Articles
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UCLA AAP Alumni Spotlight - Lena Hines '99 , J.D. '02
Q&A WITH LENA HINES Class: What year did you graduate, and what degree did you earn? 1999 (B.A.); 2002 (J.D.) Major / Minor: What was your major (and minor, if applicable)? English Literature Major Current role, company, industry: Can you tell us about your current professional role, the company you're with, and the…
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Faculty on Tour: Amy Mainzer - From Space Telescopes to Global Adventures
Tours to Watch For Amy Mainzer is a planetary scientist at UCLA's Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences and one of the world’s foremost experts on asteroids, comets, and near-Earth objects. With a career that spans major space missions, including her role as principal investigator for NEOWISE, the Earth-orbiting infrared telescope that scanned the…
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How DemocraShe Builds Civic Engagement for All
Sarah Jakle, M.P.P. ’04 (she/her) has always believed that leadership must support the whole human being. Her commitment to women’s civic empowerment began long before she founded her organization DemocraShe, but the seeds were planted in the classrooms and mentorship circles she experienced as a graduate student at UCLA. Jakle studied literature as an undergraduate…
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From Russia With Love for L.A.
(Editor’s note: due to the topics and opinions expressed in this article, we are concealing the identity of the person being interviewed and will refer to her only as Natasha.) One sunny afternoon during a San Fernando Valley alumni networking event, I struck up a conversation with a woman in her late 30s, who was…
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Bruin-Led Businesses: Nonprofits
A s a spinoff from the Bruin-owned Business series, we’re highlighting organizations founded or led by UCLA alumni with a mission towards improving the quality of life in our communities. Whether it’s advancing medical science or promoting the arts, protecting the environment or fighting for justice, we owe a debt of gratitude for their work…
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Bruin Excellence in Civic Engagement 2025 Reception Gallery
On Oct. 15, UCLA Alumni Affairs held a reception at the James West Alumni Center for the 2025 honorees of the Bruin Excellence in Civic Engagement, which recognizes exceptional UCLA alumni serving in civic leadership positions. These Bruins are making a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing a combination of knowledge,…
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Earliest Known Pilipino Bruins at UCLA
Cosmopolitan Club 1922-23 (Note: Pilipino and Filipino are used interchangeably in this article and mean the same thing. Philippine locals use Pilipino because there is no phonetic equivalent to the letter "F" in the Philippine Islands’ indigenous languages.) I n honor of Filipino American History Month, we’re following up on an article published in the…
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Story of Support, Professor Terry Kramer
In a classroom of roughly thirty students, each pair of eyes stays fixed on Professor Terry Kramer ’82. They’re enthralled by his words as he animates his lessons, pacing from whiteboard to desk and back again with each new idea. The atmosphere is charged. These UCLA Anderson students know that at any moment they could…
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From UCLA to CEO: Shirley Torres '03 on Healing, Kinship and Leading Homeboy Industries
In August 2025, the UCLA Alumni Affairs Diversity Programs and Initiatives team interviewed Shirley Torres ’03 for the Diversity Digest in connection with the sold-out event Changemakers 2025: Radical Kinship in Action - A Day at Homeboy Industries . Additionally, a Bruin story video highlighting Torres’ story of kinship was produced by the Digital Engagement…
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Books by Bruins: Research
R esearch is at the heart of the work of UCLA, advancing knowledge and generating transformative breakthroughs. This month’s books highlight alumni who continue to use research in their chosen field - from science to the humanities, and from the art of dance to the study of the human brain. Research-Based Strategies to Ignite Student…
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UCLA’s Latest Research and Breakthroughs Shaping the Future
World’s First Human Bladder Transplant Restores Hope and Quality of Life Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Summary:In a groundbreaking medical achievement, surgeons at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center, led by Dr. Nima Nassiri, successfully performed the first-ever human bladder transplant. The eight-hour procedure replaced a nonfunctioning bladder with a healthy donor organ, restoring urinary function…
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Bruin Family Connect
Dear Bruin Parents and Families, My name is Steve Lurie, and I am the inaugural Associate Vice Chancellor, leading UCLA’s new office of Campus and Community Safety. The Bruin Family Connect Newsletter has offered me the opportunity to introduce myself and my teams, share our philosophy on a holistic approach to safety on campus, and…
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story of impact: how one alum is helping Bruins find peace - Sharon Chen ’06
In the middle of UCLA’s bustling campus, where solitude is scarce and silence even more so, Sharon Chen ’06 is offering students a rare commodity: the freedom to pause. Her solution is simple: a private, sound-dampended pod where students can step away from noise and simply be alone. Chen, a Business Economics alumna, didn’t come…
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Changemakers 2025 – Radical Kinship in Action: A Day at Homeboy Industries
Take a look back at Changemakers 2025: Radical Kinship in Action, held Friday, Oct. 17, at Homeboy Industries, the world’s largest gang rehabilitation and reentry program. Through a guided tour and conversations with Homeboy leadership — including co-CEO Shirley Torres ’03 — participants explored how hope, community, and wraparound services can transform lives. From social…
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new bruin send-offs 2025 San Mateo
UCLA Alumni Affairs was thrilled to host one of our favorite summer traditions — New Bruin Send-offs! The San Mateo Send-off was an unforgettable gathering where incoming students, families, and alumni came together to celebrate the start of their Bruin story. Hosted by alumni and UCLA families, the event brought everyone together for a lively…
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new bruin send-offs 2025 Campbell
UCLA Alumni Affairs was delighted to celebrate one of our favorite summer traditions — the New Bruin Send-offs! The Campbell Send-off offered an unforgettable afternoon where incoming students, families, and alumni gathered to mark the beginning of each student’s Bruin story. Hosted by dedicated alumni and UCLA families, the event was filled with Bruin pride,…
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Musical Bruins: Vol. 1
F rom rock legends to indie trailblazers, UCLA has been home to musical icons like Jim Morrison of The Doors, composer John Williams ’53 and pop sensation Sara Bareilles ’03. Whether scoring blockbuster films, performing in chart-topping bands or producing genre-bending tracks, Bruins prove that the spirit of creativity thrives long after graduation. In this…
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Big Ten Alumni Relations Institute at UCLA
T he 2025 Big Ten Alumni Relations Institute (BTARI) was hosted by UCLA from July 21–23, and was a significant moment for the Bruins as UCLA capped its first year in the Big Ten Conference. Held at the James West Alumni Center in Westwood, the three-day gathering brought together alumni relations professionals from across Big…
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Get the Answers From College Fairs Volunteers
O f the many ways that UCLA alums give back to their alma mater, one of the most rewarding, but, perhaps, least known, is volunteering at college fairs. These events, organized by UCLA Admission, are held at community colleges and highs schools throughout California from August to November each year; 65 such fairs were held…
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Books by Bruins: Summer Reading
W hether you’re sitting by the pool, lounging on the beach or beating the heat indoors, curling up with a good book just might be the perfect summer escape. From memoirs by UCLA athletes to intriguing mysteries and page-turning novels, pick up one of these Bruin books for your reading pleasure. FICTION Liquid, A Love…
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Big Ten® Alumni Relations Institute (BTARI) 2025 - Day 1
BTARI is a three-day gathering of alumni relations professionals from across the Big Ten® that explore emerging trends, share innovative strategies and build meaningful connections. These are images captured from the first day of BTARI.
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Grad Cap Contest Winner - 2025
Congratulations Anoushka Bhat '25 "During my freshman year at UCLA, I founded Henna with a Heart, a club dedicated to sharing the art of henna with my fellow Bruins. What began as a small group of students quickly grew into a vibrant community cherished by many across campus. Through this organization, I developed as a leader,…
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A Big Ten Bruinprint: UCLA’s Bold New Era
A Bold Leap and a Historic Year When UCLA officially joined the Big Ten Conference on Aug. 2, 2024, it didn’t just shuffle opponents and game times — it stepped boldly into a new era of Bruin athletics. For nearly 100 years, the Bruins called the Pac-12 home. Leaving behind decades of tradition wasn’t easy,…
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Mary Nguyen M.P.P.’23, M.S.W. ’23: Championing Social Justice and Policy Reform
Mary Nguyen (she/her) has always been driven by a passion for community advocacy. Growing up in Garden Grove and later Stanton, she was surrounded by a diverse cultural community that shaped her awareness of social and economic disparities. As a first-generation college graduate, Nguyen pursued a degree in Human Services at Cal State Fullerton before…
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Travel Journal - Cruise The Heart Of Europe 2025
May 6 - 21, 2025 Photos taken by the tour group U UCLA Alumni Travel cruised through the heart of Europe on a 14-night journey along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Bruins explored five countries: The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, with stops in iconic cities like Vienna, Budapest and Amsterdam. Alumni enjoyed…
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