Category: Connect Newsletter
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From Russia With Love for L.A.
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…
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Bruin-Led Businesses: Nonprofits
Bruin-Led Businesses: Nonprofits As 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…
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Earliest Known Pilipino Bruins at UCLA
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.) In honor of Filipino American History Month, we’re following up on…
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From UCLA to CEO: Shirley Torres ’03 on Healing, Kinship and Leading Homeboy Industries
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…
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Books by Bruins: Research
Books by Bruins: Research Research 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…
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UCLA’s Latest Research and Breakthroughs Shaping the Future
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…
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Bruin Family Connect
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…
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story of impact: how one alum is helping Bruins find peace – Sharon Chen ’06
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…
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Musical Bruins: Vol. 1
Musical Bruins: Vol. 1 From 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…
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Big Ten Alumni Relations Institute at UCLA
Big Ten Alumni Relations Institute at UCLA The 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…