Rameen A. Talesh, Ed.D.
he/him/his
Dean of Students
Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Life & Leadership
rtalesh@uci.edu
Rameen joined the Student Life & Leadership (formerly known as the Office of the Dean of Students) family in October 2006. As the Dean of Students/Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life & Leadership, Rameen oversees a variety of departments in Student Life & Leadership including Campus Organizations & Volunteer Programs, Veteran Services Center, International Center, Cross-Cultural Center, Sorority & Fraternity Life, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center, Center for Black Cultures, Resources and Research, Academic Integrity & Student Conduct, DREAM Center, Basic Needs Center, Student Outreach & Retention Center, Center for Student Leadership, Womxn’s Center for Success, Sustainability Resource Center, Latinx Resource Center, and Student Government & Student Media. He is committed to student learning outside of the classroom and is in constant contact with outstanding future leaders. “It is exciting to be a part of the learning process in intentional ways, supporting student experiences.”
From 2021-2024, Rameen served as the elected Western Regional Director for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). He has also sailed as Executive Dean and Dean of Student Life on Semester at Sea (Fall 2023, Fall 2014). In 2008-09, Rameen worked on initiatives for Civic and Community Engagement as well as the development of the Core Leadership Competencies for UC Irvine students. He has co-authored an article published in Student Engagement in Higher Education on Engaging Racial Ethnic Minority Students in Predominately White Classroom Environments. Rameen has also presented on Free Speech, his dissertation, and several other programs and panels in Student Affairs. Rameen enjoys working with the Student Life & Leadership family because of the great spirit throughout the office. “The educators I work with are professional, committed to student learning, and enjoy their work- which makes the job both rewarding and fun. We are a young campus and with youth comes a nimbleness to be creative and make a difference, our students are a major part of that experience creating the campus culture.”
Rameen received his Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education. He earned his master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge, and his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine. Before this appointment, he worked as the Director of Middle Earth Housing at UC Irvine. He has worked in Student Affairs Administration at both public and private institutions including UC Riverside, CSU Northridge, and Occidental College. Rameen was actively involved while being a student at UC Irvine as an Orientation leader, Student Development Intern, UCDC Intern, Bookstore employee, and Resident Advisor as well as participating in a fraternity.
Fun Fact/Hobbies: Rameen enjoys playing with his grandkids, participating in intramural basketball, doing Yoga, attending UCI events, writing lyrics, and performing from time to time while being a season ticket holder to UCI Basketball and following his Dallas Cowboys/Los Angeles Lakers.
Favorite Quote: Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds