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As the PhD program manager at Leeds, Steffie Ungphakorn has been a one-woman force for the past 10 years. From overseeing up to 50 students across seven program areas to working closely with the Doctoral Curriculum and Policy Committee—along with her new role as generative AI trainer—she has a lot of balls in the air. Yet, she still finds the time to support and advocate for each student.

A decade of dedication

Although Steffie Ungphakorn has been in her role as PhD program manager at Leeds for a decade, to many her job is still a mystery. “Outside of [Faculty Director] Diego García and the DCPC, I am the PhD program office. Short of curricular, research and admission decisions, I would say 95% of the program’s operations come from me,” she said. “So, that’s a lot of responsibility and weight on my shoulders—and being able to do that successfully is something that I love.”

A Colorado native who loves summer, paddleboarding and being active, Ungphakorn came to CU Boulder from the �Թ��� of Denver. With a bachelor’s degree in biology from Regis �Թ��� and a master’s in higher education from the �Թ��� of Denver, her previous employment experience was working in student services at DU’s Center for Multicultural Excellence. Her position at Leeds was her first academic placement, and she has been committed to building relationships ever since.

Student advocacy at the core

Looking out for and taking care of students is what Ungphakorn considers one of her highest priorities. “We definitely advocate for the students. It’s expensive to live in Boulder, so we make sure that we are attracting excellent candidates by offering a competitive stipend,” she said.����

“We treat our PhD students well because of the importance of the work they will do when they leave here.”��

Steffie Unphakorn, PhD program manager

PhD students are in the program for five or six years, during which time their tuition is fully funded by the school, and they are given a subsidy for health insurance as a part of their funded graduate assistantship. Students also receive funding for research and travel, and they are eligible for various awards and fellowships from the university and other sources.����

“Trying to make sure that students aren’t struggling financially is important, and it’s something I feel strongly about,” she said. “We treat our PhD students well because of the importance of the work they will do when they leave here.”��

Throughout her tenure, Ungphakorn has advocated for many aspects of student support, such as more funding for students who require six years instead of five. Since funding for six years is not guaranteed, she worked with the DCPC to provide options for it. “While the DCPC still makes decisions on how that six-year funding gets awarded, it became more equitable for the students that really need it,” she said.

She speaks about her work achievements with the same passion and care that she talks about her 8-year-old dog, Oliver, whom she refers to as her “snuggle buddy” and “COVID foster fail.” She extends the same kind of attention to her students.��

“I’m really involved in every aspect of the students’ journey here and it is hands-down the best part of my job.”

Steffie Unphakorn, PhD program manager

Collaborating with faculty

In addition to working with students, Ungphakorn also serves as a non-voting member on the Doctoral Curriculum and Policy Committee, which is a seven-member faculty committee that governs and oversees the PhD program. This rotating position is part of the service requirements for faculty on the tenure track.����

The committee oversees the program’s curriculum and research, while Ungphakorn focuses on administration and operations. She credits the committee for enabling her to build close working relationships with Leeds faculty during their two-to-three-year terms.

Advancing AI at Leeds

As an early AI adopter, Ungphakorn took on the role of generative AI trainer at Leeds, educating staff and the public about how to embrace AI rather than fearing it. Her interest surfaced in 2022 with the advent of ChatGPT. She was immediately intrigued by the technology’s benefits (and it aligned with her love of sci-fi). Mostly, she wanted to equip staff to use AI proactively, gaining value from it as she learned more about how to use it responsibly.��

“Once I understood how AI worked, I wanted to share that with others,” she said. “I wanted people to understand how AI could positively impact their job.”��

Last spring, Ungphakorn—along with another faculty colleague and a PhD student—was invited by CU Boulder’s Office of Information Technology to be a part of its spring AI symposium. They gave a presentation to about 100 people, demonstrating the growing interest in AI. As Leeds’ generative AI trainer, she has already trained about 200 people (mainly staff) on using the technology.��

She sees the value of AI training for the entire Leeds community. “For all our students at every level, I think there will be a new level of expectation that they know, understand and can speak the language of AI,” she said. “For PhD students, when they become faculty, they will need to understand how AI works in order to model and craft a curriculum in which AI can be an assistant and an aid.”��

Here to stay

What has kept Ungphakorn coming to work for the last decade? For her, the answer is simple: the students.

“The work I do with the students is truly what has made me stay for so long,” she said.

“I have the ultimate pleasure of introducing the students during graduation and calling their names,” she said. Seeing them succeed and wishing them well is the ultimate reward. “I’m really involved in every aspect of the students’ five-to-six-year journey here and it is hands-down the best part of my job.”��