Jonathan Moss, M.Ed. '10
Jonathan Moss, M.Ed. '10, has followed a path of service to others, and credits his time at UCLA, where he earned a master of education degree, with enhancing that commitment. He recently described his life and career path.
While serving as a Teach For America corps member in Compton, I pursued my master’s degree in education at UCLA. The program deepened my commitment to equity in education and equipped me with the tools to advocate for my students, many of whom rose from below basic to exceeding grade-level proficiency. I also had the privilege of testifying in the landmark Vergara v. California case to help improve teacher quality for the lowest-performing schools.
Crossing into conflict zones by bamboo raft to reach vulnerable communitiesUCLA was a bridge in my journey — linking my years in the classroom with the broader call to public service that followed. The values I strengthened here — equity, perseverance and a commitment to those most in need — carried me into the Navy, where I commissioned as a Special Operations (EOD) officer and served for eight years. During deployments in Southeast Asia, I encountered the civil war in Burma and saw firsthand how landmines and bombs were devastating civilian communities.
Since leaving the Navy, I have joined the Free Burma Rangers as a humanitarian relief bomb technician. I now trek through conflict zones to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance, provide medical aid, and bring support to internally displaced communities. My wife, Rachel, a trauma therapist, and I live with our young son in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where we serve full-time as volunteers, raising all our own support.
With displaced families in Burma, bringing hope and reliefI recently published a field report titled Restoring Safe Ground in Burma, which highlights our efforts to make homes, fields and churches safer so families can return and rebuild their lives:
Jonathan, Rachel and Eli Moss in Chiang Mai, ThailandLooking ahead, my long-term goal is to expand demining operations beyond Burma to protect victims of war trapped in conflict zones worldwide. The foundation for this work — first as a teacher in Compton, later as an officer, and now as a humanitarian — was laid in no small part at UCLA.
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