Gold Shield, Alumnae of UCLA

Supporting scholars

More than 1,000 students have benefited from our undergraduate scholarships, Ethnic Studies graduate fellowships, summer internships, and mentoring.

Donate

Honoring faculty

Since 1986, Gold Shield has recognized outstanding faculty with the Faculty Prize. This year’s $35,000 prize will go to a professor from south campus.

Learn more

Membership

Gold Shield is nearly 150 women strong, supporting students and faculty through mentorship, scholarships, and service. New members are welcomed each spring.

Get Involved

our story

Gold Shield, Alumnae of UCLA, is an honorary organization of UCLA alumnae who are distinguished leaders, dedicated to making meaningful contributions to the university. While membership begins as a commitment to UCLA, it quickly becomes something more — a connection to a dynamic network of accomplished women who inspire and support one another.

Our mission promotes and sustains university excellence through financial support, service, and mentorship, and to enrich the Bruin community.

Our work reflects values that guide both our internal culture and our external impact:
Innovation – Striving for excellence and relevance through collaboration and forward-thinking service
Inclusion – Building a welcoming, diverse, and respectful community
Optimism – Approaching challenges with positivity and purpose
Integrity – Acting with honor, transparency, and trust
Friendship – Nurturing connections that span generations

leadership

executive board members

president

Suzy Howell ’75

1^st co-VP – membership

Michellene DeBonis ’86

Kathleen Hirose ’92

2^nd VP – programs

Leah Regan ’06

3^rd VP – finance

Julie Treinen ’81

treasurer

Susan Sagheb ’90

recording secretary

Rachel Kumar ’97

communications officer

Tami Brothers ’84

immediate past president

Anne-Marie Spataru ’78

scholarship and support

our impact and why it matters

Gold Shield’s members play a vital role in advancing the university’s mission and uplifting the people who make UCLA great. We invest in people: with a belief that lasting impact begins with individual opportunity, support, and recognition.

Our financial commitment to UCLA reflects our deep beliefs in the power of education and mentorship to transform lives.

• Over $6.3 million in assets managed through the UCLA Foundation
• Support for more than 1000 scholars with over $3 million previously awarded in scholarships, fellowships, and internships

investing in the next generation

This meaningful financial and personal support to UCLA students, helps to ease the burdens of higher education and create pathways to success. Our programs include:

• Undergraduate Scholarships – Supporting students across disciplines with financial awards that make a real difference
• Graduate Fellowships in Ethnic Studies – Encouraging academic leadership in areas that deepen UCLA’s inclusive excellence
• Stipends for Ethnic Studies Summer Internships – Enabling students to gain real-world experience while advancing equity and cultural understanding
• Personalized Mentorship – Connecting students with accomplished alumnae for guidance, support, and inspiration

Together, these initiatives help Bruins thrive — academically, professionally, and personally.

a tradition of generosity, a commitment to the future

Our impact is not only measured in dollars, it’s reflected in the lives we help shape, the communities we strengthen, and the university we continue to champion. With your help, Gold Shield can continue to help students achieve their dream…and invest in our future.

gold shield faculty prize

$35,000 Unrestricted Award for Academic Excellence

Gold Shield Alumnae of UCLA established the Faculty Prize in 1986 to honor outstanding teaching with recognition and a meaningful monetary award—one that could make a real difference in the lives of outstanding faculty in the middle of their academic careers.

Awarded annually, the Gold Shield Faculty Prize recognizes a UCLA faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional achievement in undergraduate teaching, research or creative work, and service to the university. Since its inception, 30 remarkable faculty members have received this honor.

The prize alternates each year between north and south campus disciplines at UCLA on alternating years. Congratulations to Professor Leisy Abrego, Chicana/o and Central American Studies, who was awarded the Faculty Prize this year and was featured in the UCLA Newsroom.

In 2027, the Gold Shield Faculty Prize will recognize a faculty member representing a discipline from a school or department of the south campus of UCLA.

nominating criteria

The recipient of the award must be a mid-career full professor (Step I through V) who has a distinguished record of undergraduate teaching and a terminal degree for at least ten years. Additional criteria include extraordinary accomplishment and promise in research or creative activity, evidence of service to the university, and a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

nomination instructions

To be considered for the award, faculty must be nominated by a UCLA colleague. A complete list of nomination requirements, instructions, and selection criteria are detailed in the Gold Shield Faculty Prize nomination packet, which may be viewed or downloaded by clicking the link below.

membership

Since our founding in 1936, Gold Shield alumnae have built distinguished careers, given generously to their communities, and remained committed to UCLA long after graduation. Today, we’re nearly 150 women strong, supporting current students through mentorship and scholarship funding, and recognizing and celebrating outstanding faculty through the Gold Shield Faculty Prize.

As a member, you will:

• Reconnect with UCLA and with a network of accomplished women across generations
• Have a direct hand in supporting students and faculty
• Gather at four signature events on campus each year, where you hear from the students and faculty your support impacts, and connect with like-minded women.

Learn more about what membership involves: