Student Experience

Slugs in Love 2026: Celebrating love stories from UCSC alumni

UC Santa Cruz alumni share their stories of how they found one another among the redwoods.

February 13, 2026

By Haneen Zain

Many alumni leave UC Santa Cruz with more than a degree. They discover passions and purpose, favorite study spots and hidden trails, lifelong friendships and transformative mentors. From sweeping ocean views to dense redwood forests, UCSC offers endless opportunities for discovery. And for many, that discovery includes love.

This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating UCSC alumni who found more than an education on campus—they found each other. From chance encounters in dorm hallways to shared ambitions that blossomed into enduring partnerships, these Banana Slug sweethearts prove that some of the most meaningful college experiences truly last a lifetime.

Alaleh Mokhtari (Cowell ’19, human biology) and Redmond Walton (Rachel Carson ’19 ocean science)

We first met in 2016 at the Rachel Carson dorms through mutual friends, but it wasn’t until our sophomore year that our relationship began. I told Red I loved him for the first time outside McHenry Library in June 2017, and the rest is history. During our time at UCSC, Red was an ocean science major and co-captain of the Surf Team, and I was a human biology major deeply involved in Panhellenic life, and co-founded the Women in Science Society with my best friends.

Since then, we have grown up side by side. After graduating, we moved to San Diego and got married this past October. Red went on to become an attorney after graduating from law school in 2023, and I recently finished nursing school and am beginning my career as a BSN, RN. UCSC shaped both of our paths, but most importantly, it brought us to each other.

Isha Kamboh (Stevenson ’25, legal studies and critical race and ethnic studies) and Andrea Lopez (Stevenson ’25)

Andrea and I met informally during the Cowell and Stevenson college RA training in August 2022. It wasn’t until that October that we started to connect and build a friendship. Through late nights at the housing office, visiting each other’s dorms to talk about our day, and navigating difficult times in the RA role, we grew increasingly closer. After six months it was clear that we had mutual feelings for each other. I decided to ask Andrea to be my girlfriend on April 16th, 2023. 

This year we will be celebrating our third year being partners and we couldn’t be happier. We now live outside of Santa Cruz together with our cat Aloo.

Criz Santos (Rachel Carson ’18, biochemistry and molecular biology) and Celsey Taylor (Rachel Carson ’18, politics)

We met as freshmen in dorm rooms directly across from each other, where shy hellos and late-night chats quietly turned into something special. By sophomore year, fate pulled us even closer, placing us in the same College 8 apartments, living just above and below one another—where love bloomed, laughter filled the hallways, and we grew together through the rest of college. After graduation, life took us in different directions, but our hearts always knew the way back, and we found each other again, stronger and more certain than ever. 

In June 2025, at our favorite date spot, Pigeon Point Lighthouse, we got engaged in a moment that felt like pure magic. Now we’re counting down the days until September 2026, when we get to say “I do” and spend forever choosing each other. 

Chelsea Thompson (John R. Lewis ’18, business management economics) and Brandon Gomez (Crown ’16, computer game design)

Brandon and I met on a dating app while we were both at UCSC, little did we know we were coexisting within inches of each other. Brandon worked at the dining hall of the same college I lived in, College 10 (now John R. Lewis). We soon took our relationship offline and had our first date at Betty Burgers downtown. The rest is history.

Now in 2026, we will be celebrating two years of marriage in April and 11 years together in May. UC Santa Cruz holds such a special place in our hearts—we are forever grateful! We even made sure to feature our “Banana Slug Crossing” sign at our wedding. Forever Slugs.

Charles Neal (Oakes ’84) and Maria Felix-Neal (Oakes ’86) 

I was in my senior year at UCSC and Maria was finishing her sophomore year. I was in the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) program, working in the Leo Ortiz lab. She was just becoming a member of the Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) program. I saw her one day at Thimann Labs in an office and wanted to meet her, but did not have the courage. Soon after, during medical school interviews, I met another applicant that knew her from a Harvard premed program the year before. He asked me to tell her hello, and it gave me a reason to meet her. I was able to at least meet her and tell her hello, but I was afraid to ask her out.

Several acquaintances from our labs arranged a BBQ for Maria and I to meet. It was a great BBQ and we went to see Tania Maria afterwards at the Catalyst. It was our first date, April 28, 1984. I went off to my MD, Ph.D. program at the University of Michigan and Maria finished her degree and worked with the MBRS program. We married, moved to Michigan then to San Francisco, back to Michigan, and are now settled in Hawaii, celebrating 42 years since our first date at UC Santa Cruz on April 28th. It truly does seem just like yesterday.

Joey Bryan (Stevenson ’12, environmental studies) and Brie Bernstein (Stevenson ’14, psychology) 

Brie and I met at a New Year’s Eve house party I threw as 2012 began, with eight bands playing and hundreds of people coming through. Brie was friends with one of the bands, and despite the chaos, we distinctly remember meeting each other that night. We stayed in touch afterward—exploring Pogonip, talking about our hopes and dreams, and even returning a wallet found after the party. A few weeks later, we went on our first official date to Mobo.

We recently celebrated 14 years together and were married September of 2024. Brie is my adventure buddy, best friend, and soulmate. While we now live in San Francisco, we still return to Santa Cruz often—walking through UCSC and cherishing the place where we not only found ourselves, but found each other.