E-mail | Phone: 310-206-8962
Since 1990, Ralph Amos has gained progressive experience in alumni relations and marketing communications. He has been a leader in alumni relations nationally and internationally. He is a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and has served on its Committee on Opportunity and Equity, Commission on Alumni Relations and the CASE International Board of Trustees.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Amos received his bachelor of arts in international studies from Ohio State University in 1986. He received a master of public administration from Ohio University in 2004 and is pursuing a doctorate in higher education administration at Ohio University.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-4715
Since January 1991, Mark Davis has been an integral part of the UCLA Alumni Association’s communication and marketing efforts. Davis is an award-winning writer and contributor to UCLA Magazine. He created and edited the Association’s UCLAlumni magazine for 10 years, began its first e-mail newsletter and helped develop its first Web site.
Davis has been a speaker at CASE Editors’ Forums and the California State University’s annual marketing and communication conference. Davis’s freelance writing has appeared in GLUE, The Advocate, The Lutheran, Florida Physician, Cincinnati Magazine and LA Weekly, and he edited the novel Tomorrow They Will Kiss (Little, Brown, 2006). He edited AngelNews and served as Divine Design event coordinator for Project AngelFood. Prior to coming to UCLA, Davis worked for the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.
Davis serves on the Executive Board and various committees of the Southwest California Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. His hobbies are cooking, traveling, reading and music. He earned his B.S. from University of Evansville and did graduate work at University of Cincinnati.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-2424
Before assuming her current role as the executive director for alumni marketing and communications, Susan Lewis served for nine years as the director of marketing for the UCLA Alumni Association. During her tenure with the Association, she has been director of travel, assistant director of membership and of travel, and special assistant with government relations. She has more than 25 years of experience in marketing, membership and programming. Previously, she worked for a major airline, as a retail store manager, and for a printing and design company.
Lewis is a member of CASE, Direct Marketing Association, American Marketing Association, Educational Travel Council and the BYU Alumni Association. She volunteers as the president of her Church Primary, a children’s organization serving the needs of children and families across Los Angeles. Lewis’ expertise includes strategic brand management and positioning, direct and electronic marketing, data management and database design, team and leadership development, strategic planning, targeted and constituency-based marketing and higher education management.
Lewis earned a bachelor of arts in communications from Brigham Young University. A broadcast major, she has worked in radio and television. In her leisure, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling the world.
Lewis is a native of Washington.
E-mail | Phone: 310-794-5186
Jay Dillon is the special assistant to the assistant vice chancellor of the UCLA Alumni Association. Previously, he worked in business development, membership acquisition and customer service at the Association.
Dillon is a member of the Council of Alumni Marketing and Membership Professionals and the West Coast Marketing Group.
Dillon’s areas of expertise include project management, business development, advertising, targeted and constituency-based marketing and communication, human resources and fiscal management.
A proud graduate of UCLA, Dillon holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master of music degree in choral conducting.
Dillon is a native of Riverside, Calif.
E-mail | Phone: 818-621-7926
As executive director of alumni professional and volunteer management, Marci Weisblatt is responsible for developing strategies to support the professional lives of UCLA alumni and creating new initiatives to develop and manage volunteers throughout campus.
Prior to assuming her current role, Weisblatt was senior director of advancement for Northern California for two years and associate executive director of the UCLA Alumni Association for six years. She also served one year as interim assistant vice chancellor of alumni relations and interim executive director.
During her tenure at the Association, Weisblatt was responsible for programming, events, marketing, campus relations and volunteer relations. She built dynamic and effective campus partnerships, launched large-scale events including the UCLA Women’s Conference and Blue and Gold Week, and reorganized the organization’s volunteer recruitment efforts.
After graduating from UCLA, Weisblatt joined the professional staff of the Associated Students UCLA. She then joined Levy, Pazanti and Associates, a prominent fundraising event firm in Los Angeles. In 1994, she moved to the Ameri¬can Heart Association, where she rose to vice president of corporate events and was recognized with two national awards: the Newcomer’s Award and the Award of Excellence for a Community Organization.
E-mail | Phone: 310-794-3437
Alfonso Aguilera is the senior director of marketing research for the UCLA Alumni Association. Previously, he was the assistant director of business analysis & performance reporting for UCLA’s Finance & Information Management group within External Affairs. He has 20 years of experience in corporate finance, product pricing, and budgeting and performance reporting.
Aguilera’s areas of expertise include strategic and operational planning as well as building productive and effective team environments. His knowledge base in these areas has developed from prior domestic and international work assignments across numerous industries such as oil & gas, computer technology and aerospace.
Aguilera is a graduate of UCLA and holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in economics and psychology as well as a master’s degree from the Anderson Graduate School of Management.
Aguilera is a native of Los Angeles, Calif.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0537
Burke Anderson is the reservations manager of the James West Alumni Center. Previously, he worked as an event director for Regal Rents and an event coordinator for the Getty Center. Anderson brings 10 years of experience to the Association in event and venue management. His areas of expertise include event production, logistical planning and team building.
A graduate of the University of Idaho, Anderson holds a bachelor of arts in English as well as a bachelor of science in psychology.
Anderson is a native of Burley, Idaho.
E-mail | Phone: 310-825-9066
Ewa Barylak is the finance assistant for the UCLA Alumni Association. Barylak began her career as a finance assistant in the Department of Electronics at the Wroclaw University of Technology in Poland. She has experience in bookkeeping, general accounting, financial administration and management.
After moving to the United States, Barylak spent more than 10 years as a full charge bookkeeper, accountant and, eventually, senior accountant for two private corporates in the San Fernando Valley.
A graduate of the Wroclaw University of Technology in Poland, Barylak holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and management and a master’s degree with honors in organization and management in industry.
Barylak loves to spend her spare time reading, listening to music and sharing a laugh with her much loved friends and adored family. One day, she hopes to finish writing her family cookbook, filled with delightful Polish entrées, and compiling her full family tree.
A native of Poland, she enjoys the beautiful sunny weather and the wonderful beaches here in Southern California. She and her family reside in West Hills.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0622
George Brown is the director of Alumni Scholarships at the UCLA Alumni Association. Previously, he was director of membership for the YMCA. George has nearly a decade of experience in student recruitment, scholarship management and student programming.
Brown is a member of the Black Staff and Faculty Association at UCLA. He is also a volunteer at West Angeles Church of God in Christ and St. Jerome Catholic Church.
Brown’s areas of expertise include building strong teams, scholarship program development and management, student programming and student recruitment.
A graduate of California State University, Northridge, Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Brown is a native of Los Angeles.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-3798
Sarah K. Brown serves as project coordinator for the alumni outreach and engagement team at the UCLA Alumni Association. She also manages registration and customer service for UCLA Alumni Day. Brown worked for the Association as an undergraduate for four years as a part of the student outreach and engagement team. During that time, she was one of the primary liaisons for UCLA Alumni Day and helped pilot the spirit ambassador program.
Brown’s areas of expertise include customer service, event registration and planning, and research and technology integration into program development.
In her spare time, Brown volunteers with Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles. She also enjoys cooking, yoga, and travel.
Brown is an alumna of UCLA, graduating in 2010 with a B.A. in psychology. She is a native of San Diego, Calif.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-8907
Silvia Orvietani Busch is director, college alumni outreach and engagement, a joint position she holds with the UCLA Alumni Association and the UCLA College. Previously, she was the research program associate for the UCLA Strategic Research Initiatives office. She has more than 15 years of experience in project development, management and public relations.
Busch’s areas of expertise include strategic planning, creating and expanding alumni involvement with the UCLA College and the campus, program development and building collaboration amongst campus constituencies. She supervises alumni relations in the UCLA College, facilitating the interaction of alumni with departments and developing engagement opportunities for all College alumni.
Busch holds a doctorate degree in history from UCLA. Her academic book, Medieval Mediterranean Ports, was published in 2000. She also has a master’s degree in medieval history and archaeology from the University of Pisa, Italy. She has supervised archaeological excavations in Tuscany and published several articles.
Busch is a native of Italy.
E-mail | Phone: 310-983-1198
Marcia Campbell is the alumni services and promotions manager for the UCLA Alumni Association. Previously, she was the customer care lead/blogger for MyShape.com. After graduating from college, she also spent time as a membership services associate at the Sierra Club headquarters.
Campbell’s areas of expertise include training and development, problem-solving, sales and communications. A volunteer for such organizations as the family literacy foundation, Meals On Wheels, Special Olympics and several after-school tutoring programs, she is excited about the opportunity to use her skills to promote higher education.
A graduate of San Francisco State University, Campbell she holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities with a concentration in cross-cultural arts. She also received an associate degree in merchandise marketing from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.
Campbell is a native of San Diego. She currently lives in the Toluca Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles and enjoys museums, live music, traveling and scouring local boutiques.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0556
Prior to joining the Alumni Association, Mary Conradt worked in External Affairs Advancement Services, Organizational Planning and Development supporting training events, conducting research and job analysis and coordinating new employee hiring processes. Before coming to UCLA, she worked at Pepperdine University’s business school for more than nine years counseling and recruiting students for executive MBA programs. As director of academic affairs, she worked with faculty, managed the budget and financial resources and coordinated special events, including graduation, faculty meetings and annual leadership conferences.
In all, Conradt has more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit management and education. A leader in the Parents Teachers Association, she was president at the local and state levels. As a regional vice president at the national level, she conducted training and development for six state boards. She served on the education subcommittee of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and the University of Nebraska. She also co-founded and managed an insurance agency, serving as vice president in charge of marketing and customer service for 12 years.
A native of Nebraska, Conradt earned her bachelor of science in elementary education. In 2003, she received a master of business administration and in 2011 a doctorate in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0410
Anthony Cube has worked in marketing with the UCLA Alumni Association since 2005. He is responsible for communicating and promoting volunteer opportunities, BruinWorks (online network tool for alumni), Alumni Scholars Club activities, career services and various local alumni events. He also reviews communication sent out on behalf of UCLA College and professional schools such as the UCLA Medical Alumni Association, the UCLA School of Nursing and the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. He is also responsible for marketing various student initiatives such as Entertainment Networking Night, Interview with a Bruin and Spirit Squad activities.
Prior to joining UCLA, Cube worked for the Josephson Institute of Ethics for more than seven years as an educational programs manager. He was responsible for coordinating and marketing nationwide training seminars for a character education program called CHARACTER COUNTS!
Cube graduated from UC Irvine with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He grew up in Los Angeles. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two little girls, and watching sports.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-9380
Ever since her days as news editor of the Daily Bruin, Marina Dundjerski has been writing about UCLA in one way or another. Today she chronicles UCLA’s history for a book to be published by the UCLA Alumni Association and Gold Shield. Author and director of the UCLA History Project, she also manages an ongoing effort to preserve the UCLA story by collecting anecdotes, memorabilia, photographs and other UCLA-related items before they are lost or forgotten.
Dundjerski has more than 15 years experience in journalism and communications. Before transferring to the Alumni Association, she spent three years as a senior writer and editor for University Communications, writing for UCLA Magazine and other publications.
Although a Los Angeles native, Dundjerski spent six years in Washington, D.C. as an assistant editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Her background includes work as a reporter for United Press International and as the UCLA campus correspondent for the Los Angeles Times.
A UCLA graduate, Dundjerski holds a bachelor’s degree in English with a specialization in world literature. She is a member of Gold Shield Alumnae of UCLA.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-2139
As the senior director of alumni marketing and membership, Natalee Ellars is responsible for the day-to-day oversight and management of the UCLA Alumni Association marketing and membership teams.Prior to joining UCLA, Ellars was vice president for business development and marketing for Young Communications Group, Inc., an advertising agency representing the full spectrum of nonprofit clients, from education to wellness. Previously, she served as vice president of marketing for OneUnited Bank and vice president and segment manager for Union Bank of California. In those positions, Ellars developed social media marketing and online strategies to reach a national audience, directed membership campaigns, envisioned short-term and long-term campaigns to increase visibility in major markets and customized messages, marketing materials and constituent communications to reflect organizational values and increase engagement.
Ellars is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College with a degree in history and organizational psychology. She has a passion for community service and has contributed more than 2,500 hours volunteering with nonprofit organizations throughout Los Angeles. She currently serves as the board president for Center For Health Justice.
E-mail | Phone: 310-825-0943
Marisa Feng manages Web and design for the UCLA Alumni Association. Previously, she was a Flash designer at Disney Park and Resort Online. Prior to Disney, Feng worked on a small creative team and developed art, and cultural and educational Web sites for institutions including Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, The Getty Center, Pacific Asia Museum, Columbia Space Learning Center, UCLA Fowler Museum, USC Archival Research Center, USC Norman Lear Center and Gamble House. Feng has more than nine years of experience in Web design and development.
Feng’s areas of expertise include Web design, information architecture, Flash animation and rich media e-communications. Feng brings to the Association her strength in high quality design, close attention to user experience and the ability to effectively bridge technology and marketing.
A graduate of UCLA, Feng holds a bachelor’s degree in English.
She is a native of the People’s Republic of China.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0684
As senior director, alumni outreach and engagement for the UCLA Alumni Association, Cia Ford is engaged in UCLA’s alumni relations efforts with the UCLA College, professional schools and other campus entities. She has worked at the Association since 1990 and at
UCLA since 1985.
Ford brings expertise in the broad areas of networking, data collection, volunteer management and continuing volunteer education.
She is a native of Billings, Mont.
E-mail | Phone: 310-794-5189
In 2010 Estellaleigh Franenberg celebrates 10 years of service at UCLA. Currently, she is a director, alumni marketing and communications, for the UCLA Alumni Association. Previously, she was the Association’s member services manager for seven years.
Her areas of expertise include targeted and constituency-based marketing and communications, high-level customer service, campus and community relations and volunteer recruitment.
Franenberg is an active champion of breast cancer treatment, research, and awareness and has walked hundreds of miles training and fundraising for both the Susan G. Komen 3-Day and Avon walks for breast cancer. She is also a member of World ORT, an international not-for-profit promoter of education and training with more than 200,000 beneficiaries worldwide.
A graduate of San Diego State University, Franenberg holds a bachelor’s degree in theater. She is also a proud Bruin in spirit if not by degree and a life member of the UCLA Alumni Association.
Franenberg is a native of Lake Elsinore, Calif.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-2793
Byron Gonzalez is the building services coordinator for the UCLA Alumni Association. He has more than 10 years of experience working for UCLA External Affairs.
Gonzalez’s areas of expertise include messenger services, building services and bulk mail distribution.
Gonzalez has been selected to participate in UCLA’s Staff Enrichment Program. He is a graduate of Culver City High School.
E-mail | Phone: 310-794-5203
Prior to coming to the UCLA Alumni Association, Michael Greenberg worked in the energy sector on behalf of General Electric as a technical sales consultant. A member of the Council of Alumni Marketing and Membership Professionals, he is interested in the transformative role of new media and technology in the nonprofit paradigm.
Greenberg’s areas of expertise include strategic analysis, business development, brand management, integrated marketing and advertising.
Greenberg is a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans and holds a bachelor of science in physics with honors. He hails from Houston.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0691
Before joining the UCLA Alumni Association as senior manager of alumni networks, Alex Gruenberg served as a student affairs administrator for The George Washington University. He brings five years of higher education experience to the Association and expertise in volunteer recruitment and management, branding and marketing, and organizational development.
Gruenberg has also served the Association as a volunteer leader, as both a board member and later president of the UCLA Alumni Network of Washington D.C.
A proud UCLA graduate, Gruenberg holds a bachelor’s degree in political science as well as a Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University.
He is a native of Santa Barbara, Calif., and currently resides in Westwood.
E-mail | Phone: 310-825-0603
Brenda Heslin is the graphic design assistant of the UCLA Alumni Association. She joined the Alumni Association with five years of previous experience in design and marketing communications, including work as a graphic designer for clients such as Seattle's Best Coffee, Cinnabon, Buca di Beppo, Baja Fresh, Mazda, Catalina Island and the Loyola Marymount University Alumni Association.
Heslin holds two bachelor’s degrees: one in graphic design from The Art Institute of California, Orange County, and another in English with a minor in studio arts from Loyola Marymount University.
Heslin is a native of Fountain Valley, Calif.
E-mail | Phone: 310-794-5188
Michelle Horak is the alumni representative at the UCLA Alumni Association. She previously worked with alumni services for four years as an undergraduate student worker.
From a family full of Bruins, Horak is the third to serve at the UCLA Alumni Association. Both her sister and her uncle served the UCLA community at the James West Alumni Center as students and graduates, and she is proud to continue the tradition. Her areas of expertise include customer service, marketing and, as a recent graduate, general campus knowledge and involvement.
As a student, Horak worked to promote sustainability at UCLA with various campus organizations, including Education for a Sustainable Living Program. She currently volunteers as a member of the advisory board for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Los Angeles Chapter.
Horak earned her B.A. from UCLA in world arts and cultures, with a minor in film. She is a native of Thousand Oaks, Calif.
E-mail | Phone: 310-825-2308
Before joining the UCLA Alumni Association, Liam Humble had a diverse professional career in the fields of brand strategy, media and legal services. While a design student at UCLA, Humble worked with brand strategist and UCLA professor Rebeca Méndez researching and writing the history of Denim Day in L.A., an anti-rape awareness event put on by Peace Over Violence, a sexual and domestic violence, stalking, child abuse and youth violence prevention center based in Los Angeles. At the same time, he was a valuable member of the UCLA advertising and marketing team.
Humble’s areas of expertise include copywriting, brand strategy and graphic design. His lifelong passion for the written word and the arts has driven his educational path and professional aspirations.
A graduate of UCLA, Humble holds a B.A. in design and media arts. He is fortunate to have studied under such world renowned designers and professors as Méndez, Willem Henri Lucas, Vasa Mihich, Erkki Huhtamo, Christian Moeller, Casey Reas, Drew Schnurr and Victoria Vesna.
A native of Santa Rosa, Calif., in the heart of the California wine country, Humble comes from a long line of passionate public educators. His family’s commitment to education in the public sector is part of the reason he is honored to work at UCLA.
E-mail | Phone: 310-794-5202
Prior to joining the UCLA Alumni Association, Judy Ismaili was the volunteer coordinator for Chrysalis, a nonprofit organization on L.A.’s Skid Row, where she recruited and trained volunteers to teach job readiness skills to help homeless adults obtain employment and ultimately achieve self-sufficiency.
Before Chrysalis, Ismaili worked for 11 years as operations supervisor of the UCLA Student Health Service Primary Care Clinic, hiring, training and managing the administrative staff responsible for scheduling patient appointments and maintaining service calendars for the clinic physicians and nurse practitioners.
A graduate of UCLA, Ismaili holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a certificate to teach English as a second language.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0538
Isgouhi Kassakhian is responsible for management, operations and reservations of the James West Alumni Center. A focal point for high-profile events, the facility requires extensive maintenance and improvements on an ongoing basis to keep it up to standard.
Additionally, Kassakhian’s duties include budget administration and fiscal management; hiring, training and supervising; facility management and event coordination. She also manages building enhancement projects.
Kassakhian is involved with the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the largest Armenian philanthropic organization in the world, and the Gomidas Institute, which is an independent academic organization that promotes and disseminates research, scholarship and analysis related to the modern Armenian experience. Her passion is to see the recognition and affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
An alumna of UCLA, Kassakhian studied in Germany, England, Lebanon and Jerusalem before coming to the United States. She is multi-lingual and holds degrees in history and political science, with special emphasis on Middle Eastern and Armenian history.
Kassakhian was born in Jerusalem.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0659
As the marketing coordinator of the UCLA Alumni Association, Amy Katznelson supports the marketing and communications team and stewards vendor relations with many internal and external partners.
Katznelson is a life member of the UCLA Alumni Association and a lifelong Bruin. She attended Bruin Woods for many years, beginning at age two, and has been 8-clapping ever since. Though she is a product of a mixed marriage – a Trojan father and a Bruin mother – her commitment to UCLA has never wavered. As an undergraduate at UCLA, she held volunteer roles with the Student Alumni Association, the Senior Class Giving Committee and Dance Marathon. She was also involved in research through the sociology and anthropology departments and interned at Planned Parenthood, Los Angeles.
Katznelson holds bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology, and is currently pursuing an M.A. in interpersonal communication studies. She is a native of Tarzana, Calif. and loves the Southern California sun.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0068
Susan Kim is responsible for assisting in overall Web site content development and Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) coding, which allows staff to track audience participation and interactivity with the Association’s Web site and its broad-reaching Web strategies. She assists the Web manager and designer in bringing to light the full spectrum of electronic marketing output for various audiences.
Kim also coordinates the Association’s outreach and channel placements for new media initiatives such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, deploying direct messaging to alumni within these social networking platforms. She works with the Web team and marketing and communications staff to construct and design appropriate sites and pages within new media channels. She is also responsible for Web micro site updates including student, recent graduate, general events and travel pages within the general site.
Prior to joining the marketing and communications team, Kim was the travel coordinator for the Alumni Association’s Alumni Travel. In all, she has four years of experience working in travel.
Kim’s areas of expertise include computer support, customer service, event planning and management and tour directing. A graduate of UCLA, Kim holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
She is a native of Southern California.
E-mail | Phone: 310-983-3065
Jeanine Dalis Klima oversees a diverse, yet integrated, department comprising Development, University Communications and Alumni Relations. Previously she served as senior managing director at Dalis Development, vice president for Netzel Associates and director of development for City of Hope National Medical Center. During the past 17 years, she has served in varying capacities in annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, alumni and donor relations, regional development and campaign planning.
An active philanthropist, Klima served as the benefit chair for the Assistance League of Southern California Mannequins Auxiliary 90th Anniversary luncheon and debutante chair for St. Sophia Philoptohos Society, and as an executive member of the L.A. Greek Fest. She was a board member for the Junior League of Pasadena, Trinity Children’s Foundation and Kidspace Children’s Museum, and was the first woman in 41 years to receive the Distinguished Service Award from the city of Santa Monica.
Klima attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she was selected to participate in First Interstate Bank’s internship program. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, and received an Executive M.B.A. from the University of Southern California. She is a native of Los Angeles.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0523
Gloria Ko is a project manager for the UCLA Alumni Association. Previously, she was an assistant resident director in the UCLA Office of Residential Life. At the UCLA Alumni Association, Ko administers career-oriented events such as Interview with a Bruin and Entertainment Networking Night, as well as Spring Sing – UCLA’s oldest and greatest musical tradition. She advises three student committees within the Student Alumni Association, and also collaborates with campus partners to coordinate engagement opportunities for graduate students.
Ko currently serves on the executive board of the UCLA Prytanean Alumni Association as second vice president for membership.
Ko’s areas of expertise are event planning and coordination, counseling, and career and student development. She received a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a master’s in education from UCLA.
Ailia Coley McKinney is program coordinator for health sciences alumni outreach for Alumni Relations. Previously, as director of operations at a small for-profit organization, she managed special events and projects. She has more than 10 years experience working in higher education. Formerly, she worked at UCLA Summer Sessions and Special Programs and at the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies.
McKinney is a member of the American Society for Training and Development and UCLA Staff Assembly, and she is a proud alumna of the Staff Enrichment Program. She has volunteered for the Los Angeles Urban League and Beyond Shelter for Women.
McKinney’s areas of expertise include organizational development, leadership training, event management and program planning. She has received awards for outstanding service and leadership from the Los Angeles Urban League Young Professionals and a letter of commendation from the mayor of Los Angeles for excellent community service.
McKinney studied African spirituality and psychology at the University of Ghana. She received bachelor’s degrees in English and political science with a minor in African American studies from Loyola Marymount University and a master’s in organizational management from Antioch University.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, McKinney is a life member of the UCLA Alumni Association.
E-mail | Phone: 310-794-4028
Gina Oken is the art director and designer for the UCLA Alumni Association. Previously, she was the associate art director for The Hollywood Reporter. She has more than 15 years of experience designing marketing materials for both profit and nonprofit companies. Her clients include Disney, Major League Soccer, DirecTV, Canon Communications, Los Angeles Police Department, Kenwood, United Airlines, Applied Graphic Technologies, Mattel and various clothing manufacturers. She also has taught graphic design, corporate identity systems and typography at Santa Monica College for more than seven years.
Oken’s areas of professional expertise include translating marketing plans into conceptual visual solutions through the use of various design software applications.
Oken is an active volunteer at the Cedars Sinai hospital emergency room.
A graduate of both University of California, Santa Cruz and Art Center College of Design, Oken holds degrees in fine art and advertising.
Oken is a native of Shreveport, La.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0613
Christel Pailet joined UCLA Alumni Travel in 1994 and became the director of travel in 2000. She has more than 20 years of experience in the travel industry.
Pailet strongly believes in lifelong learning through travel, and is persistently searching for ways to make the offerings more educational, unique, and a good fit for UCLA’s nearly 380,000 living alumni.
Recommitting to the Association’s continuing education mission, Pailet has been instrumental in establishing a new strategic direction for the program by featuring UCLA faculty on most tour offerings.
Pailet was born in Stockholm, Sweden.
E-mail | Phone: 310-794-4306
Kristy Peterson is the director, student outreach and engagement, at the UCLA Alumni Association. Previously, she was the project manager and Student Alumni Association advisor. She has six years of experience in student affairs, advising and project management.
Peterson is a member of Step Up Women’s Network, Golden Key National Honor Society, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and American College Personnel Administrators. She is also a member of CASE and its student branch, Affiliated Student Advancement Programs.
Peterson’s areas of expertise include student development, leadership training, systems and organizations of higher education, and partnership development.
A graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Peterson holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a minor in psychology. She received her master’s degree in student affairs from UCLA’s Graduate School of Education Higher Education and Organizational Change Division in June 2008.
Peterson is a proud Northern California native, raised in Fair Oaks.
Paul Phootrakul is responsible for working closely with corporate and campus clients to create and implement new business development initiatives that meet the Association’s and university’s changing needs and priorities. Most recently, he served as the senior administrative analyst of alumni relations and events at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, where he developed and implemented comprehensive alumni relations programming for more than 6,000 graduates. In addition to his experience in academia, he brings great vision and creativity to the Alumni Association from his work at the ESPN X Games and the Tiger Woods Foundation.
A graduate of the University of California, Irvine, Phootrakul holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. He also earned a master’s degree in sports management from the University of San Francisco.
E-mail | Phone: 310-794-5204
After working for several years in member services for the YMCA and in promotions for a major Southern California radio station, Gil Ramirez decided to apply his skills in service to his alma mater, UCLA.
When not working at the Alumni Association, Ramirez enjoys spending his free time exploring Los Angeles, the city in which he was born and raised. Whether spending the day exploring the hiking trails of the Santa Monica Mountains or enjoying a musical at the Pantages Theatre, he is always looking for different adventures. The luxury of traveling the world throughout his life has helped him understand that his hometown has a lot to improve, but he also sees the many advantages available in this small part of the world.
Ramirez can be the life of the party one day, then a quiet onlooker the next. He enjoys going to rock concerts as well as the L.A. Philharmonic. His double-sided personality makes him a true Gemini. But make sure not to mention this to him because he doesn’t believe in astrology.
E-mail | Phone: 310-825-3371
Brian Relth earned his CPA license in 2004. Prior to joining the UCLA Alumni Association, he worked at Sony Pictures Television as a senior financial analyst. Overall, he has eight years of experience in public accounting and corporate finance/accounting.
His areas of expertise include financial statement and internal controls analysis, budgeting and forecasting, audit facilitation and, of course, counting - even backward from 10.
In his spare time, Relth volunteers as a Big Brother mentoring inner-city youth.
Relth is a proud graduate of UCLA, holding a B.A. in economics along with a minor in English. He was born in San Luis Obispo but grew up mostly in Carlsbad, CA.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-8962
Kelly Ann Ryan is executive assistant to the assistant vice chancellor of the UCLA Alumni Association. Previously, she was the executive assistant at the Oregon Health & Science University and The Center for Medically Fragile Children at Providence Hospital in Portland, Oregon. She has 10 years of experience as an executive assistant in the medical, legal, insurance and banking fields. In addition, she worked more than 20 years in the hospitality industry and has managed locations on various film productions.
Ryan has volunteered for organizations such as American Red Cross, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Epileptic Society, Salvation Army, St. John’s Senior Resident Home, F.A.I.T.H. and the Audubon Society.
Ryan is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a bachelor of arts degree in film production and a minor in psychology.
Ryan is a native of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-2426
Angela Scales is an associate director, student outreach and engagement, at the UCLA Alumni Association. She is the advisor to the Student Alumni Association (SAA) board of directors, and she oversees the planning and execution of large-scale campus traditions such as Blue and Gold Week, Spring Sing and Dinners for 12 Strangers.
Prior to her current role, Scales worked for two years as a project coordinator for the student relations team, assisting with all SAA and Alumni Scholarships programs and events.
Before joining the Alumni Association, Scales worked as a junior account executive with Laufer Green Isaac, a strategic marketing and communications firm.
Scales’ areas of expertise include event planning, leadership development and campus partnerships.
A graduate of UCLA, Scales holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. She is a native of San Diego.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0643
Rossitza Simeonova works with the associate executive director of alumni operations to support the outreach and engagement team, assisting with UCLA’s alumni relations efforts for the UCLA College, professional schools, affinity networks and student groups. Previously, she was the events and alumni relations coordinator for the UCLA Medical Alumni Association. Prior to the Medical Alumni Association, she served as a project administrative assistant for UCLA Alumni Scholarships.
Outside of UCLA, Simeonova is an active volunteer with the California YMCA Youth and Government program. She has been involved with the program for nine years and currently serves as youth advisor for the San Pedro Peninsula YMCA delegation. She is also a member of the South Bay Bruins and the Young Alumni Chancellor’s Circle.
Simeonova is a life member of the Alumni Association and a graduate of UCLA, holding a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in political science, magna cum laude. She is a native of Sofia, Bulgaria.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0643
Miriam Simmons is an alumni representative at the UCLA Alumni Association. Previously, she worked as an education associate at the Center for Family & Community Services Head Start program.
Simmons graduated with a degree in women’s studies and a minor in African American studies. As a student, she was a Bruin advisor for low income, minority high school students through UCLA's Early Academic Outreach Program. She also served as an intern for Black Entertainment Television.
Simmons is a native of Los Angeles, Calif.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0613
Kit Spikings has been employed at UCLA since 1976, working in the School of Education, School of Engineering, Financial Aid Office and at the Alumni Association since 1994.
Currently assistant director of travel, Spikings’s previous assignments at the Association included working with Alumni Scholarships, community service and as Spirit Squad advisor.
Spikings is the volunteer coordinator for the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Emergency Department’s Patient Liaison program, which provides emergency rooms with 50 volunteers. She also volunteers in UCLA’s Spiritual Care Office as a Eucharistic minister in the hospital as well as at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Westwood. In addition, she volunteers at Brotman Memorial Hospital’s Acute Rehab Division.
Spikings loves creating connections with people and travel, most recently to India.
Spikings holds an associate’s degree in child development from Valley Junior College. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from UCLA, graduating as a non-traditional student in 1994 at the age of 48.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-5815
Wayne Tam is the director of technology for the UCLA Alumni Association, and has worked in the Web technology field since 2000.
Tam’s areas of expertise include leveraging technology to improve work flow processes, building personalized e-mail messages, managing programmers, developing and maintaining e-commerce technology and Web content management systems, data management and Web security management.
A graduate of UCLA, Tam holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
Tam is a native of Southern California.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-1995
Before joining the UCLA Alumni Association as director of Bruin Careers, Nick Theodorou served as associate director of major gifts for the UCLA Athletic Department, where he amassed nearly four years of fundraising experience. In addition, he has two years experience in career coaching and career placement, including marketing, membership, design and marketing communications.
Theodorou is a life member of the Alumni Association, member of the Bruin Varsity Club and his church, as well as a voting member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Relationship building is among Theodorou’s areas of expertise as a result of the many years he spent as a player on professional baseball teams, his experience as a career coach and his extensive interaction with donors to the UCLA Athletic Department. His other areas of expertise include team building, leadership development, strategic planning, targeted and constituency-based marketing and communication.
A graduate of UCLA, Theodorou earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1998. He is a native of Rialto, Calif.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0609
Lily Tsau manages, oversees and serves as liaison to local, national, international and diversity networks. She is a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.
Prior to returning to her alma mater and assuming her current position, Tsau was owner and president of Professional Assessment for Gainful Employment, providing career development to the disabled and disadvantaged. She has worked for more than 20 years in the nonprofit industry and more than 10 years in volunteer management. She is past president of the Asian Business Association, a nonprofit professional organization for owners of small- to medium-size businesses. Her other community service activities include participation in Christmas in April/Rebuilding L.A. and Citizens’ Oversight Committee for Los Angeles Southwest College; service as board member and newsletter editor for her homeowners association; and member of the Children’s Commission of Rolling Hills Covenant Church.
Tsau has been a guest speaker for various programs including the graduate program at California State University, Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Her areas of expertise include organizational leadership, team development, volunteer management and public speaking.
Tsau holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology. A transplant from Taipei, Taiwan, she currently resides in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.
E-mail | Phone: 310-794-6393
Teresa Valenzuela is the senior director for health sciences alumni outreach and director of alumni affairs and outreach for the UCLA School of Nursing. Previously, she was the student services coordinator for the nursing’s Bachelor of Science program. Valenzuela has 17 years of experience in higher education administration, specifically in the offices of Student Affairs and Residential Life.
Valenzuela has participated in the UCLA Professional Development Program and the UC-wide Management Skills Assessment Program. She is also a member of the UCLA Staff Assembly and is former president of the Latino Staff and Faculty Association at UCLA.
Valenzuela’s areas of expertise include academic advising, admissions processing, team building, event planning, leadership development, communications and higher education management.
Valenzuela earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in English literature and Spanish literature from UCLA, a Master of Arts in human development from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena. She also has a certificate in print journalism from UCLA Extension. A native of Mexico, she has resided in Los Angeles most of her life.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0565
Mollie Vehling is the UCLA Spirit director of the Alumni Association. She has been Spirit Squad director since 1999. As a student, she was a member of the UCLA Dance Team for two years.
Vehling is certified by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators and is frequently a judge for competitions and auditions throughout the nation. She has worked with Championship Productions, helping produce a series of instructional cheer and dance DVDs. She has more than 25 years of experience and training in dance, choreography, producing and directing, and is thrilled to be working with the UCLA program.
Vehling has traveled with the program to Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai. She choreographed and coordinated the productions for each of these international trips.
Vehling earned her bachelor of arts in dance from the UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures. She was raised in Southern California and currently resides in Woodland Hills.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-8968
Catherine Walker is responsible for the design, production and distribution of a high volume of rich media e-mails, including the UCLA Alumni Association’s largest electronic communication, UCLA Alumni Connect. Specializing in design, she also assists in the daily production of the UCLA Alumni website, performing text, image, graphical and navigational updates.
Walker has more than three decades of experience as a graphic designer, working free-lance for business concerns, municipalities and non-profits. Prior to joining the marketing and communications team, she worked for American Airlines’ Interactive Marketing team as a web content manager and independent contributor to AA.com. She named the branded HTML e-mail “AAirmail.”
A native of New Orleans, Walker studied art at Louisiana State University and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Houston with a concentration in printmaking. She and her husband, Ken, have five daughters and six grandchildren.
E-mail | Phone: 310-794-4025
Valerie Walker is the director of the UCLA Medical Alumni Association. Previously, she was the outreach programs and volunteer coordinator for UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute. Combining professional and personal experience, Walker has more than 15 years of experience in volunteer and board management, and program development.
Her areas of expertise include collaborating with peer institutions and campus departments, creating philanthropic and outreach opportunities, and designing programs that connect alumni to the university and fellow alumni.
A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Walker holds a bachelor’s degree in communications. She has also earned a professional clear multiple subject CLAD teaching credential from California State University, Northridge.
Walker is a native of Los Angeles.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0542
As associate director of business development at the UCLA Alumni Association, Gregory Ware plays an integral part in creating and managing the Association’s corporate partnerships as well as supervising the advertisement efforts for UCLA Magazine. Ware brings an avant-garde perspective to the organization, understanding the importance of integrated marketing and brand alignment.
Previously, Ware was entertainment marketing coordinator for the trendy cell phone provider Boost Mobile. While there, he assessed product placement opportunities in film, television, music and sports. Ware maintains those entertainment ties, leveraging his resources to help create more robust programming for current UCLA students and alumni.
Ware is a graduate of Pitzer College, one of the Claremont Colleges. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political studies with a minor in sociology. He plans to pursue his M.B.A. in marketing or entertainment management.
Ware was born in Los Angeles but spent most of his childhood in The Big Easy - New Orleans.
E-mail | Phone: 310-825-0945
Samantha West is the associate director, alumni marketing and membership. She has worked in marketing communications since 2000. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, also her hometown. While on campus, she helped lead efforts to ensure fair working conditions for workers who produce university logo apparel.
After graduation, West’s passion and enthusiasm drove her to Washington D.C. Four years later, opportunity and her now-husband led her to Los Angeles.
Before coming to UCLA, West worked for a variety of large nonprofit organizations including the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Service Employees International Union and Writer’s Guild of America. Her areas of expertise include strategic communications planning, online marketing campaigns and interest-based negotiations.
West recently received a certificate in general management from the UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Program. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer, participating in the Step Up Women’s Network and working in her community and at UCLA to improve environmental sustainability.
E-mail | Phone: 310-206-0663
Michelle Weyek is an associate director and Alumni Scholars Club advisor for the UCLA Alumni Association. Previously, she was the graduate assistant for the Center for Community Involvement, an outreach department of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif.
Weyek has experience supervising students and volunteers at the university level and in hospitality sales and marketing. Her areas of expertise include student leadership development, special event planning, volunteer management and higher education management.
A graduate of University of the Pacific, Weyek holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She also earned a master’s degree in education administration, specializing in student affairs, from University of the Pacific.
Weyek is a member of the Aloha O’ Hawaii Club and is a native of Sanger, Calif.
E-mail | Phone: 310-825-5188
Ashli Wolf is the director of Bruin recruitment at the UCLA Alumni Association. She is thrilled to lead this new and exciting initiative, selecting exceptional UCLA alumni to recruit future Bruins.
Wolf studied at The University of Texas at Arlington and The University of Alabama while building her professional career as an entrepreneur, owning and operating multiple businesses. This experience afforded her the opportunity to join many local, state and national organizations and accept a leadership role with many.
A true “southern girl,” Wolf is originally from Louisiana. She and her family are proud to be part of the Bruin family.
E-mail | Phone: 310-795-0946
Selwyn Yeh is the office manager of Alumni Association finance and administration. Previously, he worked as an alumni services representative for one year and for four years as a student assistant with the alumni center management team.
Yeh serves as director of events for the Asian Pacific Alumni UCLA putting on mixers and events for alumni and friends. He also is an avid supporter of Bruin athletics.
A graduate of UCLA, Yeh holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in both economics and Chinese. As a UCLA student, he was involved actively with various student groups as well as an educational outreach project that served underprivileged youth. Community involvement has become a passion that he wants to continue pursuing.
Yeh is a native of Chico and Fountain Valley, Calif.
