Bruin Stories |

Michael Teitell ’85, M.S. ’85, Ph.D. ’91, M.D. ’93

At some point in life, nearly everyone will be affected by a cancer diagnosis, either directly or through someone they know. Which is why the stakes are high for Dr. Michael Teitell, director of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCLA-JCCC), one of the nation’s top cancer centers. The center has more than 500 physicians […]

Venu Kotamraju ’95, M.B.A. ’99

Venu Kotamraju’s story is a testament to the ability to find and create communities across cultures and borders. Born in Hyderabad, India, he came to the U.S. at age two so that his mother could pursue a medical residency in Baltimore, MD. Though Venu does not remember his time living in India, he does recall […]

Edie Lush ’92

In popular culture, the term “butterfly effect” refers to the way seemingly small, insignificant occurrences can bring about – or exert great influence over – ostensibly unrelated events. The name derives from a mathematical model of weather that showed a tiny change in initial conditions (like a butterfly flapping its wings) can have a huge […]

Todd Abrahamson ’92

I was enjoying the experience right up to the point where I blacked out and began having minor convulsions. This was the ultimate joy ride – the backseat of a US Navy FA-18 fighter jet, and not just any jet, but one of the jets flown by the Blue Angels. The Blue Angels represent the […]

Shane Acker M.Arch ’98, M.F.A. ’04

It’s difficult to tell where a student project might take a person. Take Shane Acker M.Arch ’98, M.F.A. ’04, whose animated short film 9 won a 2005 Student Academy Award, landed him a production deal and earned him a 2006 Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short Film. “That’s right,” Acker says, “my dreams have […]

Val Ackerman ’85

Val Ackerman ’85 is a recognized and highly respected leader in the sports industry. She has devoted her career to the sport of basketball and is best known as the founding President of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the first woman to serve as President of USA Basketball, which oversees the U.S. men’s […]

Liz Aguilar-Tarchi ’79

As the daughter of parents who immigrated from Guatemala, I was the first in my family to attend college. I could not have attended a better University than UCLA. I spent my junior year (1977-78) abroad in Padova, Italy, where I met the man who would become my husband years later. I went on to […]

Farooq Ahmed ’03

As a UCLA undergrad, Farooq Ahmed’s eyes were set on building a career in real estate. What steps did he take to get to his current position as a Home Mortgage Consultant for Wells Fargo? What advice does he have for those interested in the real estate profession? Additionally, a primary component of Farooq’s job […]

Sefa Aina ’97

Throughout his undergraduate career, Sefa Aina ’97 demonstrated a unique commitment to honoring his heritage by advancing educational opportunity for Asian American and Pacific Islander groups across Southern California. This commitment not only opened multiple avenues of work for Aina after graduation, but it gave him the wherewithal and focus to affect change on a […]

Hassan Akmal ’01, M.P.H. ’04

Professional tennis player Hassan Akmal ’01, M.P.H. ’04 has used his talent and influence to extend a helping hand to many. Akmal reached out to disadvantaged children from Pakistan as an international ambassador of Right to Play, an athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses sport as a tool for the development of youth in disadvantaged […]

Anthony Allman ’08

In a relatively short period of time, Anthony Allman ’08 has done a lot to make us proud to be an American and a Bruin. After serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, he attended UCLA and became a strong advocate for veterans’ causes. He helped established the Military Veterans Organization at UCLA, led an effort to […]

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