Faculty Women's Club
Founded in 1918 and the longest existing UCLA support group on campus, the UCLA Faculty Women’s Club (FWC) welcomes active and retired faculty and professional staff and their spouses and significant others. We represent all corners of the campus, share common interests and engage in stimulating educational and social activities. Central to our mission is the annual awarding of more than $20,000 in scholarships to graduate and undergraduate UCLA students.
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Join us
One of the oldest organizations on campus, the UCLA Faculty Women’s Club (FWC) welcomes active and retired faculty, professional staff, and all persons whose spouses or significant others are faculty members or professional staff*. This gathering of diverse individuals share common interests and engage in stimulating educational events.
Engage with us
Our activities include five General Meetings per academic year featuring lectures and discussions on current issues by experts in a diverse range of fields, including science, philanthropy, policy making, and the arts. We have dynamic Special Interest groups that keep our members engaged in a wide array of activities including sports, music, literature, languages, international cuisine, and entertainment.
Support us
The FWC annually awards numerous need- and merit-based scholarships to UCLA students. These scholarships have grown from a single award of $30.00 in the 1920s to many in the range of $4000 – $5000 today. Contributions from members and friends are deposited with the UCLA Foundation; the interest earned on these funds is used to award FWC Scholarships.
our story
The UCLA Faculty Women’s Club originated as a political action group. In 1918 there were moves afoot to create a four-year college in Southern California. Focusing on women’s groups in the State, women of the faculty of the Los Angeles Normal School formed a Faculty Women’s Club in order to help garner support for the proposed four-year college.
In 1919, the Normal School became the Southern Branch of the University of California. Once the political objective was achieved, the FWC met to consider the club’s future. By the spring of 1920 the first constitution and purpose of the FWC of the Southern Branch of the University of California had been drafted.
faculty women's club events
New York Tri-State Network: UCLA / Cal Alumni Book Club: “Billion Dollar Whale,” by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope
In September our book group discusses a true story of corruption. An epic true-tale of hubris and greed from two Pulitzer-finalist Wall Street Journal reporters, Billion Dollar Whale reveals how…
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scholarship and support
The FWC annually awards numerous need- and merit-based scholarships to UCLA students. These scholarships have grown from a single award of $30.00 in the 1920s to many in the range of $2000 – $4000 today. Contributions from members and friends are deposited with the UCLA Foundation; the interest earned on these funds is used to award FWC Scholarships.
We encourage members and friends to remember loved ones with a gift to the UCLA FWC Scholarship Program. Memorial scholarships may be established with a minimum donation of $1,500.
our funds
the FWC endowment fund
Help fund our endowment, which is used to award scholarships to deserving students.
the current expenditure fund
Help fund our operations by contributing to this fund.
special interest sections
FWC members are encouraged to participate in as many sections as they wish.
The Birthday Club celebrates FWC members’ birthdays with a potluck lunch on 2nd Wednesdays. Celebrants are invited to share their personal and family histories.
The Book Section meets every 2nd Tuesday afternoon for book reviews, discussions, recommendations, and much more. The December meeting is devoted to suggestions for holiday gifts; the May meeting features a local writer discussing his or her work.
Bridge meets the first and third Thursdays.
Two Foreign Language Sections — Members practice their language skills through conversation and reading.
- French Reading and Conversation meets 2nd and 4th Monday mornings.
- German Conversation meets 2nd and 4th Tuesday mornings..
Galleries and Sights meets ~five times annually to explore cultural landmarks of Los Angeles and nearby areas. Note: All trips are suspended during the pandemic.
Hiking meets every Friday at 8:30 AM. Trails are selected by mutual agreement of the participating hikers. Note: During the pandemic, however, they meet virtually at 7:00 PM on third Thursdays to share stories of past, present, and future hikes.
International Cooking meets every 3rd Monday evening to share culinary skills with a foreign or eclectic flair.
Music in Cultural Contexts meets on 3rd Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:30. Members play and/or listen to a variety of musical genres, styles, and media; interpret, discuss, and analyze musical pieces; and reflect on the interdisciplinary nature of the arts.
Play Reading meets at 7 p.m., every 2nd Thursday evening via Zoom or in person at the UCLA Faculty Center for an informal study of classical and contemporary drama and comedy. Participate in a reading or join the group as an observer to enjoy an evening of theater and discussion. The plays span centuries–from Lysistrata to Photograph 51.
As times change, so do our Sections. Bicycling, Bird Study, Chess, Computer/Desktop Publishing, Garden Tours, Genealogy, Golf, Jazz Appreciation, Knit Happens, Let’s Do Lunch, Mah Jongg, Moms and Kids, Movies, Next Generation, Safety, Swimming, Tennis, Travel, Wine Tasting, and Writers and Storytellers are Sections that are currently inactive but may be reactivated if there is sufficient interest.
If interested in any of these sections or if you have an idea for a new section, please contact the FWC at UCLAFWC@alumni.ucla.edu and put “Sections” as the subject or to the UCLA Faculty Women’s Club, PO Box 49363, Los Angeles CA 90049.
leadership
board officers
president
Renee Fortier
past president
Anne-Marie Spataru
treasurer
Katie Lee
parliamentarian and bylaws
Anne-Marie Spataru
vice president of programs
Zorana Ercegovac
vice president of sections
Rochelle Caballero
recording secretary
Dorota Dabrowska
corresponding secretary
Eileen Callahan
historian/archivist
Debby Wagger
university club representative
Anne-Marie Spataru
hospitality
Helene DesRuisseaux
membership processing
Sandy (Tuan) Yin
scholarships and fundraising
Marianne Afifi
Dr. Kele Stone
past presidents panel
Patti Nagy
Jo Knopoff
off board coordinators
email coordinator
Rochelle Caballero
FWC blogger
Zorana Ercegovac
IT facilitator – FWC zoomer
Marianne Afifi
member database
Marilyn Slater
Kelsey Liber
member mailing
Dagmar Lestrel
update editors
Dianne Homsher
Patti Nagy
Rochelle Caballero
webmaster
Marianne Afifi