Wendy Greuel

UCLA alumna Wendy Greuel was sworn in as Los Angeles City Controller on July 1, 2009. Only the second woman elected to a citywide office in the city’s history, she brings a unique combination of experience in government, business and community leadership to her new office. A lifelong Angeleno, Greuel credits UCLA for mentoring, encouraging and ultimately propelling her into public life. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in political science in 1983, she joined Mayor Tom Bradley’s office as the mayor’s liaison responsible for public policy issues involving child care, homelessness, the elderly and health issues.

In 1993, under the Clinton administration, Greuel served with US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Henry Cisneros as the field operations officer for Southern California. She promoted homeownership, job creation, economic development and social services for the poor. She also managed HUD’s emergency response and recovery programs after the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

In 1997, Greuel joined the Corporate Affairs Department of DreamWorks SKG, where she coordinated DreamWorks’ legislative and governmental activities at the local, state and national levels and enhanced the company’s commitment to be a community partner and a good corporate citizen.

In 2002, Greuel was elected to represent the Second District on the Los Angeles City Council. During seven years as a councilwoman, she worked tirelessly to ensure that the San Fernando Valley receives its fair share of city resources. She served as chair of the City’s Transportation Committee, working to reduce traffic, create anti-gridlock zones and ensure completion of a Northbound 405 carpool lanes. As chair of the Budget Committee, she reduced the City’s business tax by 15%. Serving on the Audits and Government Efficiency Committee, she consolidated departments, cut wasteful spending and identified fraud and corruption in city government to save taxpayers millions of dollars. She has also worked to ban city commissioners from fundraising in order to reduce the influence of money on our political process.

Greuel’s record of community service began when she was an undergraduate member of UCLA’s Bruin Belles. After graduation, she continued to support UCLA, serving on the Alumni Association Board of Directors for four years, two as vice president; on The UCLA Foundation Board of Councillors for eight years; and as a member of Prytanean, Gold Shield and Bruin Caucus. She has been active on the boards of numerous community organizations as well, including L.A.’s BEST, Tree People, Shelter Partnership, Project Restore, Alternative Living for the Aging, Enterprise Foundation, Glendale Chamber of Commerce and the Coro Foundation.

UCLA named Greuel the recipient of the 2009 UCLA Award for Public Service, to be presented at the 65th Annual UCLA Awards Ceremony, hosted by Chancellor and Mrs. Block.