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Diversity Digest Spotlight - Re-Emergence: Learning and Leading with AAPAN President Kiet Lam

Denise Pacheco, M.A. ’04, Ph.D. ’11, Senior Director for UCLA Alumni Diversity Programs & Initiatives connected with 2023 Volunteer of the Year and UCLA Academic Advancement Program Alumni Network (AAPAN) president, Kiet Lam ’98, M.P.H. ’00, to learn more about his experience at UCLA, his connection to the UCLA Academic Advancement Program (AAP) and the launch of its official alumni network.

iet Lam is the founder and CEO of Climb Healthcare Consulting in the San Francisco Bay Area where he prioritizes client service while helping improve the financial health of hospitals and health systems. Named the 2023 Volunteer of the Year by UCLA Alumni, Lam serves as the inaugural president of the UCLA Academic Advancement Program Alumni Network (AAPAN). Founded in 2021, AAPAN seeks to establish an association that furthers philanthropy for experienced Academic Advancement Program (AAP) alumni, offers professional development opportunities for recent AAP graduates and expands upon the academic and leadership excellence that is the hallmark of the AAP program to continue to support first-generation professionals.

When Lam arrived at UCLA as a first-generation college student he had already overcome many obstacles. He was five years old when he traversed the South China Sea for four days on a fishing boat with his mother and two older brothers, escaping Vietnam for a refugee camp in Malaysia. He and his family were able to seek amnesty in the United States through sponsorship with his aunt. His refugee background and subsequent upbringing in San Diego and other parts of Southern California led him to UCLA as a first-generation college student where he was first acquainted with the University through the UCLA Academic Advancement Program and its Freshman Summer Program.

Lam credits the AAP with his success at UCLA and beyond: “AAP is a lifeline to those like me, who just don’t have the knowledge, experience or resources to adapt to and then navigate college.” It is that same lifeline that Lam aims to offer alumni of the AAP program through the work of AAPAN. Leveraging the determination, success, passion and experience of UCLA Academic Advancement Program graduates, he hopes that alumni like himself can impact the lives of recent graduates through networking and mentorship. “I am a living example of the power of opportunity and access and what it can result in. There are many examples like myself when you look at the many years of AAP alumni,” Lam said.

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lam found many opportunities to reflect on the privileges that he currently holds. “Access to food, health care, and higher education are among things that we take for granted daily. I found myself asking, ‘What can we do more to help our community.’” Launching the AAP Alumni Network in 2021 at the height of the pandemic was one way that Lam sought to support his community. For Lam AAP was the first extension of his personal network that helped him navigate the University and set a foundation for success. He believed that an established alumni network could help “pandemic graduates” entering the workforce by offering networking and mentorship opportunities with other AAP graduates.

The pandemic’s shift to remote, and sometimes hybrid, activity and work brought many challenges and opportunities as well. “As leaders we need to get creative and provide opportunities to re-engage in a hybrid setting,” he said. “I have learned to be more patient with initiatives, and rolling them out so we can take these things into consideration.” Since its launch, the network has hosted both in-person and fully remote programs to reach AAP alumni wherever they are.

Lam has a lot of optimism for the future of the AAP Alumni Network and aims to continue to learn and grow as the network develops. Through his work with the founding board members and UCLA Alumni Affairs staff, AAPAN was successfully launched at the Academic Advancement Program’s 50th Anniversary Gala in December of 2021.

“There are people like myself who are now making efforts to be cognizant of their privilege and resources and want to make a positive impact. Some need guidance on how they can help, or nudges in the right direction. Through AAPAN, I hope to find these people and organize them to collectively make a bigger impact.”

You can learn more about the Academic Advancement Program Alumni Network and how you can get involved by visiting our website.

Diversity Programs & Initiatives

UCLA Chancellor’s Society

xamine any coin in the U.S. currency and you’ll find the words: E pluribus unum, which is Latin for "Out of many, one." The national motto not only describes our federal form of government, it’s also the concept behind UCLA Chancellor’s Society.

As the smallest campus in the UC system with the largest population density, UCLA has hundreds of departments, centers, institutes, programs, networks, clubs and associations, all seeking to advance their respective missions, foster engagement and secure resources. And yet, out of many, there is one unifying force, one brand name that attracts the masses to want to be a part of it…UCLA.

"ANY GIFT made to ANY PART of the UNIVERSITY, totaling a minimum of $1,000 within one fiscal year, constitutes automatic membership to the Chancellor’s Society."

Founded in 1966 through the vision of then-Chancellor Franklin Murphy, UCLA Chancellor’s Society is an exclusive membership for UCLA’s leadership annual giving program. Broken up into four giving levels:

Chancellor’s Circle $1,000 – $2,499

Chancellor’s Associates $2,500 – $4,999

Chancellor’s Council $5,000 – $9,999

Chancellor’s Cabinet $10,000 plus

ANY GIFT made to ANY PART of the UNIVERSITY, totaling a minimum of $1,000 within one fiscal year, constitutes automatic membership to the Chancellor’s Society. Members receive invitations to special lectures, donor-appreciation events and receptions hosted by Chancellor Block. These invite-only events vary by giving level as do the opportunities to get further involved.

According to Lucy Tseng ʼ12, director of UCLA Chancellor’s Society, “A long time ago, Chancellor’s Society was a group of people who gave to a specific fund to support the Chancellor's initiatives, specific things that the Chancellor wanted to do, through the Chancellor’s Greatest Needs fund. In 2016, that changed and Chancellor’s Society is now a campuswide program where people can give anywhere across campus, and their cumulative giving is what qualifies them as a member of Chancellor’s Society.”

With more than 2,000 different funds that donors can support, Tseng says that the role that Chancellor’s Society plays is both to encourage giving to support individual parts of campus, but also to educate about the entire campus as a whole. She says, “Most of us go to the University for two or four years, maybe more, but we really only get to know the areas of study that we are focused in, or the organizations that we’re a part of. The fact is, the University is very well rounded and well versed in all things. We have world-renowned musicians, scientists, artists and world-class athletes that we try to highlight so our members can learn more about our campus.”

Chancellor’s Society events vary from professor lectures on their latest research, to exceptional performances to exclusive donor receptions. One recent presentation, featuring Nobel laureate Dr. Andrea Ghez discussing new developments from her study of supermassive black holes, was attended by many non-science majors.

Education is the goal, after all. Tseng explained that if members are exposed to different parts of UCLA outside of the areas they supported, it may spark a new passion where they will support those new areas as well or advocate towards their mission or get involved.

But what if a donor isn’t sure what fund they should support? In most cases, they are encouraged to give to the Chancellor’s Greatest Needs fund. Tseng says, “That is the most discretionary fund. For example, when the campus was flooded in 2014 and we needed to renovate Pauley right away, we used that money and then got reimbursed from insurance later. Or when the pandemic hit and we needed to provide more electronics for our students to have education accessible remotely, we were able to have the funds to purchase laptops and hotspots good enough to get our students back on track.”

The reasons for a donor’s philanthropic support are mixed. Some may commemorate a loved one with a memorial scholarship for future Bruins. Some may donate in gratitude for a positive experience, be it an athletic achievement or a lifesaving transplant. Or some may feel so passionately about a cause, whether it’s climate change or cancer research, they give for pure altruistic motives. Because they believe that UCLA is an agent of change, and with the right amount of support, the talented scientists, artists, athletes, engineers, doctors, etc. can make a significant impact in curing society’s ills.

"Chancellor’s Society is one of those conduits to help gather people based on their connection to UCLA."

This passion is in play for many of Chancellor’s Society’s active volunteers. As ambassadors, their role is to steward the members into renewing their annual gift and to convince new prospects to upgrade to the next level. If it sounds like basic fundraising, that’s because it is. As Patrick Petersilia ʼ71, chair of UCLA Chancellor’s Society, explains, “We're trying to kind of reorganize ourselves to be more decentralized, to collaborate more effectively with sister organizations and to weave ourselves more into the fabric of today's fundraising.”

Volunteers meet regularly to discuss recruitment strategies. To be eligible as a volunteer, a member must be at least at the Chancellor’s Associate level ($2,500 or higher). Volunteering epitomizes the sense of belonging that Chancellor’s Society members wear as a badge of honor. Tseng says, “Joining offers camaraderie with other donors who love UCLA. When you become alumni, you aren’t going to the same classes with people anymore or going to the same dining hall. You may not go to the same events with those people anymore, but Chancellor’s Society is something that we're hoping to keep as a consistent opportunity for alumni to stay engaged with our campus, where they get to meet each other, get to know each other and become lifelong friends.”

She continues, “The exposure of getting to know others is really the value of being a public institution. We get to meet people of all backgrounds, of all interests, with different experiences in life. Chancellor’s Society is one of those conduits to help gather people based on their connection to UCLA.”

Petersilia echoes the same sentiment. He made his first gift to UCLA in 1986 and eventually made enough money to give at the Chancellor’s Society level. In 2001, he became a volunteer and rose to become chair of the whole Society in 2022. He explains his multi-decade involvement this way: “UCLA gave me a degree from a world class university. It taught me I could succeed in that setting and gave me a confidence to carry through life. I've had a fairly successful professional career and I've managed to accumulate some wealth that I can now give back to today's students in the hopes that they're able to leverage their education the way I was. Many of my closest friends in life are Bruins. My financial advisor is my college roommate. I’ve been going to the Rose Bowl for 50 years with three to four people I graduated with. We now have grandkids sitting on their parents’ laps.”

The vast majority of the 5,000 Chancellor’s Society members are alumni or parents of alumni or current Bruins. They are alumni network volunteers, alumni donors, alumni leaders. Tseng says the similarity is because they’ve already invested in a UCLA education and believe in the Bruin Promise. This is a commitment that provides alumni access to UCLA’s breadth of resources and opportunities, through an online portal, for every stage of their life. In a digital format, the Bruin Promise has the same goals as Chancellor’s Society, educating people as to what UCLA has to offer in various areas of campus.

"I think UCLA changed my life. And I want to help sustain it as an institution that can do for students today what it did for me."

As a result, Chancellor’s Society has partnered with the UCLA Alumni Association for various co-programming and co-recognition endeavors. Whether it’s Petersilia speaking at the Alumni Leadership Conference last March or Alumni Travel Director Christel Aragon presenting at a Chancellor’s Society event last April, the two organizations will see a greater collaboration and cross-promotion in the immediate and distant future.

Chancellor’s Society holds the umbrella philosophy that once you give a minimum gift of $1,000 to any part of UCLA, it has you covered. It gives you a unique Bruin identity among like-minded peers. It invites you to deepen your relationship with UCLA through learning and experiencing various facets of campus. And it fills you with pride, as both a graduate and supporter, knowing you played a part in something greater than yourself.

Petersilia knows this better than anyone. “I think UCLA changed my life. And I want to help sustain it as an institution that can do for students today what it did for me.”

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To learn more about Chancellor’s Society and how to give to UCLA, visit https://chancellorssociety.ucla.edu.

Bruin-Owned Businesses: Fitness and Wellness 2

ow, more than ever, we've discovered the importance of self-care and prioritizing our mental and physical health. The sequel to this Bruin-owned business series features several organizations that offer fitness and wellness-related products and services, geared to inspire a healthier, happier you.

West Los Angeles Karate

CEO/Founder: George Takahashi ʼ59, M.A. ʼ61

Phone: 310-463-5119

Location: 1466 S. Westgate Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90025

Email: help@wlakarate.org

Website: https://wlakarate.org

Social: @westlosangeleskarate

About:

West Los Angeles Karate School has been a unique community resource for nearly 40 years. In fact, this martial arts school was one of the first in this part of Los Angeles. We provide instruction in traditional Japanese style Shotokan Karate. Each of our instructors has trained in this style for over 20 years. Instructors teach on a volunteer basis and all dues go to pay for our facility rental. Our program is geared toward teenagers and adults. Beginning students are given individual attention for the first few classes to familiarize them with some of the basics prior to joining a class. We train in a large, well-lit and ventilated room with a clean wood floor and a high ceiling. Visitors are always welcome.

Review:

“This school is a hidden gem. Because it’s now part of the Westside YMCA, the monthly tuition is far less than any other dojo around and includes all other classes and services the Y offers (gym, pool, etc). The four regular instructors are patient, master practitioners. They’re also volunteers meaning they’re teaching because they love the art, not to turn a profit. In addition to them, the class includes another eight to 12 black belts who generously offer pointers, suggestions and encouragement to junior students. If the class doesn’t show up in the Y’s schedule, don’t let that dissuade you (it wouldn’t be a hidden gem if it was easy to find). Just show up at the scheduled class time. You’ll feel welcomed and it won’t take long before you feel part of the community.” - Jonathan P.

Luxe Beauty and Wellness Boutique

CEO/Founder: Kiiyonna Jones, M.S.N. ʼ08

Phone: 562-804-0000

Location: 10242 Rosecrans Ave., Bellflower, CA 90706

Email: luxebeautystaff@gmail.com

Website: https://www.luxebeautyandwellness.com

Social: @luxebeautyandwellness

About:

Luxe Beauty and Wellness Boutique is a premier aesthetic and wellness boutique in Bellflower, California. We specialize in permanent make-up, aesthetic injectables and other wellness services. In a serene environment, Luxe Beauty and Wellness also offers IV infusions including vitamins, minerals and other nutrients tailored to your individual needs. Our goal is to focus on encouraging our clients to feel beautiful inside and out. It is our priority to support you on your journey of looking and feeling your best.

Review:

“This place is amazing! A friendly professional staff of young women who are kind and welcoming. It's clean, modern and decorated beautifully creating a luxurious comfortable environment. I get the chocolate Brazilian wax, it leaves your skin feeling soft and smelling sweet with no irritation afterward. I recommend this boutique for all of your aesthetic needs.” - Tywonia H.

LiveMetta

CEO/Founder: Ythy Farnsworth ʼ10

Phone: 562-598-8585

Locations: California Studios in Long Beach, Laguna Niguel (2), Newport Beach, Tustin, Orange

Email: longbeach@livemetta.com

Website: https://livemetta.com

Social: @livemettapilates

About:

At LiveMetta we think “wellness” is as simple as being grounded in the present moment. Everything that you do from a wellness perspective should have the intention of helping you spend as much time there as possible. To do so, you must take care of your body and mind but also foster a sense of connectedness to the world around you. While yoga and Pilates are incredibly useful practices, there is a lot more to the picture. A loving-kindness mindset is a beautiful place to start. We want to help you be the strongest version of yourself so that when the stressors of life are at their highest, you’re still able to tap into that sense of equanimity and weather the storm. That is wellness to us.

Review:

“Simply the best Pilates studio ever. The trainers are committed to your fitness, health and safety. My favorites are Susan and Gabby. They both ensure that my time is invested. My body is now pain-free and developing. My balance is improving. Private sessions with Susan are simply the best!” - Gregory D.

Art Therapy With Sharon

CEO/Founder: Sharon B. Uy ʼ06

Phone: 818-860-1569

Location: 14724 Ventura Blvd., Suite 1000, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Email: arttherapywithsharon@gmail.com

Website: https://www.sharonuy.com

Social: @aparigraha_art

About:

Sharon B. Uy offers psychotherapy sessions rooted in creativity, mindfulness, body awareness and spirituality. Uy is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in art therapy and sensorimotor psychotherapy, with a private practice in Sherman Oaks. Using the client’s innate capacity for creative expression and spiritual insight, she specializes in guiding her clients toward personal freedom from self-limiting patterns.

Review:

“Utilizing art therapy, holistic movement and authentic interactions, Sharon makes it easy for clients to tackle difficult subjects. She brings her extensive knowledge of the mind-body connection to the work, without it ever feeling flighty and ‘out there.’ Her humor and humanity always shine through." - Jenni W.

O Positiv

Co-Founder: Brianna Bitton ʼ14

Location: 11740 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 109-333, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Email: hello@opositiv.com

Website: https://opositiv.com

Social: @opositivwellness

About:

Women’s health vitamins with results. At O Positiv, we noticed the gap in the women’s health industry, so we set out to create custom, innovative formulas to address what women really need. Our vitamins are created with science-backed ingredients that keep you feeling your best.

Review:

“These work better than any that I've tried (and I've tried many). Easy, smooth flow on a regular basis. I'm on my second jar. I thought something was wrong because I lost about 10 lbs. within the last month. I just wasn't thinking about food. All of a sudden my appetite improved and I remembered that I forgot my gummies for about four days. Wow! That's when I realized that definitely helped me lessen my appetite! Give them a try ... be patient!” - Dawn L.

Sonki Fitness

CEO/Founder: Sonki Hong, Cert. ʼ04

Phone: 310-260 2518

Location: 1112 Montana Ave. Suite 810, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Email: info@sonkifitness.com

Website: https://www.sonkifitness.com

Social: @sonki.fitness

About:

Sonki Fitness is one of the most successful and longest-running boot camps in the world, created by a five-time World Fitness Champion and former U.S. Army Captain Sonki Hong. What makes it unique and special is that the program uses a positive and fun approach to inspire clients to get in top shape in beautiful outdoor settings. Sonki created the program based on his experience working with people from all walks of life, so it really is designed for ALL ages and levels. Regardless of what kind of shape you're in, you get to push at your own pace within your limitations, so you learn to push your own boundaries without feeling judged or pressured to keep up with others. The workouts vary, so you never get bored doing the same thing over and over. And the environment is very friendly, positive and supportive with everyone encouraging one another. Many people have called it a "life-changing experience" and "the best workout they've ever done." When you're in his program, you feel like you have a personal coach who genuinely cares about your health and well-being. Over 5,000 clients have successfully graduated from the program since 2002. Currently, our classes are in Santa Monica and Playa Vista.

Review:

“Sonki creates a motivating and safe working environment! His workout pushes you no matter where you are in your fitness journey. He and the Sonki Fitness trainers challenge and support all of his clients and offer alternatives to workouts to best fit where you are physically. It is a great workout class and is 100% outdoors!” - Ashley Jay S.

Chair Yoga Online

Co-Founder: Howie Baral ʼ80

Email: howie@chairyogaonline.com

Website: https://www.chairyogaonline.com

Social: @chairyogaonline

About:

Waiting at an airport terminal, a train station, a bus stop, a ferry terminal, really so many places... we spend that time waiting and sitting. Let us instead use these few minutes to do mindful movements to help invigorate the body, mind and spirit. All ages and all abilities will benefit from movement with Chair Yoga Online sequences.

Review:

“I love how Chair Yoga allows me to move and accommodates everyone with different abilities.”- Flora

My Gym La Jolla

Co-Founder: Cameron Bunce, MBA ‘14

Phone: 858-352-6085

Location: 8657 Villa La Jolla Drive, La Jolla Village Square, 121B, La Jolla, CA 92037

Email: lajolla@mygym.com

Website: https://www.mygym.com/lajolla

Social: @mygymlajolla

About:

My Gym was born out of our passion to teach children in a fun, physically engaging environment. We delighted in seeing children's eyes light up for all those incredible milestones, from the tentative first steps to tumbling down soft mats. Sharing the parents’ excitement at their children’s accomplishments was the high point of our day.

Review:

“Our time at MyGym La Jolla has been the best part of our week! I've been bringing my one-year-old to this location since June and he gets so excited when he sees where we are going. The owner and staff members are so kind, patient and enthusiastic with the kids. The classes are the perfect balance of free play and organized skill practice/activities. There is truly something for every kid at every developmental level here. And my son takes the best nap afterward, which is so nice when you have a toddler! We love MyGym and can't wait for our next class!” - Jamie L.

Tolbert Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness

CEO/Founder: Glenna Tolbert ʼ85

Phone: 424-355-0344

Location: 240 S. La Cienega Blvd., Suite 250, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Email: help@wlakarate.org

Website: https://drglennatolbert.com

Social: @tolbertcenterforrehabandwellness

About:

The Tolbert Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness, founded by Glenna Tolbert, M.D., Q.M.E., is a Los Angeles-area state-of-the-art medical facility specializing in using non-surgical and minimally invasive techniques and procedures to help people enjoy long-term pain relief. Our vision is to restore quality of life and wellness, and optimize our patients' ability to function.

Review:

“Five stars is not even close to enough! I am seven years out from breast cancer, the formal treatment stopped cancer, but the other side-effects of the treatment are nightmarish. Dr. Tolbert has helped me manage to get through the treatment and start the process of getting my post-treatment body back in balance. Her investigative approach to my individual issues has gotten me MUCH better results than anything I was getting from my 'traditional' doctors. I am also pleased with her patience, humility and knowledge - I don't feel rushed or dismissed. She answers my questions and appreciates my desire for a correction of my issues (not just symptom management).” - Debra H.

Yoga Wake Up

Co-Founder: Lizzie Brown, Exp. MBA ʼ24

Location: Venice Beach, California

Email: team@yogawakeup.com

Website: https://www.yogawakeup.com

Social: @yogawakeup

About:

The snooze button has been wrecking our sleep and our mornings for far too long. Enter Yoga Wake Up, the first-ever Yoga Alarm Clock that teaches you to wake up the right way — with yoga! Yoga Wake Up has hundreds of sessions, and two dedicated series created to teach you how to have your best morning yet.

Review:

“I love this app. I have chronic health issues and wake up in a lot of pain each day. This app is such a positive way to start my day. You can pick from tons of ‘wake-ups.’ Some are just meditations and a little movement, others have stretching and restorative yoga poses you can do in bed as you wake up. Then others get you up and do standing yoga poses right next to your bed. They all have different themes and vary in length so you can choose what’s right for you each day. For someone who has a tough time getting out of bed each day, this has been a game changer. I highly recommend this app.” - Tilly55.

Monsoon Maya Meditation

CEO/Founder: Maya Bitton, LL.M. ʼ08

Phone: 818-633-6728

Email: MonsoonMayaM@gmail.com

Website: https://www.monsoonmaya.com

Social: @MonsoonMayaMeditation

About:

Maya is a Chopra-certified meditation teacher who conducts meditation sessions and workshops (in-person and virtual) for individuals and groups. Her teachings include both theory and practical tools, utilizing The Ways of MAYA: Meditation, Affirmations, Yogic-breath and Awareness.

Review:

“I have been thinking of the qualities of a daily meditation practice for a long while. I tried guided meditation and other forms of meditation, and I kept struggling with it. When I met Maya Bitton and heard of the principles of Primordial Sound Meditation, I understood I needed to try this method. What I like about this technique is that the personal mantra acts as a clearing for the mind. You play it over and over in your head, it takes the space of other thoughts, and eventually, the mind can zone out of, or transcend thought, connecting us to the silence that is already there inside us. I found this most helpful. Having a one-on-one teacher is very helpful in learning the technique, and Maya is a knowledgeable guide and an usher into this practice.” - Hilla

Embodying Your Curriculum

CEO/Founder: Angelica Singh ʼ98

Phone: 773-769-7217

Location: 4050 N.E. Broadway St., Portland, OR 97232

Email: info@embodyingyourcurriculum.com

Website: https://www.embodyingyourcurriculum.com

Social: @theembodimentprocess

About:

Embodying Your Curriculum is an online course that equips faculty and students with pedagogies to address overwhelm during a time of unprecedented change in education. Amidst political demonstrations, racial injustice and an international pandemic that has hit the U.S. hard, our students and faculty are experiencing more anxiety, mental health challenges and feelings of overwhelm than ever before. Embodying Your Curriculum is a modern, innovative approach to increasing faculty productivity and boosting student retention. It combines trauma-informed pedagogies and mental health neuroscience to teach practical solutions that will retain faculty, retain students, increase the value of your classroom and create a lasting relationship with students who will feel deeply connected to the university, even as alumni.

Review:

“Professor Chari’s unique and genuine style of teaching is unlike that of any professor I have had the opportunity of learning from before. I continue to be amazed at her ability to lead us in connecting with the creative and intellectual parts of ourselves and combining rather than separating these parts. I also greatly admire her commitment to encouraging us to engage with the political, through our stories and writing, and those of others. It has been an incredible honor and such a wonderful opportunity to be able to take this class with Professor Chari, and I do believe every student should have the opportunity to take a class from her – thank you.” - Namratha S.

Mastery Fitness

Co-Founder: Kevin Chu, MBA ʼ19

Phone: 800-899-3450

Location: 375 W. Victoria St., Gardena, CA 90248

Website: https://masteryfitness.com

Social: @mastery_fitness

About:

Mastery Fitness is an innovative facilities services provider, delivering full-lifecycle gym builds and consulting services for residential and commercial gym design. In this changing industry, we are contributing to the disruption of the "traditional" equipment lease model. So whether you're a large spin studio, boutique hotel or a fitness-minded individual, Mastery Fitness has you covered.

Review:

“I have had such a wonderful experience dealing with the folks at Mastery Fitness. I purchased a refurbished Precor Elliptical machine and I absolutely love it! Kevin was so attentive and took the time to help me find the right machine, and then spent time going over all the features with me. He also delivered the machine to my house and I live very remotely. I can tell that he does quality work and really cares about his customers' satisfaction. I highly recommend this business to anyone who wants a high-end quality workout machine, doesn't want to pay "new" prices, and wants to have an excellent customer service experience!” - Jessica S.

Piper + Enza

CEO/Founder: Rita Ho-Bezzola, MBA ʼ07

Location: Online

Email: hello@piperandenza.com

Website: https://piperandenza.com

Social: @piperandenza

About:

Our mission at Piper + Enza, a health and happiness company, is to support children and their families with the inevitable bumps and bruises of growing up, shifting the narrative from a place of fear to one of healing, knowledge and celebration. Using books, tools, toys and resources developed in collaboration with early childhood educators, child life experts, pediatricians and child psychologists, we want to give families strategies to navigate through the fears and unknowns of growing up and instead, support them in embracing the journey.

Review:

“A must-have in your children's books collection! What a playful way of explaining why the body reacts a certain way to protect itself! By making it fun and reassuring. Also, a good book to keep handy for parents who need to answer all the questions of their child: "Why is my nose running?" "Why do we get sick?"...Clearly informative for both grown-ups and children” - Lucie

The Symptom Sleuth

Founders: Michelle Wong ʼ08 and Edward Hynson ʼ10

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Email: thesymptomsleuth@gmail.com

Website: https://thesymptomsleuth.com

Social: @thesymptomsleuth

About:

When an eczema flare-up painfully appeared on the sweet little girl's face, first I had a flashback of my cousin being bullied for growing up with a skin condition; then I had an idea stemming from my own experience controlling my eczema today. I designed The Trigger Tracker so that the little girl could use stickers to collect and visualize data while practicing the scientific method to uncover what triggers her flare-ups. (Spoiler alert: it was milk!) With help from my husband (a nurse with joint pain), my cousin with multiple sclerosis and my sister with lupus, we designed The Symptoms Log to help people track all kinds of symptoms. Collectively, The Symptom Sleuth aims to empower you to take charge of your own health with detailed records to share with your doctor with information your doctor would want to know.

Review:

“I've had psoriasis all my life, and only in the last 10 years discovered that food was the major contributing factor to my terrible skin. I started a program to help people heal their psoriasis but struggled to find an elegant way to track what we eat. I was introduced to Symptom Sleuth's Trigger Tracker, and it was exactly what I was looking for. It's beautifully made with stitched binding, and nicely laid out pages. It even helped me figure out why I had a flare-up recently. I love the book and my clients are using it to log their foods to figure out what their trigger foods are too. Highly recommended.” - Thomas P.

Prospera Mental Health & Wellness

CEO/Founder: Andrea Niles ʼ07, M.A. ʼ11, Ph.D. ʼ16

Phone: ‪415-289-9114

Email: support@prosperamhw.com

Website: https://prosperamhw.com

Social: @prosperamhw

About:

Prospera is a mental health platform that provides exceptional mental health care specifically for moms. Our mental health coaches are certified in maternal mental health and use cognitive behavioral therapy, which is the world’s most effective approach to improving symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Review:

“The phrase ‘therapy’ can be intimidating, and occasionally we lose sight of the fact that everyone in today's society has anxiety on some level. I realized that I couldn't control my anxiety on my own because it was now negatively affecting my mental health. I resorted to Prospera at that point and am I glad I did! A good therapist is not someone you talk to for an hour and then ask for advice from. A skilled therapist guides you through the process, identifies patterns in your life and equips you with coping mechanisms. Having Sara as my therapist made my experience completely positive. Even though I still experience anxiety, I am certain that I can manage it with the help of Sara. I highly recommend Prospera for anyone dealing with anxiety or depression.” - Karina R.

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To submit a Bruin-owned business for future consideration, please send a note to connectfeedback@alumni.ucla.edu.

All Bruin-Owned Business Articles

When I Was at UCLA - May 2023

n a recent issue of Alumni Connect, we put out a call for alumni to finish the sentence, “When I was at UCLA…” with anecdotes from their time on campus. The submissions varied, telling interesting occurrences of personal significance, campus history and UCLA’s impact on generations of Bruins. Below are some highlights:

When I was at UCLA, I was a mother of five and married. It was during Coronavirus. I had one class on campus the entire time. I was a transfer student and I was still the best student I have ever been. I made the best of a hard situation and I succeeded. I had GRIT and I graduated with a 3.93 GPA. It was a dream come true and it was home to me. Go Class of 2022! I am proud to be in your graduating class. – Ayanna Robinson ʼ22
When I was at UCLA, I was part of the first freshman class to select classes via telephone enrollment (yes, telephone!). – Jenny Grossgold ʼ93
When I was at UCLA, I realized a dream come true: amazing research/library facilities; incredible, famed speakers; basketball giants (literally!); and a doctoral advisor/chair second to none (John McNeil). – Bill Younglove, Ed.D. ʼ83
When I was at UCLA, I was walking to the student center - Kerckhoff hall in 1958 or 1959 and was stopped by Rafer Johnson ʼ59. He wanted to tell me why I should vote for him for student body president. He was very pleasant, and we spoke for quite a while. – Jo Ann Lesser ʼ59
When I was at UCLA, I got my start with teaching. As an incoming freshman, I found the UCLA Computer Club located in 3514 Boelter Hall (the club no longer exists). I volunteered to teach one of the free computer classes the club offered in the evenings. I found that I loved to teach. I taught classes through the club nearly every quarter I was a student. After graduating, I started to teach for UCLA Extension where I still teach to this day. And I still love teaching! – Daniel Gutierrez ʼ78
When I was at UCLA, I learned so much in the Army ROTC program. I thought that I knew so much because I was already a Vietnam Veteran when I enrolled in the program. I learned about accepting responsibility for my actions and not blaming others. My UCLA experience helped me a lot in my career as an educator. Thank you UCLA for all you have done for me and in the community as well as the world to make a difference. – Dr. Jonpatrick Anderson '79
When I was at UCLA, I used to like the energy on Bruin Walk in the morning. So many people were headed to class with their backpacks filled with books so they could study in one of the many libraries between and after classes. Swami X was a familiar face on Bruin Walk in my day – what a character he was! – Michael Slater ʼ80
When I was at UCLA, I would stop and listen to Swami for a few minutes as a bit of an escape. I remember thinking he was pretty cool for an old guy. – Roberta Stambaugh ʼ76
When I was at UCLA, I would stop by the courtyard in front of Royce Hall and Powell to decompress. The grandeur of these buildings made the stress of college life feel temporary. – Arianna Rivera Lee ʼ17
When I was at UCLA, You could always count on herb baked chicken and fire station casserole in the dining halls. – Lesley Lee ʼ93, M.Ed. ʼ94
When I was at UCLA, my favorite place on campus was in the stacks below Powell Library. It took my breath away the day I discovered it as a first-year graduate student from a tiny college of 700 souls. There, in an enormous deep basement, were hundreds of thousands of books on shelves placed about 18 inches apart and ranging for what felt like a half mile. You could sit down on the floor and literally immerse yourself in your chosen discipline, with books on that topic surrounding you. Was I supposed to be down there? I'm not sure, but there were no signs forbidding it and the unmarked doors were not locked. During my time at UCLA, books in the stacks were moved to warehouses all over Los Angeles, for earthquake safety. But what sheer heaven it was to disappear at midday down into the silent dungeon of knowledge and read the afternoon away. – Janet Jones, Ph.D. ʼ89
When I was at UCLA for college and law school, the basketball team won seven consecutive national championships. I feel guilty for leaving…. – Joe Hilberman ʼ70, J.D. ʼ73

SPOTLIGHT

David H. Walter ’65, MBA ’66, Ph.D. ’73, entered UCLA in 1961 and spent the next 12 years as an enrolled student. He drew his recollections from a span of time that is hard to match in terms of historically important events, both at UCLA and in the culture at large. Here are some of the memories he shared with us:

When I was at UCLA in 1961, the last year of semesters before transitioning to quarters, I vaguely remember my registration and tuition fees were in the vicinity of $100, give or take a few dollars! What an amazing deal!
When I was at UCLA, my first freshman semester, September 1961, parking on campus was free. Soon thereafter a fee of 25 cents was instituted—as memory serves. I don’t remember any parking structures, only large paved and unpaved lots (e.g., the entire northeast corner of campus at Sunset and Hilgard was a dirt parking lot).
When I was at UCLA on Nov. 22, 1963, while walking past Murphy Hall toward the old Business School north of Dodd Hall at approximately noon, having been at UCLA for 2+ years, I first became aware that campus had a loudspeaker system. As I recall, “May I please have your attention, we regret to report that President John Kennedy has been shot. Classes are cancelled for the rest of the day; please leave campus at this time, thank you.”
When I was at UCLA, my undergraduate graduation ceremony on June 11, 1965, was the inaugural event in Pauley Pavilion, even before any basketball games had been played there - a fitting christening for the Wooden era that was about to develop.
When I was at UCLA on Jan. 17, 1969, I was on my way to the old (original) Business School. Walking past the east side of Campbell Hall, I noticed a commotion outside a classroom on the first floor; it appeared that the window was shattered. I soon heard that two men, Black Panthers (students?) had been shot (through the windows?) and killed. I continued on to class. Accounts of this event are readily available on the internet; I did not read them, I was there.
When I was at UCLA as student at the Graduate School of Management, I was on campus one afternoon in the early 1970s, when I noticed a group of dignitaries in the Franklin Murphy Sculpture Garden. They were there to dedicate the donation of a Rodin sculpture by Norton Simon. Among them were (former) Chancellor Franklin Murphy, Norton Simon and Governor Ronald Reagan. A couple of years before I attended a wedding of my friend Paul Simon (no, not that Paul Simon) whose father was Norton’s first cousin. At the wedding I met Norton’s mother. So, wanting to meet this giant of industry, I nervously approached and said something like, “Hello Mr. Simon, I recently met your mother at Paul Simon’s wedding. I’m a student at the Business School and wanted to meet you." He responded, “Oh yes, I heard about the wedding,” and asked a few questions about my studies at GSM (before it was Anderson). Governor Reagan and Chancellor Murphy were standing by. Paul loved the story of my encounter. The Rodin sculpture is at the top of the steps in the Northwest corner of the Sculpture Garden.
When I was at UCLA in the mid-1990s I used to go running at Drake Stadium. On one occasion, I noticed John Wooden there also running laps. Wanting to meet and shake his hand, when he had stopped jogging I nervously walked over and muttered, “Hi Coach Wooden, I was a student here during all of our National Championships and just wanted to meet you.” He shook my hand, asked me a few questions about my studies, and wished me well...or something like that; I had met Coach Wooden, the greatest collegiate basketball coach of all time.

Walter’s reminiscences of his time at UCLA do not end with receiving his Ph.D.

“I'm a psychologist now because of taking extension classes with Carl Faber,” he said. “I graduated in ʼ73 and about two years later, I started taking extension classes just for fun. I met a teacher that changed my life totally. I had been working in aerospace since 1966 and I realized within about a year of taking his classes in extension, I was in the wrong field.”

Walter went on to take over 50 Extension courses in the next 20 years and continues to attend events and lectures, both on campus and virtually, the most recent being the Psychiatry Grand Rounds lecture in April, the month he turned 80. He said, “I literally have been eminently affiliated and on campus in some way, shape or form from 1961 till today.”

If you have a story to share, finish the sentence “When I was at UCLA…” and submit it to connectfeedback@alumni.ucla.edu.

When I Was at UCLA Articles

UCLA’s Global and Local Impact on Climate Change

ast month, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a comprehensive climate report that secretary-general Antonio Guterres called a "survival guide for humanity." The report lays out the threat to human well-being and planetary health, urging swift action on the world’s climate emergency.

The goal is to avoid global temperature rise above 1.5C before the end of this century. Since that goal was set in 2015, the world has already warmed by 1.1C. The more we can slow warming, and the faster we do it, matters. This means transitioning to sustainable lifestyles wherever possible and embracing climate-friendly alternatives.

UCLA and the University of California system are global leaders in sustainability efforts. Scientists, scholars and students across campus — engineering, law, biology, public policy, public health and more — are working towards innovative and creative solutions for our most urgent issues. UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability brings faculty and researchers from across the campus together to understand and find multifaceted solutions to complex environmental challenges. UCLA’s comprehensive sustainability plan has the details on how the university is protecting climate, health and quality of life while creating a blueprint for change.

The UN report lays out four target areas where scaling up climate action will make a large impact. Here’s what UCLA has been doing in the areas outlined in the report on a global, national and local scale.

ENERGY SUPPLY

Energy production from fossil fuels, like coal, oil and gas, is responsible for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To avoid the worst impacts of climate change, emissions need to be reduced by almost half by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. Sustainability requires renewable, reliable, resilient power sources that improve efficiency, like solar, wind and hydropower.

GLOBAL
Solar power only accounts for 3% of electricity in the U.S. A scientific breakthrough at UCLA could have a wide-reaching effect on making this renewable resource longer lasting and more affordable. In a study published in Nature Materials, an international collaboration led by UCLA added a small amount of metal, called neodymium, to protect solar cells from deterioration. This innovation will transform solar, with cells that last longer and are less expensive.

LOCAL
UCLA researchers from engineering, environmental science, law, labor studies, public health and public policy are partnering with LADWP to conduct studies that will help the city achieve its goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energy sources while ensuring an equitable transition. Historically, underresourced neighborhoods have borne the brunt of pollution and the effects of climate change; this partnership aims to ensure all citizens will enjoy the benefits of sustainability.

UCLA CAMPUS
Methane, the most potent greenhouse gas, may cause as much of 20% of global warming. The oil and gas industry is a responsible for 30% of total methane emissions in the United States. UCLA is undertaking a major decarbonization study, with support from the State, to develop a strategy for decarbonization and reducing the use of fossil natural gas.

LAND, WATER, FOOD

The Earth’s ecosystems are being over-exploited to provide humans with shelter, water and food, sustainability requires efficient use of these resources to protect and conserve for future generations. Twenty-six percent of the United States’ carbon dioxide emissions come from food production, transportation and disposal. Mitigation measures include protecting our oceans and forests and require a shift to more sustainable diets.

GLOBAL
Something as simple as the color of our outdoor lights can have a domino effect on health. Insects can be pests, but they are a vital part of the food chain, pollinating fruits and vegetables. In recent years, scientists have warned about the decline of insect populations. Now, new research by UCLA and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute shows that yellow or amber LED lights attract beneficial insects while blue and ultraviolet light can harm beneficial insects.

LOCAL
The UCLA Sustainable LA Grand Challenge is creating a sustainability roadmap for the world’s cities. This University-wide initiative is using UCLA research, expertise and education to transform Los Angeles into the world’s most sustainable megacity by 2050. UCLA faculty, researchers and scholars, among the world’s top experts in sustainability, have formed an interconnected, interdisciplinary network committed to drive efforts to combat climate change.

UCLA CAMPUS
The student-initiated, designed and facilitated research program in the Institute of Environment and Sustainability, Sustainability Action Research, investigates areas of campus that may contribute to climate change to find solutions. The UC-wide sustainability plan set a goal of 25% sustainable food purchases by 2030. This year, the SAR Sustainable Food Team is looking into a drop in sustainable food purchases since the COVID pandemic. The team will audit UCLA Dining’s food purchases and reporting methods to review shortcomings and make recommendations, including purchasing from diverse and ethical vendors.

SETTLEMENTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING HEALTH

Greening our infrastructure will have a positive and lasting impact on slowing climate change. How people live, travel and work all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. More than half of the world's population live in urban areas, and cities account for two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions. Efficient buildings, vehicles, transportation and energy sources that are affordable and accessible are needed to tackle this challenge. The healthcare industry accounts for almost 5% of global CO2 emissions.

GLOBAL
A program at UCLA trains students to tackle integrated solutions to help cities thrive under the pressure of global climate change. NRT-INFEWS, inside the California NanoSystems Institute, explores the interdependence of food, energy and water in the urban environment. One example is the energy strain of producing food in rural areas and transporting it to urban centers. This important research will have global applications, while giving students project management, leadership, ethics, communications, teaching and teamwork skills to become leaders in the field.

LOCAL
UCLA Health is leading the way in campus sustainability. Its Santa Monica hospital purchased 100% renewable energy through the Clean Power Alliance. The Ronald Reagan Medical Center was awarded the top 25 award for their sustainability measures.
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, UCLA Health is committed to addressing its environmental footprint while centering health equity. Among other measures, UCLA Health has begun installing photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on buildings and parking structures, replacing energy-efficient lighting with LEDs and using motion-sensor lights to conserve electricity.

UCLA CAMPUS
Forty percent of California’s carbon footprint comes from transportation. Saving the planet will require using less gasoline, shifting to electric vehicles and using public transportation. In 2023, UCLA Transportation released its first-ever EV Readiness Plan to prepare for and encourage at least 5% of EV commuters by 2025, which will reduce emissions by 2,500 metric tons each year. The Sustainable Transportation Plan includes transitioning the UCLA fleet to zero-emission vehicles, including an electrified BruinBus system by 2025, which aligns with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order requiring that all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the state be zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

SOCIETY, LIVELIHOOD AND ECONOMY

How we live and work influences how we use resources. How the world handles issues such as global migration, planning for natural disasters and social safety nets will have a worldwide impact on meeting sustainability goals. Current circumstances demand leaders who can drive change and encourage support for sustainability measures.

GLOBAL
To fight mass environmental destruction, scholars from the UCLA School of Law’s Promise Institute for Human Rights have defined the crime of ecocide as “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused.” If adopted, corporations and governments would be held responsible for their actions. Kate Mackintosh, executive director of The Promise Institute told UCLA, “The hope is that this will change the risk analysis in a way that leads to better choices for the environment. We all win when that happens.”

LOCAL
Encouraging consumers to use clean energy requires new policies. Researchers from the Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI) conducted two recent studies that look at encouraging California’s energy consumers to limit energy use during periods of high demand. The report found that financial rewards of any size, on top of what consumers save for using less energy, had a measurable effect on reducing use. The results of the study will inform local policymakers, utilities and energy providers.

UCLA CAMPUS
Buildings are hot spots for energy and resource consumption, responsible for 40% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. To reduce the campus’ contribution to global climate change and improve health and indoor environmental quality, all new buildings on the UCLA campus must meet California’s strict laws and achieve a LEED silver rating. As of July 2021, UCLA has 56 LEED buildings and renovations - 11 Silver, 28 Gold and 17 Platinum. Green buildings have added benefits of being less expensive to heat, cool, and illuminate, and contribute to better human health.

HOW CAN ALUMNI GET INVOLVED?

UCLA faculty, staff, students and alumni are leading the efforts to make a more sustainable future. There are Bruins playing key roles all across the field, from leading Sustainability and Resiliency at city departments like LASAN (Doug Walters ’88) to starting businesses like Decarbon to help people reduce their footprint (Kyle Graycar ’14). There are many ways for alumni to get involved, from hosting students for internships or client projects to networking through events. Check out this month's calendar of activities planned for Earth Month at UCLA. If you are interested in the field of sustainability, you can learn more about careers on this page or join the UCLA Extension Sustainability Certificate Program. Of course, you can always support programs through sponsorships and donations. Find out more about how to get involved at UCLA Sustainability or contact sustainability@ucla.edu.

10 Things You Can Do to Live a More Sustainable Life

Eat more plant-based food. This lessens the substantial greenhouse gas emissions of meat production. Plant a garden, visit a farmer’s market or subscribe to a CSA farm box to enjoy delicious fruits and vegetables in season.
Reduce emissions by choosing to carpool, walk, bike or use public transit. If driving, cut down on idling. Or buy an electric car.
Bring a refillable mug, a reusable water bottle or a reusable tote bag. Consider buying secondhand to save money and resources.
To reduce organic waste, Los Angeles residents are now required to compost biodegradable kitchen scraps. Create a countertop compost bin which you can then use in the garden or dispose of in your green recycling bin.
When not in use, turn off lights, TVs, computers and anything else that is plugged in — a power strip can make this easy. And when your laptop is fully charged, leave it unplugged to save hundreds of watts of power.
Halogen incandescents, CFLs and LEDs can cost more than traditional lightbulbs, but they use less energy and will save you money over time.
When it's time for new appliances, upgrade to an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly model for long term savings.
If you own your home, consider installing solar panels. Solar energy can be used to heat water and to generate electricity and heat.
Save water by turning off the tap when it's not in use or running your dishwasher and laundry only when full. Install low-flow toilets, faucets and water-efficient showerheads, or if you live in an arid region, convert your lawn to a drought-resistant landscape.
As new research and technological advancements become available, continue to learn and adopt new ways to reduce your carbon footprint and conserve the Earth’s resources.

Previous Connect Articles on UCLA Sustainability

The Ties That Bond UCLA and the Japan Alumni Association

n March 31, Chancellor Gene Block, Mrs. Carol Block and a small UCLA leadership delegation visited Tokyo for the Japan Alumni Association’s Westwood Reunion 2023. Like so many alumni events around the globe that unite Bruins, this one was not out of the ordinary with its cocktail reception, plated dinner and speeches. After all, this celebration has been an annual affair since 2016, but interrupted for the last three years due to the pandemic. And yet, this night was special for that very reason. With COVID restrictions recently lifted in Japan, the longest running international alumni network had once again assembled nearly 150 Japanese Bruins to reunite, reenergize and reaffirm its deep connections to UCLA.

Founded in 1975, the UCLA Japan Alumni Association is the largest and oldest alumni network outside of the U.S. Its first president, Yuji Tsutsumi ʼ65, established the Japanese branch at the request of then UCLA Chancellor Charles Young. Today, Japan is home to nearly 2,000 Bruins and the Japan Alumni Association has nearly 200 active members that span generations.

Their activities also span their members’ multitude of interests. Each fall they participate in New Student Send-offs for incoming Japanese UCLA students, and in the spring, they hold Hanami celebrations to view the blooming cherry blossoms. Their Young Alumni Network has hosted New Year’s mixers and career networking events, and the network helped with the beautification of Yumenoshima Marina for Volunteer Day 2022. In 2019, several lectures in Tokyo featured UCLA faculty and administrators who spoke on subjects ranging from physics and astronomy, to the healthcare industry to innovation and technology. These ties to the campus are built, sustained and reinforced by the Japan Alumni Association’s signature event.

Held at the luxurious Palace Hotel in Tokyo, the Westwood Reunion is the largest gathering of Bruins overseas. This was the first in-person dinner to be held since the pandemic, which added another layer of excitement to the event. The Association’s current president, Tomohiro Toyhama, L.L.M. ʼ84, started the tradition when he took office in 2016. He said, “I wanted a gathering where young people and old people in Japan can get together over a seated, plated dinner.” He acknowledged the difficulty in accessing and reaching the Bruin community in Japan, due to their lack of contact info. For him, this annual gathering, especially given its size, was a great way to reconnect with one another, to get the momentum going for future activities and having the UCLA Chancellor attend was always a good draw for their members.

Along with Tohyama, other speakers at the reunion included Chancellor Block; Hitoshi Abe, director of the UCLA Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies; Keith Terasaki ʼ77, M.D. ʼ83, chairman of the Terasaki Family Foundation; and Riki Kojima, MBA ʼ92, president of the Anderson Alumni Network: Japan Chapter. Abe spoke about the Terasaki Center and its role in supporting students and faculty studying about Japan. He’s always looking for ways to collaborate and strengthen the ties between the two organizations, with the Terasaki Center serving as the bridge for communications and resources. He said, “For instance, if we wanted to do a life science event, there may be people in the Japan Alumni Association who work in that industry or have connections to potential hosts for such an event. Of course, financial support can also happen, but more importantly, it’s the connection and knowledge they have that is the most valuable resource.” He mentioned that there were key members of the Japan Alumni Association who also serve on the Terasaki Institute’s Advisory Board, which is another platform for ongoing dialogue. “The Institute,” he said, “is a way to enhance the community we have in Japan.”

Dr. Terasaki, who chairs the Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies Advisory Board, is the son of the late Paul Terasaki ʼ50, M.A. ʼ52, Ph.D. ʼ56, a pioneer in the field of organ transplant medicine. Paul established the Terasaki Family Foundation which helps fund the Center for Japanese Studies and many other programs and research that benefit the Japanese community and society as a whole. Dr. Terasaki spoke at the reunion about his family, his commitment to UCLA and to the Japanese community in both countries. These were the same three things his father was most passionate about. He also expressed his amazement at this type of gathering of Japanese Bruins. Both Paul and Keith Terasaki are recipients of UCLA’s highest honor for alumni, the Edward A. Dickson Alumnus of the Year Award, with the father having received it in 2011, and the son to receive it this coming May.

The purpose of this meeting was to reestablish the strong and longstanding connections between UCLA and the Japan Alumni Association, as well as reunite Japanese Bruins. After a long hiatus from in-person gatherings and the loss of their passionate and active vice president Kenji Yokouchi in 2019, Tohyama acknowledged they still have a ways to go to get the “locomotive going” when it comes to their Association’s activities. From gathering alumni contact info to reorganizing their Office of the Secretary to finding successors to lead the community, he is optimistic about the future and hopes that one day they’ll be able to attract 500 to 1,000 Japanese alumni to this event. With support from UCLA and the Japanese American community in Los Angeles, the Japan Alumni Association is poised and ready to blossom into a new season.

For more information, or to get involved with the Japan Alumni Association, visit their website or join their Facebook group.

Bruin-Owned Photography Part Two

Photo by Vinukh Kalansuriya

hese Bruin-owned businesses showcase the work and art of Bruin photographers. Whether it’s for grad portraits or wedding shoots, corporate events or commercial ventures, you can support the arts and Bruin entrepreneurship by booking a shoot, buying prints or following them on social media to see their current and upcoming projects.

Michelle Guan '18

Current City: Los Angeles, California

Website: https://michelle8guan.wixsite.com/mguan

Social: @mguanphotography

My name is Michelle Guan and I graduated in 2018 with a B.S. in psychobiology. I am extremely grateful to have been able to stay at UCLA for medical school as part of the class of 2023 and am currently finishing up my last year of schooling. My love for photography began during college in 2016 when I started exploring Los Angeles with friends and a camera in hand. As I ventured more into the graduation photography scene, I enjoyed the new friends I met (some of whom ended up becoming my medical school classmates) and being able to immortalize moments of joy for others as they celebrated their achievements with their friends.

As I had more opportunities to travel, photography has also been a great medium for me to share with others the beauty of the landscapes and cultures found across the world. Five of my landscape photographs were published in the UCLA Health community's annual arts and literature magazine "The Beat."

Photography continues to be a way for me to find balance in life as I am pursuing my career in medicine, and I'm always looking forward to events or photoshoot collaborations with others. I hope to continue connecting with other Bruins and alumni clients throughout the years!

Photo Showcase:

**Description**: I absolutely love capturing these candid laughter moments, which can sometimes be difficult to produce when posing in front of a camera. I continue to make it my goal during every photoshoot to create a warm and relaxing environment so my client's personalities and styles will shine through!

Charline Messa '21

Current City: Los Angeles, California

Website: www.charlinemessa.com

Social: @charlinemessa

I started as a self-taught photographer in Brazil, my home country and where I had the opportunity to capture uncountable moments on and off stage for great artists and bands. After moving to Los Angeles, I decided to embrace photography as a career and chose to study at UCLA. I have always been fascinated with the idea of capturing a scene or a moment forever in time. During my childhood, I used to exercise my creativity by drawing, painting, organizing and doing handcraft activities. Bringing movement to a static image, playing with space, and interaction and proportion of objects with the environment inspired me to photograph toys and miniatures.

Photo Showcase:

**Description**: I’m constantly using my personal collection of toys as my models, playing with light, composition, poses and creating a dynamic environment inside static images. What inspires and fascinates me while working with objects are the infinite possibilities to explore the different colors, textures and shapes.

Kevin A. Gilligan '90

Current City: Torrance, California

Website: www.photosbykag.com

Social: @photosbykag

Kevin Gilligan ’90 is an award-winning landscape, portrait, sports photographer and destination workshop instructor. Based in L.A.’s South Bay, he frequently travels to capture the beauty of our national parks and stunning destinations, including Patagonia and the Italian Dolomites. In 2020, Gilligan’s image of the Three Towers in Torres del Paine National Park won a Bronze Award from the highly competitive Epson International Pano competition. His portrait work, including his recent solo exhibition “Developing Men,” has been gallery-exhibited and was featured by UCLA Magazine. His sports photography includes professional surfing, professional soccer and mixed martial arts. Gilligan is a second-degree black belt in Krav Maga, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is passionate about MMA. His images have been in over 30 group shows, three solo exhibitions and displayed in museums three times. Gilligan is also a full time-prosecutor who won UCLA’s Public Service Award in 2016.

Photo Showcase:

**Description:** It was challenging to choose only one image for this profile because I photograph and teach workshops in three areas: landscapes, portraits and sports. Traveling and shooting images is an incredible feeling. This image captured the "Three Towers" in Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. The hike to get to the location took 11 hours round trip with a 30lb. photo pack. At the top it was so cold I could only shoot for about five minutes before taking shelter from the wind behind large rocks. Although I hiked with a tripod, it was too cold to use it. Instead I took several images handheld and combined them in post production. This image represents many things to me: the wonder of exploration, natural beauty and determination. In the near future, I will conduct destination photo workshops to beautiful locations like Patagonia and the Italian Dolomites. I was thrilled that this image won a Bronze Award from the very competitive Epson International Pano Competition.

Vinukh Kalansuriya '21

Current City: Los Angeles, California

Website: https://thedarkroomjukebox.com

Social: @thedarkroomjukebox

My name is Vinukh and I am a recent grad from the University of California, Los Angeles. I studied sociology and film during my time there. I really developed my photography and filmmaking abilities on the back of a wont to capture moments and document them as a part of someone's life history.

My primary medium is film photography and have honed in on shooting mostly commercial and editorial work. I also have experience in concert and music festival photography. Some of my clients have included Insomniac, Google and Irvine Company Apartments.

Photo Showcase:

**Description**: This is one of my favorite pictures I've taken and I took it during my time at UCLA. I initially had started photography as a way of documenting my life so I had something to look through when I was older and show my kids whenever they asked me what my life was like when I was younger. This photo was a result of me taking pictures of my friends playing basketball, and it just happened to be so loved by people in my life and on the internet, that it kickstarted my whole journey of professional photography.

Serena Zhang '19

Current City: Los Angeles, California

Website: https://serenatyphotography.wixsite.com/photography

Social: @serenatyphoto

I have always loved the magic of capturing memories through photography. With thoughts and visions captured in shapes and lines, photography has the power to evoke strong feelings through nostalgia, imagination and familiar scenes. Photography has also given me the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and hear their stories. Whether it is a graduation session, an engagement session or a lifestyle shoot, photography allowed me to capture and share in the joy that the clients may reminisce in for years to come.

Photo Showcase:

**Description**: I selected this photo because graduation season is my favorite time of the year and I love capturing the glowing joy of grads with this tremendous achievement.

Selina Pan '21

Current City: San Francisco, California

Website: https://shotbysel.myportfolio.com/

Social: @shotbysel

After receiving a camera as a gift on my 16th birthday, I originally wanted to practice and build a portfolio in the editorial and fashion space. I loved planning creative photoshoots with any of my friends that wanted to model for me. I dabbled in sessions with a wide variety of backgrounds, props and lighting. In college, I joined organizations and worked on several projects with different focuses like fashion and dance. I also started building my name in the graduation space at UCLA and other local colleges, and started branching out to shooting events. My recent focus has shifted towards portraits and events, with a heavy emphasis on graduation portrait photography, families and babies, and weddings. I discovered a love for capturing candid moments and documenting growth and milestones. I'm grateful to have experienced various facets of the photography industry, and ultimately, I love working with people, capturing real life moments and emotions.

Photo Showcase:

**Description**: The subject in this photograph is my best friend from my childhood and the first "model" I worked with when I started photography. Three years prior to this image, we had shot another milk bath photography series when it was Instagram trending. This shoot was inspired by a desire to try and not just recreate, but improve upon a past idea. This image is special to me because it showcases the development of my photography skills and passion, as well as the growth of my ability to plan and direct a photoshoot. It also goes to show how far the two of us have come, from our very first shoot to our original milk bath shoot to this most recent shoot.

Miranda Montenegro '20

Current City: Los Angeles, California

Website: https://www.mirandamontenegro.com

Social: @mirandaelmontenegro

My name is Miranda Montenegro and I am a filmmaker and photographer. I made photography my passion after interning and eventually working for UCLA Radio in their photo/video department. I have photographed countless artists and bands including Greta Van Fleet, Da Baby, Bishop Briggs and Ruel, and created content for Gibson Guitars and Stila Cosmetics. In 2019, I DP’d two short films, "Velour" and "Love Letter to Los Angeles," and co-wrote "Rate My Poetry: An Anthology on the Poetics of the Review." In 2020, I co-directed an award-winning mockumentary, "The Internet's First Girl Band," and directed my first fiction short film, "Hey Joe." In 2022, I wrote and directed my sophomore short, "U.S. vs. Beltran" and produced and edited the dark comedy "The Good Father." Additionally, I have interned for Sony Pictures Entertainment, Montecito Picture Company and Entravision Communications Corporation. I graduated from University of California, Los Angeles in March 2020 with a B.A. in English and concentration in film, television and digital media. I am a second-year M.F.A. film and TV production student at University of Southern California.

I am currently serving as a director's assistant on a Disney+ television show scheduled for a fall 2023 release. I am self-represented and take clients on a limited basis.

Photo Showcase:

**Description**: I love that this image signals that we are in a female's court. Ball is in her court and we are awaiting her wicked serve. As the Trump Administration was ramping up their reelection efforts, I wanted to show that females are more empowered than ever to claim their power.

Sabrina Yeung '13

Current City: Bay Area, Ohio

Website: https://www.syeungphotography.com/

Social: @syeungphoto

Since childhood, I've loved the idea of being able to capture moments in time through a photograph. I bought my first camera during my time at UCLA. While I should have been studying for my neurosci exams, I spent hours wandering around campus and different parts of West L.A. with my camera in hand, practicing and developing my photographic style.

During my senior year, I photographed my first wedding for a friend that I had met at UCLA. After graduation, I moved to the Bay Area and with the encouragement from friends, started my wedding and portrait photography business. Ten years later, I am working full-time as a product manager and continue to run my photography business.

Photo Showcase:

**Description**: When I first started my business, I had a few venues in mind that I wanted to photograph, yet they seemed so far out of reach. A few years later, this was one of the first weddings I had the opportunity to photograph at one of those venues. I'm so thankful for everyone who has encouraged me along the way and entrusted me to capture memories for them!

If you are a Bruin photographer, send us an email at connectfeedback@alumni.ucla.edu for possible inclusion into this page. Include your website, social handle, class year and a short one-paragraph bio. We will follow up to request additional info.

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Travel Journal - Egypt & the Eternal Nile

Article and photos by Hon Hoang ʼ14

his was my first time on the continent of Africa, let alone Egypt. Words could not thoroughly describe how excited I was at the prospect of seeing monuments and world wonders I’d only seen in the media. To step foot onto a land and walk the same paths that so many others have done for millennia; to see cascading waves of sand brush past the horizon as the sun sets ꟷ these were moments that I’ve only imagined and it became a reality. For two weeks, I had the privilege of being part of a tour through Egypt with UCLA Alumni Travel. Going from Cairo to the southern border of Egypt and then back up to Luxor by cruising on riverboats on Lake Nasser and the River Nile, it was an experience that was magical and honest. I saw the country outside its major city limits. I observed villages along the Nile. I visited monuments thousands of years old. And I learned about the people who called Egypt home.

There was a sense of surrealism that enveloped me as I left the confines of the airport. Things felt the same, but were somehow different. As the distance between me and the airport grew, I entered through the city limits to a new reality. It dawned on me that I was a long ways from home. I started noticing the little details: how the air and even the sunshine felt different. This was how I felt when I observed my first sunrise and sunset in Egypt. I wondered if it was the same sun I’ve always known. I wondered if the deep red amber light was a product of the sand and dust while I gazed upon the pyramids of Giza looming in the horizon as the sun said hello and goodbye to the day.

The awe and wonder didn’t strike me all at once as I stood in front of the monuments I’ve only seen in history books and in varying media ever since I was a child. It slowly settled over me like the fine grains of sand on top of surfaces in Egypt. I wondered how much of what I was experiencing was a dream. Then the sights, sounds and sensations reminded me that, for now, this was my reality and that meant I was standing before the Pyramids of Giza, The Temple of Abu Simbel and The Sphinx. As the tour continued on, so did the list of great wonders.

Like any good story, a setting always needs characters to make any tale worth telling. Traveling is nothing without the people who make the destination, with the exception of a few locations. It would be difficult for me to experience a place without learning and immersing myself in the culture my temporary home hoped to provide. Hospitality, especially as it related to tourism, can easily be dismissed as capitalistic opportunity, but this can be said about any tourist destination. Once I began exploring on my own, outside of locations with high tourist traffic, I found that locals had a genuine curiosity and earnestness to interact with travelers. There was reciprocating curiosity as I passed by observing vendors and shopkeepers, exchanging civilities and warm smiles.

One of the most memorable moments for me did not involve visiting one of the Egypt's ancient structures, but having lunch with a farmer and his family, as our tour group met them at their home. We were granted an opportunity to see how some people in Egypt lived and how they made their living with what the River Nile provided.

I would be remiss not to mention our various modes of transportation as they were experiences unto themselves. It may not seem appealing at first having to take a bus through the deserts of Egypt, but it was during these times that I saw the finer moments that can't be found in guide books or captured on celluloid or printed in the history books. Like seeing the many grains of sand that make up the desert, or observing the grand expanse of what nature has to offer, and realizing how Egyptians have been able to adapt and thrive in such harsh environments. These were the moments that made my trip.

Beyond our bus rides through the cities and deserts, I also found myself on riverboats that transported us from Lake Nasser to the River Nile up to Luxor. These boat rides were exemplary floating hotels that took us from one ancient temple to another. These temples may have been the highlights of the day for some, but for me, it was the moments in between that made it a memorable experience. The early mornings watching the sun rise over the manmade Lake Nasser as we rode motorboats to the shores towards our temple du jour. Observing the crashing waves against the side of the riverboat, still in awe that Egyptians spent 10 years making such a lake. Cruising on the River Nile as the calls to prayer echoed throughout the horizon. As the setting sun reminded the religious to be closer to God, I was reminded where I was in the world.

Through these words and images, I could only capture so much, but what couldn’t be encapsulated were the sounds and sensations that made up the experience. Depending on the time of year, the time of day and who happens to be present in the moment, popular destinations can be distinctively your own. This trip may have been a shared experience, but it was somehow still distinctively my own. How you travel and what you experience will always be based on how you approach traveling: what you decide to let in and what you decide to leave behind. There’s so much more to be said about this unforgettable trip, so for everything else that was left unsaid, perhaps you’ll have to experience Egypt for yourself.

Egypt & the Eternal Nile

Going Global: A Lifetime of Learning From Studying Abroad

n-person summer study abroad programs are returning for the first time since the pandemic. It’s the chance of a lifetime to learn about distant cultures and broaden horizons, but it’s really just the beginning of how much students have to gain from international travel. From finding new career paths to forming lifetime friendships, UCLA alumni reflect on the value of studying abroad and serve as a reminder that it is never too late to go global.

For John Arboleda ’96, going global is a mindset. Since participating in the University of California Education Abroad Program (EAP), Arboleda’s passion for travel has taken him across the world. Arboleda, who is also a former member of the UCLA Alumni Association Board of Directors, says that the perspectives he has gained abroad enables him to effectively communicate with people of all backgrounds and navigate a range of challenges—from exploring Machu Picchu by himself in the summer entering his senior year at UCLA to making the decision to leave everything behind and move to Germany to begin his life working abroad. His dedication to exploring the world beyond Los Angeles long after graduation only proves that traveling is a timeless way of engaging in continued learning and exploration.

While Arboleda began his international journey in Argentina and Chile as an EAP student, he has worked in Europe for the past 18 years and currently lives in Barcelona with his family.

“This is a life we never imagined, so for me, it's never stopped,” Arboleda says. “It's just been the next chapter of my EAP experiences.”

As Arboleda navigated unfamiliar public transit systems and balanced the demands of his courseloads in Latin America, he also forged lifelong friendships. In Santiago, Arboleda encountered a UC Berkeley student who was also looking for housing. Together, they sought out a local family renting the extra rooms of their home.

“This is a life we never imagined, so for me, it's never stopped. It's just been the next chapter of my EAP experiences."

Today, Arboleda says, that UC Berkeley student has become his best friend. She continues her own travels abroad during her regular visits to Arboleda and his family in Barcelona. The former EAP participants, whose friendship was formed across continents, have enjoyed watching their children grow up together during the families’ yearly reunions—a testament to the unexpected benefits of studying abroad.“

For me that was like, ‘Wow, that was a great program,’” Arboleda says. “But I think that program can be as much as you want it to be, and it was definitely much more than I expected.” Years after his own experiences abroad, Arboleda has helped other Bruins make the most of their travels. Four years in a row leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, Arboleda invited UCLA students in the Spanish department into his Barcelona home. As he introduced students to his children and showed them around his apartment, Arboleda proved that connecting with UCLA's vast alumni network can enrich the student experience.

For Megan Jensen ’08, studying abroad in Italy and Mexico was initially a way of strengthening her language skills and earning credits toward her degree. However, she returned to the U.S. with a greater passion for international education and a career path that would take her across the globe.

Jensen built upon the international development coursework she had taken in Mexico and pursued a master’s degree in international education. She has since continued to grow her global mindset and expand on her travels abroad after receiving a Fulbright grant to work in South Africa and develop literacy programs for local high schools.“

Being in Mexico and doing that program helped me to explore how different communities experience literacy,” Jensen says. “That exploration, it really just validated for me my own desire to support people in local communities in accessing education.”

"(Study abroad) can also just serve the goal of having some fun, because life during the pandemic has not been very fun for a lot of people."

When asked what she anticipates students will get out of their experiences abroad this summer, Jensen says that she hopes Bruins will find whatever they’re looking for as they embark on their international journey. She believes the return of in-person study abroad programs can bring happiness and fulfillment to students’ lives after living in a largely virtual world throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“(Study abroad) can also just serve the goal of having some fun, because life during the pandemic has not been very fun for a lot of people,” Jensen said. “Being able to have the opportunity to travel again, I hope, just brings some joy and adventure.”

Malika Pandey, a third-year student majoring in political science and public affairs and minoring in education studies, hopes to follow in the footsteps of Arboleda and Jensen by forging her own adventures in Colombia this summer as a member of UCLA’s Global Internship Program. After growing up in Southern California, Pandey says she is excited to learn more about Colombian culture and art, while also building upon her own Spanish speaking skills and passion for educational policy.

“I wanted to move somewhere that was different, somewhere that I would learn a lot about myself as well as the culture in the country,” Pandey says. “My view of the world is limited by the fact that … those around me, we all come from the same kind of common culture and the same kind of knowledge base.”

However, upon the conclusion of the 2021-22 school year, Pandey was no longer a stranger to the world beyond Los Angeles. As a participant in the UCLA Quarter in Washington Program in spring 2022, Pandey developed a new set of skills which empowered her to live over 2,000 miles away from home for the first time. From learning to take advantage of D.C.’s professional networking culture to navigating the metro system on a daily basis, Pandey successfully passed a 10-week crash course in adapting and adjusting to a new way of life.

"I wanted to move somewhere that was different, somewhere that I would learn a lot about myself as well as the culture in the country."

Perhaps most important, Pandey says that living in D.C. has helped her realize that she can find happiness beyond California—something that she hopes to continue to learn this summer.

“I have a lot of appreciation for other people and other ways of living your life,” Pandey says. “Applying that to Colombia, I think it'll be the same thing, but on an even more drastic scale.”

The opportunities UCLA provides through its study abroad program are invaluable. For many Bruins, it’s just the beginning of what can turn into a career exploration and a lifelong learning experience.

Lessons I Learned at UCLA By Antonia Klima, Class of 2021

hen I began my studies at UCLA in the fall of 2017, I was thrilled to be attending the No. 1 public university in the nation as a psychology and theater minor. I was hopeful that I would make lifelong friends and create memories that I would cherish forever. But most of all, I couldn’t wait to enjoy the delectable food at the famous UCLA dining halls. While my time at UCLA may not have gone exactly as I had originally envisioned, I am grateful to have learned lifelong lessons that will hopefully help future Bruins.

Be Present
It is easy to get caught up in the blue and gold spectacle that is UCLA, with the sports games, tailgates, bonfires and celebrations. But make sure to consistently take mental pictures because you will want to remember everything when you’re gone. Even the little things: picnicking on Janss, walking back to The Hill from class or even grabbing dinner with someone on your floor. You never know what the future holds so be present in the now.

Be Confident
As a student at UCLA, you will find yourself in classes with the highest achieving students from all over the world. Don’t let your classmates intimidate you or make you feel like you don’t deserve to be there. Push the urge to give in to imposter syndrome aside and remember that you worked your butt off to get to this moment and you can do it again!

Be Flexible
College is full of unknowns. Don’t get stuck in a fixed mindset of needing to take certain classes at certain times or live in certain areas. You never know, maybe not being able to take that geography class sophomore year will allow you to take something completely different and will help you find a new interest. Or maybe a fire near campus will cause you to evacuate but will ultimately allow you to make some great memories with your friends away from Westwood. Planning is always helpful, but make sure you have an eraser handy.

Be Yourself
Nobody knows you better than yourself, so why not ensure that those you meet get to see the true, authentic you? Obviously, this is much easier said than done, but at a place like UCLA, don’t try to be someone you’re not just to fit in with a friend group or organization on campus. Don’t be afraid to sing your heart out at your dorm’s karaoke night or go on and on about your favorite movie. As Oscar Wilde once said, “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.”

Antonia Klima graduated in June with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in theater. She will be attending The George Washington University this fall to pursue a Master’s in Forensic Psychology to further her career goal of becoming a criminal profiler for the FBI. Originally from Studio City, Klima founded the Hellenic Student Association at UCLA her freshman year and served as a marketing assistant in the Alumni Association in her final three years.

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