Gold Shield, Alumnae of UCLA
Gold Shield is an honorary organization of distinguished UCLA alumnae who are committed to advancing the university through philanthropy, mentorship, and service. Since 1936, our members have played a pivotal role in supporting students, recognizing faculty excellence, and preserving UCLA’s rich academic legacy.
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gold shield faculty prize
$35,000 Unrestricted Award for Academic Excellence
Gold Shield Alumnae of UCLA established the Faculty Prize in 1986 to honor outstanding teaching with recognition and a meaningful monetary award—one that could make a real difference in the lives of outstanding faculty in the middle of their academic careers.
Awarded annually, the Gold Shield Faculty Prize recognizes a UCLA faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional achievement in undergraduate teaching, research or creative work, and service to the university. Since its inception, 30 remarkable faculty members have received this honor.
The prize alternates each year between north and south campus disciplines at UCLA on alternating years. Congratulations to Professor Leisy Abrego, Chicana/o and Central American Studies, who was awarded the Faculty Prize this year and was featured in the UCLA Newsroom.
In 2027, the Gold Shield Faculty Prize will recognize a faculty member representing a discipline from a school or department of the south campus of UCLA.
nominating criteria
The recipient of the award must be a mid-career full professor (Step I through V) who has a distinguished record of undergraduate teaching and a terminal degree for at least ten years. Additional criteria include extraordinary accomplishment and promise in research or creative activity, evidence of service to the university, and a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
nomination instructions
To be considered for the award, faculty must be nominated by a UCLA colleague. A complete list of nomination requirements, instructions, and selection criteria are detailed in the Gold Shield Faculty Prize nomination packet, which may be viewed or downloaded by clicking the link below.
award timeline
- Nominations are due by 5:00pm on February 12, 2027
- A Faculty Prize recipient will be selected by April 30, 2027
- Award recipient will be notified in May 2027
questions?
Please contact:
Sandra Hwang
Gold Shield Faculty Prize Coordinator
shwang@support.ucla.edu
Gold Shield Faculty Prize Chair
facultyprize@gmail.com
gold shield faculty prize: past recipients
2025 – Amy Rowat, Integrative Biology & Physiology
2024 – David D. Kim, European Languages and Transcultural Studies
2023 – Anastassia Alexandrova, Chemistry & Biochemistry
2021 – Adriana Galván, Psychology and Dean of Undergraduate Education
2020 – Janet O’Shea, World Arts and Cultures/Dance
2019 – Paul Barber, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
2018 – Daniel Fessler, Anthropology
2017 – Daniel Blumstein, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
2016 – Charlene Villaseñor Black, Chicana/o Studies and Art History
2015 – Neil Garg, Chemistry & Biochemistry
2014 – Brenda Stevenson, History
2013 – Luisa Iruela-Arispe, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology
2012 – Kevin Terraciano, History
2011 – Matthew Lieberman, Psychology
2010 – David Gere, World Arts and Culture
2009 – Robin Garrell, Chemistry, Biochemistry
2008 – Alicia Gaspar de Alba, Chair, Cesar E. Chavez Chicano Studies
2007 – William J. Kaiser, Electrical Engineering
2006 – Robert N. Watson, English
2004 – Andrea Ghez, Physics and Astronomy
2002 – Richard B. Kaner, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2000 – Utpal Banerjee, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
1998 – Bob Goldberg, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
1996 – Peter Narins, Physiological Science
1994 – Albert A. Braunmuller, English
1992 – J. William Schopf, Earth and Space Sciences
1990 – Jeffrey Alexander, Sociology
1988 – Patricia Marks Greenfield, Psychology
1986 – Michael E. Jung, Chemistry and Biochemistry