University of San Diego Magazine - Fall 2025

TOREROS MAKING WAVES

“I can either sit here and be sad about what happened,” she recalls thinking, “Or I can take this opportunity and do the one thing I’ve been wanting to do.” That’s when she discovered cupcake decorating. “I just started by watching videos of people decorating cupcakes during late-night feeds with my youngest son,” she explains. “He was like half asleep, half drinking, so I would go on my phone and I would watch. It was very therapeutic for me to do so.” The progression from watching to creating happened naturally. “One of the days I just kind of thought, ‘Hey, let me see if I actually enjoy doing it as much as I enjoy watching it.’ And then I just fell in love. So, I did it more.” What began as a soothing late-night activity evolved into a profitable business venture, thanks to word-of-mouth referrals. Tabuena discovered that the meticulous process of creating floral art provided exactly what she needed during a particularly challenging period — battling postpartum depression while navigating career uncertainty. “This experience with Sweetest Blooms Cupcakes, LLC, has helped me tremendously with my mental health,” she explains. “I realized I didn’t have a creative outlet before. I’m also learning how to slow down because I’m just so used to go, go, go, and not really prioritizing rest and filling my cup first.” Tabuena’s wellness journey extends beyond personal healing to community building. Through workshops at craft studios, wine-tasting venues and local small businesses, she creates safe spaces for people to learn, connect and find their own moments of creative peace. “My workshops are not meant for bakers who want to up their skill, but more for people who want to get together over something,” she explains. “It’s just more of a community thing — making that time to do something other than what you’re supposed to do, like work and bills.” The approach reflects her understanding that wellness isn’t just individual — it’s communal. Drawing from her own experiences, she recognizes that “everybody has something, and sometimes they’re just not voicing it out.” In March 2024, Tabuena took her wellness journey international, traveling to London for an advanced cupcake decorating workshop. The trip represented far more than skill development. “It was a very fulfilling moment,” she reflects. “It was very freeing, especially coming from my culture and the military where you are supposed to do what you’re told. Being a small business owner, it’s the opposite — you make the rules.” Today, after being called back to her government contractor position, Tabuena successfully balances both careers. She’s learning to set boundaries and prioritize rest — lessons hard won through experience. “It’s not an emergency if it’s not an emergency,” she said with a laugh, knowing she’s still practicing this new philosophy. What Tabuena has learned is that sometimes the greatest growth happens not when we have everything figured out, but when we’re brave enough to begin anyway. “If there’s something that you wanted to do, even if you don’t know all the details, just take that first step. That first step will lead you to the next foot forward.” — Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA)

First Responder Wellness Through Podcasting For retired police chief Neil H. Gang ’23 (MS), promoting wellness among first responders isn’t just a passion, it’s his next chapter. As host and creator of The 6th Pillar podcast, Gang, a graduate of USD’s Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership, amplifies law enforcement voices and leads candid discussions about organizational wellness, leadership and the often-overlooked issue of first-responder suicide. The podcast builds on his signature Asher Model, a “seven-point approach to creating a culture of wellness,” offering practical strategies for healthier, more resilient organizations. Gang knows the stakes firsthand. After 36 years in law enforcement, including a decade as chief of police in Pinole, California, he saw how stress and trauma weigh on those who serve. His mission became clear: to ensure the profession protects its protectors. That focus earned him national recognition from both the U.S. House of Representatives, which named him Public Safety Hero of the Year in 2020, and the California Police Chiefs Association, which in 2023 presented him with its prestigious Joe Malloy Award, named for the officer who served as the chief of police in Anaheim, California, prior to his untimely passing. In Pinole, Gang’s progressive leadership reshaped how a police department could serve both its officers and its community. He introduced the nation’s first Video Reporting Program, integrated emotional intelligence into hiring and promotions, and even stepped in as acting fire chief and interim city manager when Pinole needed him. Yet what colleagues remember most isn’t just the programs or accolades — it’s his humanity. Through his podcast and advocacy, Gang continues to give voice to the challenges of public safety, reminding those on the front lines that wellness is essential. — Matthew Piechalak

Photos: Trishika Tabuena and Giselle Nicole (@gisellenicolephotography)

TRISHIKA TABUENA TURNS CUPCAKES INTO FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS An Unexpected Recipe for Wellness

While serving, she earned her undergraduate degree in health care administration through National University, balancing the demands of military service with academic pursuits. Her path to USD began when she attended an informational session with her husband, John Carlo, a fellow Navy veteran pursuing cybersecurity at the university. “I found a pamphlet for the health care informatics program,” she recalled. The program’s focus on streamlining processes and improving efficiency resonated with her. After graduating from USD in December 2021, Tabuena found work as an account coordinator with a government contractor, supporting Naval Medical Center San Diego alongside a team of fellow veterans. The familiarity was comforting. “It felt like we were still in, just not in uniform,” she said. But in January 2024, layoffs struck. For Tabuena, the moment provided her with an unexpected gift — the opportunity to pursue something new.

Sometimes the most unlikely path leads to the greatest personal fulfillment. It’s a sentiment Trishika Tabuena ’22 (MS) knows well as she carefully pipes delicate buttercream petals onto perfectly baked cupcakes. The University of San Diego Healthcare Informatics alumna and U.S. Navy veteran never imagined that watching cupcake decorating videos would inspire her to become a small business owner. Tabuena is the founder of Sweetest Blooms Cupcakes, LLC, which specializes in creating celebratory floral cupcakes for life’s special moments. Tabuena was born and raised in the Philippines, and moved to Walnut Creek, California, at age 15 with her family, who sought better opportunities. At 17, she enlisted in the Navy as a practical desire to earn an education without debt. “I had no expectations, but honestly it was the best decision I’ve made for myself,” she said of her decade-long naval career, during which she rose to Navy Chief (E-7) as an electrician’s mate.

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