Class Notes Category: Career

Gigi Berardi, M.A. ’88 The newest book by Gigi Berardi, M.A. ’88, “Bianca’s Cure” (She Writes Press/Simon & Schuster) will be released Feb. 10 and has already received favorable reviews including in Kirkus and BookLife, and has been included in a select list for BookSirens. An article published by Western Washington University, where she is…

Areen Babajanian ’08 Areen Babajanian ’08, who earned his B.A. summa cum laude in economics, has been named partner in the Los Angeles office of Fisher Phillips. Known for his tactical mastery of California wage-and-hour law, Babajanian’s career is defined by his unique perspective from “both sides of the v.” Formerly a prominent plaintiffs’ side…

Christopher Baylor, Ph.D. ’12 Christopher Baylor, Ph.D. ’12, a lecturer in the political science department, has released a new book, “The Case Against Political Parties,” which is available to all, free of charge. Baylor is featured in a UCLA Newsroom article, in which he discusses his motivation for writing the book, his thoughts on the…

Jacob Bloom, M.A. ’15 Jacob Bloom, M.A. ’15, AIA, LFA, has been named a senior associate for the 2026 business year by CambridgeSeven, a prominent architecture and design firm headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since joining the firm in 2011, Bloom has built a reputation as a multi-disciplined designer with a strong foundation in modeling and…

Shaun I. Abuzalaf ’08 Shaun I. Abuzalaf ’08 has joined the Los Angeles office of Fox Rothschild as a Partner in the Litigation Department. “We are thrilled to welcome Shaun to Fox and we look forward to him joining the accomplished team of litigators who regularly handle complex and high-stakes disputes for our valued clients,”…

Celesta M. Billeci ’88 On Dec. 18, 2025, The Music Center announced that Celesta M. Billeci ’88, the lauded Miller McCune executive director emerita of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Arts & Lectures, will join L.A.’s performing arts center as principal strategic dance advisor for the institution’s Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The…

Katya Karlova ’08 Katya Karlova ’08 has written a book, “Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power,” and companion journal detailing her decades-long struggle with chronic pain and the difficulty she had to even get a correct diagnosis. “I definitely never planned on writing a book but if it helps any other women and their loved ones while…

Kathleen Contreras ’76, Ph.D. ’00 “Born to Play Béisbol: The Magical Career of Fernando Valenzuela” by Kathleen Contreras ’76, Ph.D. ’00, won the Gold Star award at the recent Latino Book Awards for Most Inspirational Children’s Book and Best Sports Book. “It is the first children’s book on the L.A. Dodger legend,” Contreras said, “and…

Angel M. Bermudez ’88 Hon. Angel M. Bermudez ’88 (Ret.) has joined the panel of JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide. Bermudez joins with more than 18 years of service on the Riverside County Superior Court, where he spent the majority of his tenure presiding over civil matters. During…

Kameelah L. Martin, M.A. ’03, Ph.D. Kameelah L. Martin, M.A. ’03, Ph.D., is the editor of new book on Julie Dash, M.F.A. ’85. The latest installment in the “Conversations with Filmmakers Series,” the book is an in-depth exploration of the life, career and creative processes of one of the most groundbreaking filmmakers in American cinema.…