Letter from the ULAA President

Dear UCLA Latino Alumni Association (ULAA) Community,

I write with great excitement and gratitude as the incoming President of the UCLA Latino Alumni Association. I would first like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our immediate past president, Cesar Pacheco, and the entire board for their dedication, leadership, and many accomplishments over the past year. I also want to recognize and honor all of the leaders who have served ULAA since its founding in 1989. Their commitment and vision have helped build the strong foundation upon which we continue to grow and serve the Latino Bruin community today.

As a first-generation college student and proud two-time UCLA graduate, I am deeply honored to serve this incredible community. UCLA has profoundly shaped my life. It is where I earned my degrees, met my partner, and developed the values and experiences that continue to guide me personally and professionally. Like many of you, UCLA will always hold a special place in my heart.

I step into this role at a pivotal moment in our university’s history as UCLA prepares to become a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). This milestone reflects both the growing presence of Latino students on campus and the tremendous opportunity we have as alumni to support their success. At the same time, this moment comes as UCLA, like universities across the country, is navigating unprecedented challenges, including significant changes in public funding, evolving legal and institutional landscapes, and broader questions about how universities can continue creating opportunities and supporting students from historically underrepresented communities. UCLA is being called upon to change, adapt, and innovate while continuing to uphold its commitment to excellence as a world-class public research university.

These changes are also unfolding within a broader context that directly affects many members of our Latino community. Shifted and shifting governmental and immigration policies create uncertainty for many students, alumni, and their families, making it especially important that our alumni organization remain connected and informed. We have an important role to play in understanding the realities facing our community and partnering with UCLA to identify meaningful ways we can support students, alumni, and the University during these changing times.

As we look ahead, we are committed to building upon the strong foundation established by the many leaders, volunteers, and members who have dedicated their time and talents to ULAA over the years. This includes strengthening our partnerships across UCLA, including with the HSI Initiatives and the Latinx Success Center, as we work together to better understand the needs of Latino students and identify opportunities for alumni engagement, mentorship, advocacy, and support.

For decades, ULAA has served as a source of connection, mentorship, advocacy, and community for Bruins across generations. My vision is to continue strengthening that legacy while expanding our reach so that more alumni know about ULAA, engage with our programs, and see themselves reflected in our work. I want ULAA to be a welcoming home for every Latino Bruin, regardless of graduation year, profession, background, or level of involvement.

As an educator, I have spent my career focused on students and their success. I have also been fortunate to benefit from mentors who invested in my growth and opened doors for me along the way. Those experiences have reinforced my belief in the power of community and the importance of lifting each other as we climb.

Ironically, while I was a student at UCLA, I didn’t know ULAA existed. My hope is that future students never have that experience. I want every student to know there is a community of alumni ready to support them, celebrate them, and help them navigate their journey at UCLA and beyond.

At the same time, I believe that growth requires reflection. While we can be proud of all that ULAA has accomplished, we must continue asking how we can better serve our alumni, students, and community. My commitment is to lead with collaboration, transparency, and a willingness to listen. The strongest organizations continuously learn, adapt, and evolve.

As we look ahead, I believe this is a critical time for ULAA to embrace our role as advocates. Our voices, our experiences, and our collective power matter, and this is the time to use them. Through intentional advocacy, community engagement, and meaningful partnerships, we can help ensure that Latino students and alumni are seen, heard, supported, and represented. This is our moment to stand together, speak up, and create the change our community deserves.

Over the coming year, I hope to connect with many of you, hear your stories, learn about your experiences, and explore ways to strengthen our collective impact. Whether you have been involved with ULAA for decades or are just discovering our community, you have a place here.

Thank you for your continued support of ULAA and UCLA. Together, we have an opportunity to honor our past, strengthen our present, and help shape the future for the next generation of Bruins. I look forward to working alongside you.

Con mucho orgullo y gratitud,

Dra. Maritza Cha

Incoming President

UCLA Latino Alumni Association

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