Board of Directors 2019-20

President

Cheryl M. Lott ’01, J.D. ’04 

Cheryl Lott ’01, J.D. ’04Cheryl Lott represents corporate clients, banks, mortgage companies and other financial institutions in both state and federal court. Her practice focuses on general business and commercial litigation, as well as construction defect litigation, toxic tort defense, class action defense, special assets related litigation, and labor and employment litigation. She has significant experience in preparing all aspects of a case for trial or arbitration. Cheryl also has extensive experience working on local, state, and federal regulatory matters and government procurement matters. In the regulatory realm, she has significant experience assisting financial institution clients with Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering detection procedures. Cheryl chairs the Firm’s Pro Bono Committee and a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Litigation Section Executive Committee.

While at UCLA Law, Cheryl was awarded scholarships for academic achievement all three years of her law school career. Additionally, she served as co-chair for the Black Law Students Association, inter-organizational chair for La Raza Law Students Association, managing editor for the Chicano Latino Law Review and convention coordinator for the National Black Law Students Association-Western Region. Cheryl is a member of the UCLA School of Law Alumni Board and is a founding member of the UCLA Law Women LEAD Board. Cheryl received her B.A. in political science and African American studies, with a minor in Chicano studies at UCLA.

Cheryl is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Connect with Cheryl on UCLA ONE.

President-Elect

D’Artagnan Scorza '07, Ph.D. '13 

D’Artagnan Scorza is the founder and executive director of the Social Justice Learning Institute in Inglewood and a member of the Board of Education for the Inglewood Unified School District. Obtaining his Ph.D. in education from UCLA, he developed curriculum culturally relevant for African-American male youth and worked to reduce recidivism, imprisonment and death rates in the community. In 2016, D’Artagnan was the recipient of the Alumni Association’s Recent Graduate Achievement Award. He was appointed as a representative on the Chancellor’s Enrollment Advisory Committee and was a member of the Alliance for Equal Opportunity in Education and the UCLA Task Force on African American Enrollment. He served as a UC Student Regent from 2007-2009 and was selected as an Education Pioneers Fellow in 2010 and a Business Alliance for Local Living Economies Fellow for 2013-2014.

D’Artagnan’s research and policy experience extends throughout the state, creating policies that established veteran’s service centers across UC campuses, prioritized $160 million for student services, improved sustainability in Inglewood schools and expanded programs for boys and men of color throughout Los Angeles County. He served as the chair on the Measure GG campaign securing $90 million in school construction bonds as well as matching funds, bringing the total construction program to $123 million. D’Artagnan is a decorated US Navy Iraq-War Veteran and serves on the honorary board of UCLA VetNet.

D’Artagnan is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Connect with D’Artagnan on UCLA ONE.

Secretary

Lynn O’Connell ’83 

Lynn O'Connell '83For nearly 20 years, Lynn O’Connell has been the creative director at One&All (formerly Grizzard Communications) where she leads a team of designers, writers and content developers providing marketing and fundraising strategies for the nonprofit sector. Her expertise is in integrated marketing, creative strategy, content development and brand alignment, as well as direct response advertising. Lynn feels fortunate to be able to turn her commitment to nonprofits into measurable action by developing customers’ stories into effective integrated campaigns and has helped raise more than $1 billion to date. Before joining One&All, she spent 10 years as the principle of Nomura Design.

Lynn has been a board director of the UCLA Alumni Association since 2013 and has served on the Finance and Nominations committees, as well as the Centennial Task Force. This will be her second term as secretary. She is also on the Board of Advisors for Grades of Green, which inspires and empowers kids and the broader school community to care for the environment.

Lynn has a degree in design from the School of the Arts and Architecture and is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Connect with Lynn on UCLA ONE.

Treasurer

Todd A. Sargent '96 

Todd Sargent leads talent and organizational development solutions for The Walt Disney Company's Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products segment, solving complex human capital challenges and implementing innovative change strategies. Prior to his role at Disney, he spent 16 years in the management consulting industry. He recently served for five years as president the City of Los Angeles Innovation and Performance Commission and is now a board member of the City of Los Angeles Civil Service Commission.

As a student, Todd was a leader in the Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC), Office of Residential Life (ORL), Student Alumni Association (SAA), and a founding father of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. Todd received the UCLA Chancellor’s Service Award at graduation. He remained involved as an Alumni Scholar Mentor, Alumni Representative for USAC, co-chair of Lambda Alumni Network, and Advocate (President) of the Order of the Golden Bruin (OGB). He regularly participates in a number of Alumni Association programs, including Dinner for 12 Strangers, Interview with a Bruin, and Entertainment Networking Night. This is his second term with the UCLA Alumni Association Board. In addition to his UCLA degree in political science, Todd holds an MBA from the George Washington School of Business.

Todd is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Connect with Todd on UCLA ONE.

General Counsel

Melvin N.A. Avanzado '84 

Melvin N.A. Avanzado '84Melvin N.A. Avanzado has 30 years of experience representing companies and individuals, plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil litigation. He began his career at Latham & Watkins and since 2008 has been serving clients from his own firm, The Avanzado Law Firm, APLC. An accomplished trial lawyer and litigator, Mel represents clients in entertainment, intellectual property, media, sports, employment, real estate and business disputes. Mel has also served certain clients as outside general counsel, providing advice on a wide range of legal issues and transactions. Recently, Mel joined the Legal Network for Gender Equity, a network of lawyers organized by the National Women’s Law Center, to combat sexual discrimination in furtherance of the “Time’s Up” movement.

Mel has an established history of commitment to community service and advocacy for diversity. Mel was a longtime member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) Committee on Diversity in the Profession. Mel is a founding member of the Executive Committee of the Apl.de.Ap Foundation International, an organization devoted to advancing the interests of Filipinos both in the Philippines and the United States. Mel’s community service also includes stints on the Board of Directors of the Asian Business Association, the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA) Board of Governors, as the founding CEO of the PABA Foundation and as president of the Asian / Pacific Bar of California.

As a leader in the Asian-American and Filipino-American communities in advocating for increased diversity in judicial appointments, Mel testified before the Commission on Judicial Appointments in support of the nomination of the Honorable Tani Cantil-Sakauye to become the 28th Chief Justice of California. In addition, Mel has led coalitions of Asian-American leaders in meetings with the Governor‘s office concerning his judicial appointments. Finally, Mel served on LACBA’s Judicial Appointments Committee, which reviews potential candidates for appointment to the bench and makes recommendations to the Governor.

Mel earned his bachelor of science degree in microbiology from UCLA and his juris doctor degree cum laude from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Mel is a proud alumnus of the UCLA Bruin Marching Band (and the UCLA Drumline) and is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Connect with Mel on UCLA ONE.

CEO & Associate Vice Chancellor, Alumni Affairs

Julie Sina 

Connect with Julie on UCLA ONE.

Chief Financial Officer

Lea Howe 

Connect with Lea on UCLA ONE.

Directors

John Arboleda ’96 

John Arboleda '96John Arboleda has been based in Europe since 2004, and currently resides in Barcelona, Spain, where he serves as the Head of Primary & Secondary (K12) Education across EMEA (Europe Middle East and Africa) for Adobe. In his role John engages and collaborates with Adobe education teams, customers and partners to deliver growth in the education sector across EMEA.

Prior to Adobe, John’s experience spans a 20+ year career in international education, and most recently served as the Director of Special Projects & Innovation at one of Europe’s leading design schools, Istituto Europeo di Design (IED). And, for several years he owned and operated a consultancy that applied human-centered innovation using service design focused on helping clients to develop a more user-centric approach. John has also held leadership roles at ESADE Business School (Spain), University of California Office of the President, and Goethe University (Germany).

John has served for two years as the Alumni Relations co-chair and planning committee member for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Europe Annual Conference, as a founding committee member for the ICARe alumni conference and was also co-chaired for the CASE International K12 Schools Advancement Conference.

John graduated from the Coro Fellowship in Leadership & Public Affairs, and is a UCLA first-gen, transfer and study abroad student that graduated cum laude with a degree in Latin American Studies.

John is a Gold Member of the UCLA Alumni Association.

Connect with John on UCLA ONE.

 

Mitra Best ’87 

Mitra M. Best graduated from UCLA with a degree in Computer Science and Linguistics and is currently the U.S. Innovation Leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where she leads the disciplined approach to inspire and advance innovative ideas around developing new business models, platforms, and market opportunities that extend the boundaries of professional services.

She leads teams that co-create solutions across the organization and through prototyping, leveraging emerging technologies and applying agile methodologies, aspire to shape the future of PwC and its clients.

A major part of Ms Best’s effort is focused on promoting an idea-driven culture -- top-down and bottom-up -- where actionable ideas and entrepreneurial thinking are not only supported, but rewarded. Through fostering this mindset, Best has helped reinvent the culture at PwC – making it clear that big ideas don’t only start in the boardroom, but instead can come from anywhere and from anyone.

As a thought leader in innovation, Ms Best takes an active role in contributing to and shaping conversation in this space. She is a frequent speaker and panelist at conferences, promoting innovation, collaboration, entrepreneurship, education, and public/private partnerships.

In addition to serving on the board of UCLA Alumni Association, Ms Best serves on the boards of Start-Up UCLA, Colorado Innovation Network, University of Pennsylvania Advisory Council, American Heart Association Go Red For Women, Los Angeles Mayor’s Council on Innovation & Industry, and Facing History & Ourselves.

Ms Best is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Cathy Choi '96 

Cathy Choi '96Cathy Choi is director of programs at The Eisner Foundation, overseeing the planning, strategic development and distribution of $7 million in annual grants. She develops grantee relationships during and after the grant-making process and works to build organizational sustainability among the foundation’s partners, promoting innovative practices and creative solutions to social justice challenges in Los Angeles and beyond.

Cathy has more than 20 years of diverse professional experience in philanthropy and the nonprofit and public sectors. Before joining The Eisner Foundation, she was a program officer at the California Community Foundation (CCF), managing a number of special grant programs covering issues such as access to health care, arts education, youth programs and historic preservation.

Prior to CCF, she was external affairs director at the Korean American Coalition national headquarters where she led advocacy activities on legislative issues affecting the Asian Pacific American communities, such as census outreach and the redistricting process and also served as a deputy to several local and federal elected officials, including former U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra and Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member George Kiriyama.

In addition to her professional experience, Cathy’s volunteer service includes leadership roles with Asian American/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, Southern California Public Radio, Korean American Coalition, the Democratic National Convention (2000) and The Advisory Council on Democratic and Peaceful Unification, Republic of Korea.

Cathy received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from UCLA and Master’s in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs at Syracuse University. During her days at UCLA, Cathy served as Vice President of Undergraduate Business Society (UBS) and an active leader for various campus ministry and community outreach efforts.

Cathy is a Gold Member of the UCLA Alumni Association.

Connect with Cathy on UCLA ONE.

Carlos Collard '03 

Carlos Collard '03Carlos Collard is a former Los Angeles County foster youth and first generation college graduate. At UCLA, he worked and volunteered nearly full-time and earned degrees in communications and political science. Upon graduation, Carlos worked for TBWA\Chiat\Day and started a marketing business to help grow local small businesses.

Due to his desire to serve local communities, Carlos has spent most of his professional life in public service and is currently a senior administrative analyst for the City of Santa Monica’s Public Works Department. He oversees all financial and operations analytics, social media and web content, public outreach, technology advancements, and administrative support for a team of over 100 employees who maintain and enhance Santa Monica’s beach, downtown, 28 parks, and 34,000 public trees. He also serves on citywide committees for technology, homelessness, budget, and co-teaches a course on how to improve research, analysis and presentations.

Carlos has nearly 15 years of nonprofit board and volunteer leadership experience. He founded the City of Los Angeles’ South Robertson Neighborhoods Council to serve over 60,000 stakeholders and remains Los Angeles’ youngest-ever neighborhood council president out of a system of nearly 100 councils. He has also been appointed to commissions by a former Los Angeles mayor and Los Angeles city councilmember and served as board president of California Youth Connection, a statewide nonprofit that provides leadership and advocacy training for foster youth. Currently, he is an advisory board member for the International Foster Care Alliance (IFCA), which promotes collaboration between child welfare professionals and foster youth in the U.S. and Japan, and chairs the young professionals program for the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles (IVCLA), part of a national network that works with the U.S. State Department to host international leaders for professional exchange programs. For UCLA, Carlos serves on the Chancellor’s Society executive committee and chairs the group’s West L.A. volunteer committee. He is also a member of UCLA’s Order of the Blue Shield and Bruin Professionals.

Carlos loves travel and learning about cultures and food. Some of his most memorable fare include cobra’s blood, fermented shark, silkworm larvae, and duck embryo.

Carlos is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Vito Costanzo ’84 

Vito A. Costanzo is a partner in the litigation section of the Los Angeles office of Holland & Knight. He has experience in the litigation of software and technology licensing disputes, infringement and misappropriation of intellectual property rights, trade secrets, breach of contract claims, real property rights, partnership disputes, wrongful termination, and employment discrimination.Costanzo was formerly employed as a trial attorney by the Los Angeles County District Attorneys' office. He has conducted both jury and non-jury trials and appeals, and has practiced before federal and state courts in California, federal courts in other states, the American Arbitration Association, and J.A.M.S./Endispute.

Costanzo has a B.A. in economics from UCLA and a law degree from Loyola Law School.

Costanzo is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Connect with Vito on UCLA ONE.

Max Espinoza, ’99 

Max EspinozaMax Espinoza is currently a senior program officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where his focus is on building the political and public will for education reforms that close opportunity and equity gaps across the United States. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, Espinoza was Senior Vice President of Education Programs & Policy at Scholarship America, providing leadership for the organization’s education programs and establishing a national public policy, advocacy and research agenda.

Espinoza began his professional career in California’s state capital, spending 14 years in key policy making and leadership roles, including serving as a senior advisor to legislative leadership and as an executive leader at the California Student Aid Commission. In the California state legislature, Espinoza shaped state policy and fiscal priorities that advanced equity in postsecondary education access and attainment, including expanding the state’s financial aid programs and strengthening intersegmental transfer. During his time in the California Student Aid Commission, Max successfully revamped the state agency’s support services to students and schools in the multi-billion-dollar Cal Grant program, implementing responsive and technology-enabled student-friendly services.

A first-generation college graduate from a working-class immigrant family, Espinoza holds a bachelor of arts degree from UCLA in history and Chicana/o Studies. As an undergraduate, Espinoza was a campus student leader, serving in numerous capacities including twice being elected by the undergraduate student body to serve as Academic Affairs Commissioner on the Undergraduate Student Association Council. He also served as chairperson of the Campus Retention Committee; as a member of the Student Fee Advisory Committee; and as the 24th University of California Student Regent on the systemwide UC Board of Regents, the first student from UCLA to serve in this capacity in a decade.

In addition to being a member of the UCLA Alumni Association board of directors, Espinoza serves on the board of directors for the National Postsecondary Policy Institute, and as an advisory board member for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership.

Max is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association

Connect with Max on UCLA ONE.

Coretta Harris '83 

Working for both commercial and governmental entities, Coretta Harris leverages the ability to think from a systems perspective to execute systems development processes, ensuring stakeholder needs are satisfied. She is known for her effective systems engineering integration efforts through collaborative leadership and interpersonal skills, communicating fluidly with internal and external contacts at all levels. Key areas of strength are project management, architecture development, functional design, requirements development, requirements analysis, interface development, risk management, as well as requirements verification and validation.

A Gold Member of the UCLA Alumni Association, Coretta has served in a number of volunteer leadership roles including chair of the UCLA Alumni Association Awards Committee and president of the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering Alumni Association Governing Board. Currently, she is chair of the UCLA Gold Shield Alumnae Faculty Prize Committee and is a consultant to the dean at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, advising her on fundraising, student diversity and alumni engagement. A long-time volunteer for the Bunche Scholarship Screening Committee, Community College Transfer Scholarship Committee and at college fairs, she has established the Coretta Harris Alumni Scholarship Fund for incoming freshman and transfer students majoring in engineering and supports the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and Women in Engineering Fund.

Derek Hu ’92 

Derek Hu is currently based in Shanghai, China as the managing partner of Eric Salmon & Partner’s Greater China business, a global executive search and leadership consulting firm. He is a trusted senior advisor to some of the highest quality and most innovative B2B and B2C companies in the US, Europe and China with keen interest in developing senior talent. He sees the rapid advancement in China creating new types of executives.

Derek is passionate about working with senior leaders to solve strategic talent and leadership issues, or when they face pivotal decisions and changes. His deep global expertise across multiple industries have made him a respected advisor to leaders around the world. Not only does he lead high level searches, he advises high-ranking executives on organization and leadership strategies in China.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Derek holds a bachelor of arts degree in English literature from UCLA. During his undergraduate years, he was very active in Student Government as a USAC General Representative as well as being involved with the American Chinese Association. Both Derek and his family have a strong connection with UCLA, as his mother, Myriam, had worked in at UCLA Medical Center.

His passion is in education and culture. In addition to serving on the board of the UCLA Alumni Association, He serves as the co-chair of the Career Advisory Committee. He also sits on the International Advisory Board of the New York Philharmonic. He previously served as a China board member for Teach for China, a nonprofit foundation which helps China’s young people to get access to a quality education.

Derek is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Connect with Derek on UCLA ONE.

Michelle Kim, J.D. ’02 

Michelle Kim is an appointed judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court where she conducts court proceedings and presides over misdemeanor criminal cases, including pre-trial, jury trial and post-conviction matters. Previously, Michelle was a Los Angeles County Public Defender and Alternate Public Defender for 15 years, during which she handled a wide range of criminal cases, jury trials and supervised attorneys. Before attending UCLA School of Law, she was the data manager for the UCLA Women and Family Project, supervising a staff of researchers on a longitudinal study of women and HIV. Michelle also coordinated the statewide Asian Pacific Employment Discrimination Outreach Project at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles).

In addition to her diverse employment experience in the legal field, working for UCLA and at nonprofit organizations, Michelle is active in her community. She has extensive experience leading and serving on boards and committees as well as volunteering at a variety of local organizations including the Girl Scouts of America, Organization Chinese Americans-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team, Asian Pacific Community Fund, Los Angeles County Employees Asian American Association and Los Angeles County Management Council. Currently, Michelle is a Stanford University alumni volunteer interviewer and is a member of several lawyer associations. Michelle is a Gold Member of the UCLA Alumni Association.

Ed Lew, J.D. ’98 


As assistant general counsel at The Walt Disney Company, Ed Lew provides legal support for technology and innovation initiatives across the company. A native of Los Angeles, Lew moved north to attend UC Berkeley, graduating with bachelor of arts degrees in economics and ethnic studies. He had planned to return to Los Angeles, and when he was accepted at UCLA School of Law, it helped him make the transition back home. While at UCLA School of Law, Lew served as the editor-in-chief of the UCLA Asian Pacific American Law Journal (APALJ) and co-chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Law Students Association, as well as co-chair of Southern California Asian Pacific American Law Students Association.After graduating, he met Judge Ernest Hiroshige ’67 through the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County, for which Lew had served as president. Their paths would cross many times over the years, and when Lew finished his term at APABA, Judge Hiroshige, UCLA alumnus and founder of the Asian Pacific Alumni (APA) of UCLA, encouraged him to get involved with APA. He joined the board of the APA UCLA in 2010 and became president in 2014. Since then, he has increased development efforts by organizing the inaugural gala, which provides essential funding to APA UCLA’s operations and scholarship programs. He also launched the organization’s first fundraising gala honoring Randall Park ’97, an event that brought together more than 250 UCLA staff, students, alumni and friends in support of APA UCLA’s programs and initiatives.In 2009, Lew served as president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) of Los Angeles County, and he remains active as a member of its advisory board. In 2008 and from 2011-2013, Lew also served as president of OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates – Greater Los Angeles, the local chapter of a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans.Lew received the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s Best Under 40 Award, the Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center’s Community Leadership Award, the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association’s Distinguished Service Award, and the UCLA School of Law’s Asian Pacific Islander Law Students Association’s Alumnus of the Year Award. He currently serves on the pro bono advisory council of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, on the advisory board of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County, and as national executive vice president of OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates.Lew was the recipient of the 2016 UCLA Volunteer of the Year award and has helped to develop leaders in the UCLA community and strengthen alumni engagement.Lew is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Christine MacLaughlin ’83 

Christine MacLaughlin is the chief marketing officer and vice president for IBM Global Financing, leading a marketing team that supports the world’s largest IT captive financier with a total asset base of $41 billion and clients in 39 countries. Using data-driven approaches and agile methodologies, she translates business strategies into effective marketing plans and develops support organizations and teams. Christine has worldwide business experience in advertising, strategic planning, marketing campaigns, distribution channels and field marketing. In her 20+ years at IBM she has held a number of marketing leadership positions in IBM Cloud Services, Global Business Partners, Global Markets and Corporate Marketing. In addition, she managed IBM’s worldwide Centennial Celebration program for clients, community partners and 400,000+ employees. Prior to joining IBM, she was a partner with Ogilvy & Mather where she developed brand-building advertising for global companies including American Express, IBM and Time Inc.

A Gold Member of the UCLA Alumni Association, Christine has been a member of the UCLA Prytanean Alumnae Network for 35 years and has served on the leadership board. While based in the Middle East, she was the UCLA Alumni Network contact in the United Arab Emirates and has participated in the “Dinner for 12 Strangers” program and “UCLA on the Road” events. While an undergraduate at UCLA, she was president of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and was selected for The Order of Omega, a National leadership honor society. Her other volunteer activities include serving as a pro-bono consultant with the IBM Executive Service Corps in South Africa where she focused on economic development, advisory board member for the Fishlinger Center for Public Policy at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York, fundraising committee chairman and a member of the New York Junior League, and mentor for the Student Sponsor Partners program in New York, helping high school students reach their highest potential through education.

Jaime Nack ’98, M.P.P. ’02 

Jaime Nack is the president of Three Squares, Inc., a cutting-edge sustainability consulting firm specializing in developing comprehensive sustainability plans for corporate entities, government agencies and academic institutions. Nack is one of the nation’s most prominent environmental experts and has advised many Fortune 500 companies, cities, and large-scale events. Most notably, Nack served as the Director of Sustainability and Greening Operations for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, marking the first time in history where measures were taken to reduce the environmental impact of the event on the host city. The greening effort was unprecedented in scale and has evolved into an industry case study for best practices in event greening, influencing the creation of event industry standards, like ISO 20121. Nack went on to implement sustainability plans for the 2012 and 2016 Democratic National Conventions, as well as, many other high-profile events, including the ESPY Awards. Nack led TSI’s efforts to become the first firm in the U.S. to earn certification to ISO 20121. In 2018, Nack served as the Director of Sustainability for the Global Climate Action Summit - co-chaired by CA Governor Jerry Brown, Michael Bloomberg, UNFCCC's Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, and Anand Mahindra.

Nack was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. She received an appointment under the Obama administration to serve on the National Women’s Business Council, an advisory council to the President, Congress and the SBA on economic issues of importance to women business owners.

Nack speaks to audiences around the world about the business case for sustainability and its impact on the future of the global marketplace. She proudly serves as one of Vice President Al Gore’s presenters for The Climate Reality Project.

Nack is a double Bruin, having earned her bachelor’s degree in international economics with a minor in public policy as well as a master’s degree in public policy from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

Jaime is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Connect with Jaime on UCLA ONE.

Sahil Punamia '13 

Sahil Punamia '13Sahil Punamia recently moved to industry leader Netflix, after working as a senior manager at Discovery Communications where he helped lead the ~$15B integration of Scripps Networks (HGTV, Food Network), drove business planning efforts for direct-to-consumer products and provided strategic and analytical guidance to the company’s social media teams. Prior to Discovery, Sahil was a management consultant at L.E.K. Consulting where he served private equity and media clients.

During his time at UCLA as an undergraduate student, Sahil and his peers founded Sigma Eta Pi, the West Coast’s first professional fraternity focused on the development of entrepreneurs whose members have been featured in Forbes’ “30 Under 30” and have been backed by Y-Combinator and leading VC firms. The fraternity has since expanded from UCLA to USC, Cal, Stanford and now totals over 200 members. A cum laude graduate, Sahil also received the Chancellor’s Service Award for his leadership to the UCLA community.

As an active alumnus, Sahil served on the board of directors for UCLA Young Alumni Professionals, a 1,000+ member organization that engages UCLA’s recent graduate population. He has also participated in UCLA’s Entertainment Network Night and was a guest lecturer at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, speaking about trends in the Film and Television industry. As a frequent keynote speaker for the UCLA Career Center and as a member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, Sahil has a deep passion for helping college students and recent graduates with their leadership and career development journeys.

Sahil received an economics degree and is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Connect with Sahil on UCLA ONE.

Paco Retana '87, M.S.W. '90 

Paco Retana ’87, M.S.W. ’90For nearly 30 years, Paco Retana has been serving the vulnerable youth and marginalized communities in Los Angeles. As a recognized mental health expert and vice president of programs at Los Angeles Child Guidance Center (LACGC), he is responsible for all clinical programs, including strategic planning, program evaluation and training in support of LACGC's mission to provide quality mental health services, promoting early intervention and ensuring easy access for a community in great need by initiating and implementing program changes to meet new funding streams for innovative prevention programs. Additionally, Paco has served as a consultant for numerous community organizations and educational institutions including First 5 LA, Watts Gang Task Force, Green Dot Public Schools and the Santa Ana Unified School District, providing professional development training, psychological and facilitation services, counseling, education and crisis intervention.

Paco is a voting member of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) System Leadership Team, he is the co-chair of the Latino Underserved Cultural Communities for DMH, and is the former co-chair of the Service Area Advisory Committee for South Los Angeles. Paco serves on the UCLA Alumni Association Board's Diversity Advisory Committee. Previously, he was a member of the Board’s Nominations Committee and has been an invited expert panelist at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. He is a member of the Los Angeles Southeast Alumni Regional Network, and a former member of the UCLA Structural Racism/Sexism Steering Committee. Paco is the recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice, and an honoree of the 2018 NAMI Urban Los Angeles Award.

Paco received a bachelor’s in psychology and a master in social work from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. He is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Connect with Paco on UCLA ONE.

Martha Saucedo '96 

Martha Saucedo '96Martha Saucedo, executive vice president of external affairs for AEG, has worked in both the public and private sectors developing and implementing large scale political, communications and community engagement strategies. She is responsible for leading AEG’s external affairs division, including corporate communications, public and community affairs, government affairs, and its charitable and philanthropic efforts which provide funding to nonprofit organizations expanding opportunities for children.

Prior AEG, Martha worked on behalf of Mattel, Inc. managing relationships with local, state and federal elected officials. She also has significant experience in the public sector, having worked for former U.S. House of Representatives member, Xavier Becerra. Martha is the immediate past chair of the Central City Association Board of Director where she was honored with the “Mover and Shaker” award. She also serves on the board of directors for Friends of the Expo Center, the California Hospital Medical Center Community Advisory Board, the board of trustees for the California Science Center and is a former elected representative on the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. She was selected by the Sports Business Journal as a “40 Under 40” award recipient and received the Coro Southern California “Community Builder” award. Most recently, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) honored her with the Deborah Award, presented to women whose professional leadership and civic contributions exemplify the ideals of the ADL.

A native of Southern California, Martha received a B.A. in political science from UCLA and is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Connect with Martha on UCLA ONE.

Matthew Saucedo '11 

Matthew Saucedo '11

Matt Saucedo leads an Entertainment Partnerships team at Facebook. In this role, he works with Facebook and Instagram's top film, television, and public figure partners. Before joining Facebook, he was the co-founder and Head of Product for Pupster, and SVOD pet care company. Matt earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA in Communication Studies from UCLA, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude with Departmental and College Honors. While a student at UCLA, Matt was a member of the UCLA Fencing Team, which won the Southern California championship in his junior year. He was also a recipient of a Ralph Bunche Alumni Scholarship and actively participated in the Alumni Scholars Club.

Matt is a Gold Member of the UCLA Alumni Association.

Connect with Matthew on UCLA ONE.

 

Eric Shaw ’98 

Eric Shaw '98Eric Shaw is the director of the Washington, D.C., Office of Planning. He is an urban planning professional with extensive experience in establishing and leading cross sector, cross discipline and cross jurisdictional partnerships in the areas of community and economic development. He has been recognized for his work establishing strategic initiatives that support inclusive development and resilience in communities throughout the nation.

In addition to serving on the UCLA Alumni Association Board of Directors, Eric currently serves as chair of the board of the online publication Next City, is a member of Harvard Graduate School of Design Alumni Council, and serves on the National Trust for Historic Preservation board of advisors. In 2017, he was recognized in the OUTstanding Leading LGBT+ Public Sector Executives List, presented by the Financial Times.

As a student, Eric was the Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC) Facilities Commissioner, Campus Tour Guides coordinator and southern regional vice chair for the National Society of Black Engineers. He is a member of both the UCLA Lambda (LGBTQ) and UCLA Black Alumni Associations and an active supporter of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

As a member of the UCLA Alumni Association Board of Directors, Eric has served on the Diversity, Finance and Career committees. In addition to his UCLA degree in international development studies, Eric holds a Master in Urban Planning degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He is the third member of his family to attend UCLA. His mother, Rochelle Rawls Shaw, graduated in 1978 and his younger brother, Daniel Shaw, graduated from the UCLA Anderson School of Management in 2008.

Eric is a Gold Member of the Alumni Association.

Connect with Eric on UCLA ONE.

Ann Wang ’13 

Ann Wang is the co-founder and CEO of Enrou, an online story-driven marketplace for the socially conscious consumer to discover one-of-a-kind products created in developing communities around the world. Enrou empowers consumers to reduce global poverty with every purchase and live intentionally every day.As the daughter of a first-generation immigrant and entrepreneur, Wang grew up viewing the world through a distinct lens. While her dad taught her how to negotiate, lead and the importance of being self-sufficient, she always felt a responsibility to make a difference in the lives of others around the world. After initially looking into medicine and traditional nonprofit aid as outlets to make that difference, Wang realized her calling was to start her own business.

Set on the idea that social enterprise was the answer to addressing a global need and creating lasting impact, Wang approached her longtime friend and roommate, Jessica Willison ’13, to join her on this journey. Willison’s passion and experience within the consumer retail market coupled with her similar belief in a brighter world made her the perfect fit to establish their social enterprise, now known as Enrou.

In 2014, Enrou was awarded Forbes first-ever Pressure Cooker Award held during Forbes’ Under 30 Summit. Wang is a Gold Member of the UCLA Alumni Association and currently resides in Los Angeles.

Connect with Ann on UCLA ONE.

Ex-Officio
Chancellor

Gene D. Block 

Dr. Gene Block became chancellor of UCLA in August 2007. As chief executive officer, he oversees all aspects of the university’s three-part mis­sion of education, research and service.A biologist, Block holds UCLA faculty appointments in the David Gef­fen School of Medicine and the College of Letters and Science. He also leads a research lab funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Block previously served as vice president and provost of the University of Virginia. There, he headed an NIH graduate training program designed to increase the number of scientists from under­represented groups. He also received the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Outstanding Public Service Award for his work with Virginia’s business community.

A native of Monticello, N.Y., Block holds a bachelor’s degree in psychol­ogy from Stanford University and a master’s and Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Oregon. He is a fellow of the American Associa­tion for the Advancement of Science.

The inventor of a number of devices, Block holds a patent for a non-contact respiratory monitor to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Ex-Officio
Vice Chancellor External Affairs

Rhea Turteltaub 

Rhea Turteltaub was appointed the UCLA Vice Chancellor, External Affairs in March 2008. She oversees a diverse, yet integrated department of over 500 staff comprised of Development, Alumni Affairs, Government & Community Relations, Advancement Services, the UCLA Alumni Association, and the UCLA Foundation.

Rhea is actively leading UCLA’s Centennial Campaign – which surpassed its $4.2 billion goal 18 months ahead of schedule, and concludes in December 2019, right in the midst of the University’s 100th anniversary celebration. The Centennial Campaign continues to raise funds that will shepherd another century of groundbreaking achievements in teaching, research and service.

Prior to her arrival at UCLA in 1994, Rhea held leadership roles at Otis College of Art and Design and The University of Chicago, as well as campaign positions at the University of California at Berkeley, and her alma mater, Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where she currently serves on the Board of Trustees.

Past Boards:

Board of Directors 2018-19
Board of Directors 2017-18
Board of Directors 2016-17
Board of Directors 2015-16
Board of Directors 2014-15
Board of Directors 2013-14
Board of Directors 2012-13
Board of Directors 2011-12
Board of Directors 2010-11
Board of Directors 2009-10
Board of Directors 2008-09
Board of Directors 2007-08
Board of Directors 2006-07
Board of Directors 2005-06

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