2nd Act Academy
You’ve Built a Life. Now Design What’s Next.
At UCLA, we're inspired to ask daring questions, challenge assumptions, pursue discovery and imagine new possibilities. This motivation stays with us beyond graduation as we develop our careers, care for loved ones, and broaden our skills and impact. Our True Bruin Values, which form the basis of a lifelong commitment to excellence, curiosity and growth, encourage us to reevaluate our contributions, embrace new challenges and confront difficult questions.
Who am I beyond my professional role? How do I want to spend my time now? What still calls to me? What would make this next season feel purposeful and alive?
The 2nd Act Academy offers Bruins 50 and older a six-week program that combines expert advice, reflection, small-group discussions and planning to help you channel your curiosity and ambition. The environment is structured and supportive, bringing together UCLA faculty, alumni voices and subject-matter specialists to provide a rich blend of research, real-world insights and practical guidance for your next chapter.
Whether you are considering a new path, noticing shifts in your time, talents and energy, planning for retirement or recently retired, this program offers a space to reflect and move forward alongside alumni who are navigating similar transitions.
Dates, Fees & Registration
The 2nd Act Academy includes five weekly online sessions of 90 minutes each, followed by a two-hour in-person gathering at UCLA. (Additional options might be offered for those who cannot attend in person.)
Virtual sessions:
Dates: Sept. 3, Sept. 10, Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1
Time: Noon–1:30 p.m. PT
In-person closing gathering:
Date: Oct. 15
Time: Noon–3 p.m. at UCLA
Cohort size: Limited to 50 participants
Cost: $100
Registration deadline: Aug. 28
Eligibility: UCLA alumni ages 50 and over
Waitlist: A waitlist will be available if the cohort fills
Format: Live online sessions, small peer pods, reflection exercises and a closing campus experience
A limited number of reduced-fee spaces may be available. Please contact secondact@support.ucla.edu for the waiver application form.
Who Should Attend:
UCLA Alumni 50 and over who are...
- Asking what comes next
- Considering an encore career, consulting or a creative pursuit
- Seeking more purpose in their current work or life
- Adjusting to changes in family, caregiving or community roles
- Interested in mentoring, volunteering or giving back
- Looking for renewed intellectual engagement
- Ready to make thoughtful decisions about how to spend their time, talents and energy
- Planning to retire in the next few years
- Recently retired
You do not need a detailed plan to join; simply bring curiosity, openness, and a willingness to reflect with others.
Weekly Session Topics and Facilitators
Week 1: Orientation and Rethinking Aging - A New Lens on the Second Half
The program begins by challenging outdated ideas about aging and retirement, encouraging participants to view the second half of life as a time of growth, contribution and integration. It prompts reflection on youthful expectations and current opportunities.
Ayesha Dixon, senior director of the UCLA Emeriti/Retirees Relations Center, brings more than a decade of experience in aging, advocacy, civic engagement and program development across the public and private sectors. With graduate training in public administration and gerontology, she focuses on positive aging, community-centered programming and helping people remain supported, connected and engaged through wellness, economic sustainability, social responsibility and civic engagement.
Week 2: Identity Shifts — Holding On and Letting Go
Major life changes prompt us to reconsider our sense of self beyond titles and roles. This session explores identity beyond careers, parenting and caregiving. Participants will reflect on their past vocations, those they may let go of and the new paths they want to pursue.
Bill Benson ’87, LMFT, LPCC, is a psychotherapist and founder of The Mental Gym, a Los Angeles-based private practice that supports high-achieving, career-oriented individuals through major life transitions. His work focuses on conflict resolution and career clarity, helping clients explore identity, purpose and fulfillment beyond professional roles, parenting and long-held responsibilities.
Week 3: Time and Priorities – Uncovering Deeper Meaning
As our relationship with time evolves, so do our priorities. This session emphasizes making intentional choices about what deserves attention, energy and care. Participants will reflect on what invigorates or drains them and what it means to spend time well.
Cassie Mogilner Holmes, a professor of marketing and behavioral decision making at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, focuses her research on happiness, time and well-being. Her studies examine how individuals can use their time to create meaning and build connections. She developed and teaches the popular course Applying the Science of Happiness to Life Design at UCLA Anderson. She is also the bestselling author of “Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most.”
Week 4: Strength and Wisdom – Making Your Unique Contribution
Your experience has value. This session helps participants recognize their strengths and skills and learn how to apply them in new ways. They will explore opportunities such as mentorship, teaching, volunteering, board service and community involvement.
Fernando Torres-Gil, a professor of social welfare and public policy at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, is a nationally recognized scholar and policy expert. His work focuses on aging, public policy, long-term care, disability and retirement. His position at UCLA and his service as U.S. assistant secretary on aging provide him with extensive insight into the challenges and societal effects of an aging population.
Week 5: Life Design – Mapping Your Next Chapter
This session shifts focus from reflection to action. Using principles of life design and experimentation, participants start shaping their next-phase scenarios. Instead of making a single all-or-nothing decision, you'll find low-risk ways to test ideas, explore options and take concrete steps.
Emily Baxt ’92, M.A., LPCC, is a career counselor and coach committed to helping individuals identify their strengths, set goals and see how their skills can make a positive difference in the world. She is a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Master Practitioner, a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, and a qualified Strong Interest Inventory administrator. Baxt provides practical tools to help participants discover meaningful next steps.
Week 6: Legacy and Connection – Strategies for Staying Engaged
The program ends with an in-person gathering focused on connection, sharing and celebration. It includes a UCLA faculty keynote, small-group reflections, storytelling, networking sessions, a certificate presentation and opportunities for ongoing engagement.
Alan Castel, a professor in the UCLA Department of Psychology, focuses on learning, memory and aging, emphasizing how people prioritize what matters most in their memories. An acclaimed teacher and author of "Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging," he offers research-based insights into thoughtful aging, purpose and memory, guiding us toward a meaningful life.
Introducing the Program Guide
Alyson Beckman, Director of Alumni Career Engagement, will serve as the program guide for the 2nd Act Academy, facilitating connections during each weekly session and supporting participants throughout the six-week program.
Peer Pod Discussions
One of the Academy's most valuable aspects is the chance to think alongside Bruins who are asking similar questions. Participants will be placed in five-member peer pods that provide a consistent space for honest conversation, shared insight and mutual encouragement. These pods will meet during weekly breakout sessions and may maintain connections through informal check-ins or coffee chats outside scheduled times to foster relationships that extend beyond the six-week program.
What You’ll Gain
At the end of the 2nd Act Academy, participants will leave with the following:
- A reframed perspective on aging, transition and possibility
- A deeper understanding of identity that goes beyond past roles
- A clearer sense of purpose, priorities and contributions
- A journal documenting the experience through reflections.
- Practical tools to support future decisions
- A supportive network of fellow Bruins
- Connections to UCLA programs, volunteer opportunities and lifelong learning resources
- A UCLA 2nd Act Academy certificate of completion for those who attend all sessions
The certificate is not an academic credential. It recognizes completion of an immersive UCLA Alumni educational experience grounded in learning, reflection, community, and intentional planning.
Take the Next Step
You have spent years building a life focused on knowledge, relationships, purpose, and experience. Now, you can shape what’s next. Join a community of Bruins eager to reflect deeply, think broadly, and move forward with purpose.
Questions? Email secondact@alumni.ucla.edu.
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