus — is caffeinated and fueled for the day at the TEC Cafe.
“My favorite part about working in REC has been the community and friends that I have been able to build within my team,” says Sophia, who leads a squad of 14 as a Lead II/Student Assistant Manager. “It is never truly work coming to the cafe, even at 6:45 in the morning!
“I help manage the cafe alongside our manager Marcela and work with leads and baristas on shift,” Sophia says. “I also help create marketing materials for new drinks and hours, and run our Instagram account.”
Sophia is a grad student who will earn her master’s degree in business analytics in June of 2026. Until then, she’s loving her REC job and the people she works with so much that she spends a lot of her free time at the TEC Cafe (located in the RIMAC Annex in the Triton Esports Center).
“I cannot seem to get myself to leave,” she says. “In all seriousness, otherwise I’m probably at the beach, climbing, or on my very comfy couch in my apartment.”
Marcela Galan — the TEC Cafe Retail Manager whom Sophia calls “the best boss ever” — says Sophia has demonstrated excellence, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility while working at the TEC Cafe, from student, trainer, worker, and eventually team lead. Sophia leads by example, Galan says, and “inspires her peers to consistently exceed expectations.”
“What truly sets Sophia apart is her maturity, reliability, and strong moral compass,” Galan says. “She approaches every task (no matter how big or small) with enthusiasm, diligence, and an incredible sense of ownership. Her contributions have had a lasting impact on our team, and her presence has elevated the work environment for everyone around her."
One of her tasks is crafting the TEC Cafe’s delicious offerings, of course. While her personal drink of choice shifts depending on the day —usually it’s some version of a matcha or leftover coffee — she says her favorite drink to make for others is an easy choice.
“It’s probably one of our seasonal drinks that has become a fan favorite: the Golden Matcha, made with matcha and chai,” she says. “I have to say any drink with our chai is delicious.”
Outside the cafe (and away from that comfy couch), Sophia enjoys lifting, rock climbing, and bouldering. When she lived on campus for her first two years of undergrad, she did a lot of climbing at REC’s Outback Climbing Center — “Everyone is super nice there and they always have some fun climbs,” she says — but now that she’s off campus, she does the bulk of her climbing at indoor facilities like Vertical Hold or Mesa Rim.
She’s also enjoyed one of REC’s most popular offerings: surfing class.
“As a UCSD student, it felt like it was something I just HAD to do,” she says. “It was super fun and I would totally do it again, since I've definitely lost the ‘surfing skills’ that I did have, since then.”
Looking toward graduation, Sophia hopes to land a job in a marketing department where she can work with both the design and analytics teams, specifically in a company that focuses on consumer packaged goods.
“Generally speaking, I want to utilize data to come up with creative solutions that a business might have,” she says. “I would love for that career to stay in San Diego, but I know that might not happen. I most definitely want to stay in California for the rest of my career.”
Galan, for one, isn’t betting against her.
“I have no doubt that she will continue to achieve great things and make meaningful contributions wherever she goes,” Galan says.
For now, she’s continuing to try new things while enjoying the REC programming she loves most.
“I go to Main Gym — now that I live at Muir and I’m too lazy to go to RIMAC — three times a week, and the other days I attend one of the Fitness & Yoga classes REC offers,” Helen says. “I’ve done Bootcamp, Cycle Fit, and Sculpt & Flow. The classes are stimulating and really fun. I always leave engaged with my core and with a heavy sweat going.”
Gotta work up an appetite for the next snack — and the next new experience.
