Tag Archives: connect

Q & A With Chancellor Frenk

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n Feb. 12, Dr. Julio Frenk, UCLA’s seventh chancellor, spoke at the UCLA Alumni Town Hall, UCLA Connects: Developing a Collective Vision for UCLA’s Future. Interviewed by Julie Sina, associate vice chancellor of UCLA Alumni Affairs, the Chancellor answered some questions submitted by alumni participants. Due to the high volume of questions submitted, Dr. Frenk will provide his responses through this new series in the coming months.

1. What is your vision for UCLA and how do you see it evolving for the next decade?

A: “I’m hoping to craft a collective vision after going on this listening exercise. It would be pretentious on my part to come in after a month on the job to say 'Here’s what we’re going to do.' I want to listen, synthesize what I'm hearing and then share all I’ve learned in my inaugural address — where I hope to represent the community and not just my viewpoints.

Having said that, I think we have a number of important tasks. I think we need to defend some of our values. There have been a lot of challenges to the fundamental value of universities. We've regrettably fallen into some of the polarization that is characterizing our society. And we need to be able to make the case and earn the trust of the public — to show that we add value to society. We do that through the education we provide, through the research we undertake and through the public service we carry out, especially in healthcare. UCLA Health is the most visible way in which we serve the public. I think it is imperative that we are viewed as trustworthy by the rest of society.

2. What are your plans to support and invest resources into UCLA’s revenue-generating sports so they can succeed at the highest level and benefit the entire University?

A: First of all, I enjoy athletics, and I think athletics is a key component of universities. It's an avenue of access for some of our student-athletes who might otherwise find barriers to accessing higher education. It is really significant for those student-athletes to receive a well-rounded education. It is also a part of the student experience for the non-athletes as it enriches and it creates community. One way UCLA connects is through sports.

We're in the middle of a sea of change in college athletics. I'm a firm believer in the spirit of amateurism that has driven intercollegiate athletics. But you know there are valid issues that are being debated about ways to reward some of our students, especially in the few areas of football and men's and women's basketball, which generate revenue. Let's not forget that in the United States, universities are the place where Olympic athletes train, and therefore, we also need to approach athletics with a sense that part of the revenue we generate is invested back and helps us to have a comprehensive offering of all kinds of athletic disciplines, and be compliant with Title IX, to which I am absolutely committed. In that context, there's been a lot of reorganization, and of course, the movement of UCLA among other universities to the Big Ten is very important. I think it was a good move. I know it was controversial, but in the end I think it places UCLA in a stronger position to navigate this moment of transition.

We should keep our focus again on our values. This is why I'm also very excited that UCLA will host the Olympic Village in 2028. It is an incredible opportunity. Of course, the centerpiece is the games, but there's also a set of values which are totally consistent with the values of a university. It's a universal movement. It's very inclusive. It celebrates diversity. It's based on the principles of fair competition. So it is a moment to place the University in a global spotlight.

3. How is UCLA incorporating AI and other emerging technology into its undergraduate offerings to prepare our students for the future?

A: Education innovation has been one of my passions since I started this part of my career in higher education in the United States. Education was one of the few fields of endeavor that did not experience a technological revolution during the 20th century, compared to medical care, for example, or transportation. Today that revolution is happening as we speak, and that's been driven by advances in the learning sciences. We now have simulation technologies. For example, in the health professions, it has revolutionized the training of professionals, because when you have a simulator, like we do with airplane pilots, we train them so that they can learn from their mistakes without hurting anyone. That's what we're doing now with doctors and nurses and other health professionals.

AI has turbocharged this technological revolution. My position is we need to embrace it, not fear it, but do it in a smart way. We need to have a discussion about the social and ethical implications and make sure we mobilize that technology with a clear ethical framework and put up some guardrails, just like with any other technology.

I think we do two things, one is apply it to our own work. The potential in healthcare is huge, making teaching more efficient, making research more efficient and better focused.

While we apply it to ourselves, we also need to do our own research that advances the frontiers of AI. Then we need to educate the future workforce, not just of experts in AI, but the future workforce in any field. We cannot imagine today training an engineer or a physician or a lawyer or an accountant without the tools of AI, because increasingly, AI will be a tool that will enrich our lives if we apply it again, like every technology.

I'm very glad we have just appointed a new chief Artificial Intelligence Officer within our IT structure. We are determined to make AI a big part of the next stage as a driver of educational innovation. I think it's an opportunity to expand our reach, to touch the lives of many people who didn't have the chance to come to college and meet them where they are in the labor force. That includes alumni. We don't want you to feel that once you're done with your degree, that's it. We want you to see UCLA as your educational home for life.

4. In your time as UCLA chancellor, what are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered and what opportunities excite you the most about UCLA’s future?

A: It wasn't a surprise, because I knew this was a great university, but I was surprised by the extent to which this is a great university. I have really felt like I've been in a treasure hunt. Every dean is really at the top of their game. Every school has an incredible wealth of offerings. I've met with students. I've met with our faculty. I've met with the staff. All are incredibly devoted and loyal to the institution. Although I knew that this was already a wonderful university, a great brand in higher education in the U.S. and across the globe, I was blown away by the extent of that excellence and that commitment to the institution.

I've come to realize that for a young university, it's amazing how much UCLA has accomplished, but it also means that there is also incredible potential.

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Travel Journal - Bali, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia

October 21 - November 5, 2024

Photos by Hon Hoang ʼ14

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his photo gallery series highlights the captivating moments experienced by UCLA Alumni travelers during their tours. Explore upcoming trips by visiting UCLA Alumni Travel. Come experience the world with us!

UCLA Alumni Travel Group Photo in Cambodia

Rice Fields - Bali, Indonesia

Music Lesson at Arma Museum - Bali, Indonesia

Sea Lion - Singapore

The Grand Palace - Bangkok, Thailand

Ayutthaya Kingdom the Old Capital City, Thailand

Cambodian Circus - Siem Reap, Cambodia

Night Excursion by Tuk Tuk - Siem Reap, Cambodia

Photo Gallery

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Protect Life-Saving Research

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s alumni and supporters of UCLA, your voice is crucial in urging Congress to support biomedical research at our institution and across the country.

As alumni and supporters of UCLA, your voice is crucial in urging Congress to support biomedical research at our institution and across the country. 

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the single largest funder of research at UCLA and the University of California system. Our UC campuses compete nationally to conduct NIH research on behalf of the country, to find cures and develop therapies for diseases and other health afflictions.

On Feb. 7, the NIH announced an abrupt and unprecedented cut to funding for biomedical research. If allowed to continue, this cut will be crippling to the biomedical research efforts at UCLA and all the UC campuses. The proposed cut will the result in significant setbacks to our pursuit of science and our nation’s leadership in biomedical innovation. 

Urge them to prevent this cut from moving forward. 

Thank you for your support of UCLA and biomedical research.

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Books by Bruins - L.A. Stories

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or the next several months, our Books by Bruins series will feature a new collection of books by theme, starting with books about Los Angeles — its history, environment and the people who call it home. As this compilation of Bruin authors grows, we’re categorizing the books into an online library, but we’ll need your help to make it as comprehensive as possible. If you know of one, please submit a Bruin author. While all these books are written by UCLA alumni, inclusion in the list is not an endorsement.

Imagining Los Angeles: A City in Fiction (2004)

David Fine '83

The literary image of Los Angeles has evolved since the 1880s from a New Eden to contemporary visions of the city as a perplexing, sometimes corrupt, even apocalyptic place. In “Imagining Los Angeles,” the first literary history of the city in more than 50 years, critic David Fine traces the history and mood of Los Angeles through the work of writers including Helen Hunt Jackson, Mary Austin, Norman Mailer, Raymond Chandler, Joan Didion and Carolyn See. Fine was a professor at California State University, Long Beach for over 35 years. A graduate of UCLA, he was a Fulbright Scholar, a member of the UCLA marching band and served in the United States National Guard Reserves as a member of a military band. 

Native Shrubs of Southern California (2023)

Peter H. Raven, Ph.D. ’60

Southern California’s valleys, mountains and deserts are an exceptionally rich environment for native shrubs. “Native Shrubs of Southern California” contains approximately 400 kinds of shrubs, with both color and black and white illustrations. Peter H. Raven is a botanist and environmentalist, and is the former president and director of the Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the oldest botanical institutions in the United States.

Sons, Daughters, and Sidewalk Psychotics: Mental Illness and Homelessness in Los Angeles (2024)

Neil Gong, M.A. '13, Ph.D. '19

Neil Gong is assistant professor of sociology at UC San Diego, where he researches psychiatric services, homelessness and liberal social order. His book “Sons, Daughters, and Sidewalk Psychotics” is about inequality in mental health care in Los Angeles. His public commentary can be found in the Washington Post, the Atlantic and the Los Angeles Review of Books. 

Conservation of California Walnut in the Eastern Santa Monica Mountains (2022)

Travis Longcore, M.A. '95, Ph.D. '99

The walnut was first cultivated in California by Franciscan Monks in the late 1700s; many of today’s trees are descended from these early plantings. “Conservation of California Walnut in the Eastern Santa Monica Mountains” addresses a region that is subject to ongoing development pressure threatening the remaining walnut groves and oak–walnut woodlands. Travis Longcore is an adjunct professor in the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and co-chair of the Environmental Science and Engineering Program. He conducts research on environmental health focusing on the conservation of biodiversity in cities. 

Fruteros: Street Vending, Illegality, and Ethnic Community in Los Angeles (2020)

Rocío Rosales, M.A. '08, Ph.D. '12

Young Latino street vendors, known as fruteros, sell fruit salads out of pushcarts throughout Los Angeles. Drawing on six years of fieldwork, this book examines how they navigate the complexities of local and federal laws prohibiting both their presence and their work on street corners. “Fruteros: Street Vending, Illegality, and Ethnic Community in Los Angeles” sheds light on those complexities and offers the concept of the "ethnic cage" to explain both the promise and pain of community. Rocío Rosales is associate dean, Faculty Development and Diversity & Inclusive Excellence Professor at UC Irvine focused on international migration, immigrant and ethnic economies and immigrant detention.

Los Angeles Residential Architecture: Modernism Meets Eclecticism (2015)

Ruth Wallach '86, M.L.S. '88

During the first half of the twentieth century, Los Angeles grew into a sprawling metropolis. As suburbs developed, demonstration homes like the California Home and Garden Exhibition showcased the latest in timesaving appliances and inspired a new generation of homebuyers. In her book “Los Angeles Residential Architecture: Modernism Meets Eclecticism” author Ruth Wallach tours the varied Modernist styles that give Los Angeles its distinct residential landscape. Wallach has a B.A. in economics and an M.L.S. in library science from UCLA. She is the associate dean of Social Sciences and Humanities Libraries at USC.

Goal Dust: The Warm and Candid Memoirs of a Pioneer Black Athlete and Actor (1993)

Woody Strode (1937-39)

Woody Strode's extraordinary career led him from the football field to Hollywood. In 1939, Strode, along with teammates Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington, led UCLA to its first undefeated football season. Strode and Washington had been two of the best-known college football players in the nation. After World War II, they became the first Black players drafted into the NFL. In 1950, Strode became pro wrestling's first Black star. After that it was a small step to Hollywood where he appeared in films such as The “Ten Commandments,” “Spartacus” and “The Cotton Club.” He was also known for his roles in numerous TV westerns. Woody from “Toy Story” was named in his honor.

Packer and Jack (2013)

Rachel Hoffman, Ph.D. '97

"Packer and Jack," is an L.A. love story set in the six square blocks of downtown they call home. Rachel Hoffman, who is also the author of the novel "Saltine," earned her Ph.D. in art history from UCLA and later moved to Italy to make wine, milk cows and write. Her work has appeared in more than a dozen literary journals. A 2017 Fulbright granted Rachel a month's residency at the International Writers' and Translators' House in Latvia to complete a memoir of her years living in Africa.

Little Tokyo: One Hundred Years in Pictures (1983)

Ichiro Mike Murase '70

This book tells the story of Little Tokyo through photographs, from its early beginnings in 1885, through World War II and into the 1980s. Ichiro Mike Murase moved with his Kibei-Nisei family to Los Angeles when he was nine years old. Murase was one of the founders of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, as well as serving as president of Nisei Bruin Club while he was an undergraduate at UCLA in the late 1960s. As an activist, attorney, administrator, community organizer and teacher, Murase has served the Asian American community in many capacities over the past four decades.

Chican@ Artivistas: Music, Community, and Transborder Tactics in East Los Angeles (2020)

Martha Gonzalez ’99

By showcasing the social impact made by key artist-activists in the art world and music industry, Gonzalez charts the evolution of a now-canonical body of work that took its inspiration from the Zapatista movement, particularly its masked indigenous participants, and that responded to efforts to impose systems of labor exploitation and social subjugation. Martha Gonzalez is a Chicana artivista (artist/activist) musician, feminist music theorist and associate professor in the Intercollegiate Department of Chicana/o Latina/o Studies at Scripps College. A Fulbright, Ford and Woodrow Wilson Fellow, her academic interests have been fueled by her own musicianship as a singer/songwriter and percussionist for the GRAMMY Award-winning band Quetzal. 

Ethnopolitical Entrepreneurs: Outsiders Inside Armenian Los Angeles (2023)

Daniel Fittante ’05, Ph.D. ’18

In “Ethnopolitical Entrepreneurs: Outsiders Inside Armenian Los Angeles”, Daniel Fittante expands our understanding of U.S. political history. The author shows how Glendale's Armenian community is changing the country's political reality within its dynamic, multiethnic suburbs. Fittante is a postdoctoral fellow in the department of sociology at Södertörn University. His research areas include political and urban sociology, diaspora studies and immigration. 

Compton in My Soul: A Life in Pursuit of Racial Equality (2024)

Albert Camarillo ’70, Ph.D. ’75

When Al Camarillo grew up in Compton, California, racial segregation was the rule. His relatives were among the first Mexican immigrants to settle there — in the only neighborhood where Mexicans were allowed to live. The author of seven books and numerous articles and papers, “Compton in My Soul” weaves his personal story with the history of his L.A. neighborhood, and illuminates a changing U.S. society — the progress and backslides over half a century for racial equality and educational opportunity. Entering UCLA in the mid 1960s, Camarillo was one of only 50 Mexican American students, and became one of the first Mexican Americans in the country to earn a Ph.D. in history. He is widely regarded as one of the founding scholars of the field of Mexican American history and Chicano Studies. Ha also played basketball under Coach John Wooden with teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ’69. 

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders (2001)

Vincent Bugliosi, J.D. '64

Only a few years out of law school, Vincent Bugliosi gained fame as the Los Angeles County deputy district attorney who prosecuted the Charles Manson murders in 1969. After leaving the DA’s office, he co-wrote “Helter Skelter,” a book about the Manson trial. He went on to write numerous bestsellers including, “Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy” in which he challenged numerous conspiracy theories and “Outrage: The Five Reasons Why O. J. Simpson Got Away with Murder” about the acquittal of O. J. Simpson. At UCLA Law, he was president of his graduating class.

From Watts to the World: A Chronicle of Service (2021)

Rosalyn Cain King, M.P.H. '72

Dr. Rosalyn C. King’s life story is a testament to the transformative power of determination, passion and service. This book chronicles her five-decade career in pharmacy and public health; a global journey that took her to countries like Romania and Nigeria, where she played a vital role in healthcare services and pivotal projects funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). She is a distinguished pharmacist, author, professor, consultant and global health advisor.  

Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian American Pop Culture (2024)

Eric Nakamura '83

Eric Nakamura founded Giant Robot as a photocopied and stapled zine in Los Angeles in 1994. Giant Robot magazine reached a wide audience interested in Asian popular culture. Nakamura built on the success of Giant Robot with stores and galleries in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, and has curated over 300 exhibitions. “Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian-American Pop Culture” features the best of the magazine’s sixty-eight issue run alongside never-before-seen photographs, writing by contributing journalist Claudine Ko and tributes from now-famous fans. Nakamura works in and owns the Giant Robot store and GR2 Gallery which offer pop culture goods and art exhibitions.

Zev's Los Angeles: From Boyle Heights to the Halls of Power (2023)

Zev Yaroslavsky ’71, M.A. ’72

“Zev's Los Angeles: From Boyle Heights to the Halls of Power” tells the story of Zev Yaroslavsky, from young social activist to a powerful elected official who sparked reforms in policing, transit, land use and fiscal policies. His Los Angeles political career spanned four decades as a member of the City Council (1975-1994) and County Board of Supervisors (1994-2014). Yaroslavsky is the former director of the Los Angeles Initiative at UCLA. 

Black Los Angeles: American Dreams and Racial Realities (2010)

Darnell Hunt, M.A. '91, Ph.D. '94

During the first half of the twentieth century, Los Angeles was also seen as a mecca for both African Americans and a steady stream of migrants from around the country and the world, transforming Los Angeles into one of the world's most diverse cities. Darnell Hunt serves as UCLA’s executive vice chancellor and provost, responsible for administering campus operations and the academic enterprise. A celebrated scholar of race and media, he is well known for his longstanding commitment to high-quality public education, support of interdisciplinary research for the common good and vision for inclusive excellence. From July through December 2024, he served as UCLA’s interim chancellor, prior to the beginning of Chancellor Julio Frenk’s tenure.

East Los Angeles: History of a Barrio (1983)

Ricardo Romo, Ph.D. '75

“East Los Angeles: History of a Barrio” is the story of the largest Mexican-American community in the United States, the city within a city known as "East Los Angeles." The author examines how Mexican immigrants adjusted to life in one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, how they fared in this country's labor market and the problems of segregation and prejudice they confronted. Ricardo Romo is an American urban historian who served as the fifth president of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) from May 1999 to March 2017.

90210 Photobook (2016)

Priscilla Mars '14

“90210 Photobook” is a self-published photographic exploration of the city of Beverly Hills over several years. Priscilla Mars is a Mexican American artist originally from Fresno, California, who is obsessed with movies and the cinematic landscapes of L.A. Mars works in photography and cinematography in Los Angeles. She is a graduate of UCLA School of Arts and the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop for Women.

City of Inmates: Conquest, Rebellion, and the Rise of Human Caging in Los Angeles (2017)

Kelly Lytle Hernández, M.A. '00, Ph.D. '02

“City of Inmates” explores how the City of Angels became the capital city of the world's leading incarcerator. Marshaling more than two centuries of evidence, historian Kelly Lytle Hernandez unmasks how histories of native elimination, immigrant exclusion and black disappearance drove the rise of incarceration. Professor Lytle Hernández is a professor of history, African American studies and urban planning at UCLA where she holds The Thomas E. Lifka Endowed Chair in History. In 2019, she was named a MacArthur Fellow for her historical and contemporary work. Her newest book, “Bad Mexicans,” tells the dramatic story of the magonistas, the migrant rebels who sparked the 1910 Mexican Revolution from the United States.

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Bruin-Owned Businesses: Gift Ideas 4

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tuck on what to give a certain someone for the holidays? These Bruin-owned businesses may have just the right present for that hard-to-shop-for friend. From beauty products to fitness classes to lifestyle apparel, peruse these last minute gift ideas and support a Bruin business.

P.M. Jacoy Menswear

Owner: Tony Jacoy ʼ74

Location: 2650 Mission St. #104, San Marino, CA 91108

Phone: 626-799-4600

Website: https://www.pmjacoy.com

Email: sales@pmjacoy.com

Social: @pmjacoymenswear

About:

P.M. Jacoy Menswear opened in 1985 in San Marino's trendy Mission Street shopping district. Decades later, P.M. Jacoy is considered to be a benchmark in men's clothes in the San Gabriel Valley. They offer a wide variety of quality men's clothing and accessories in-store while also specializing in custom suits, sports coats, pants and shirts. A full-service tailor shop is conveniently located onsite to offer the perfect fit for all P.M. Jacoy purchases as well as clothing purchased elsewhere.

Review:

“The quality of menswear at P.M. Jacoy is superior to any tailor or suit store. I was immediately impressed as a first-time customer. Tony is professional, knowledgeable and courteous. He fit me into the proper sports coat and pants for my wedding. More importantly, he listened to me as a customer and told me what look I wanted as a groom. My beautiful bride was impressed and pleased by Tony's recommendation. There is also great activewear at the shop. I especially recommend the Toes on the Nose activewear attire.” — Daryl T.

The Soap Kitchen

Owner: Dali Yu ʼ93

Services: E-Commerce

Phone: 626-396-9996

Website: https://www.thesoapkitchen.com

Social: @thesoapkitchen

About:

We're mother/daughter soap chefs raising the bar by thinking outside the bottle. Plastic-free since 2003, we've been serving fresh, all-natural olive oil soap, handmade from scratch in Old Pasadena and featured on Huell Howser's California's Gold. Our soaps are amazing! Rest assured that we use only the finest essential oils and herbs to add a mild scent to our soaps, so the end product is hydrating for the skin, healthy for the body and never overwhelming to the nose. Here's your chance to experience pure indulgence with zero guilt.

Review:

“I am not a bar soap person so I will leave those reviews to those that are. I am, however, a user of shower and skin products and I really like those I have bought from The Soap Kitchen. I have used the Shower Steamers. Both the Lavender for relaxing and Breathe for helping with, yes, breathing (maybe you have a head cold) to other items like Rose Hip Seed Oil for your skin and So Fresh, So Clean which removes makeup and helps your skin feel great. Even the candles are nice. I highly recommend them. Give them a try. I'm sure you will like them.” — Cherri O.

5 Point Yoga

Owner: Ted McDonald ʼ96

Location: 23410 Civic Center Way, Suite E-3, Malibu, CA 90265

Phone: 424-259-2628

Website: https://5pointyoga.com

Email: questions@5pointyoga.com

Social: @5pointyoga

About:

5 Point Yoga is Malibu's premier yoga and fitness studio offering yoga, mat pilates, dance, fitness and aerial classes! Located at the Malibu Country Mart. Our 5-Point Plan: physical fitness, nutrition, mental wellness, community, environment.

Review: “I love this yoga studio. And when I am at other yoga studios in Northern California I often wish I was back at 5 Points. This is such a wonderful addition to the Malibu Country Mart because it's a place not focused on consumerism and it breeds community! The 5 points it's named after are mental wellness, physical fitness, nutrition, community and environment. Environment?! How exciting for this tree-hugging chick.” — Jen R.

Kawaii Craft Shop

Owner: Maryn Masumiya ʼ06 

Services: E-Commerce

Website: https://kawaiicraftshop.com

Email: kawaiicraftlady@gmail.com

Social: @kawaiicraftlady

About:

Created by Maryn, the Kawaii Craft Shop’s mission is to spread joy through handmade kawaii ("cute") creations. It’s the perfect spot to embrace your sparkly, unicorn-loving side and discover special gifts for yourself or loved ones. It's the little things that brighten our days, and these creations aim to bring that extra bit of happiness into yours. Thank you for supporting small and handmade businesses - your support is what keeps the creativity flowing!

Review:

“In love with Tiffany's mystery bundles! I ordered in the past and I loved my experience. This time I asked for items that would fit a woman in her mid-20s, and she didn't disappoint. I can't wait to use them and make my adult life cuter.” — Gabriella

Wehitpan Beauty

Owner: Sandra Rhee ʼ17

Services: E-Commerce

Phone: 661-544-8726

Website: https://wehitpan.com

Email: hello@wehitpan.com

Social: @wehitpan

About:

If you're over the usual beauty stores, you've just discovered a game-changer — Wehitpan isn’t your typical beauty retailer. Wehitpan is here to refresh your makeup bag and break a few beauty rules along the way. The mastermind behind it all is Sandra: a dedicated beauty enthusiast, founder and your new beauty insider. She’s scoured every part of the internet —beyond the mainstream sites — to bring you the best dupes, the hottest emerging brands and top products loved by influencers on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.

Review:

“Absolutely awesome! I have used the Relief Sun Sunscreen every day for two weeks. In the early spring sun, the UV is very damaging. I can put it under my eyes and on my neck. No redness or itching. When I use drugstore products, I will have red patches and itch everywhere I put sunscreen. It's terrible. The Joseon product is creamy, it does not pile up if you put makeup on top. The best product I have ever used. I am 62. I love to garden. Now I can be outside working in the sun without wrapping up like a mummy. It is so much more comfortable.”
— Karen C.

Pickytarian

Owner: Laide Olambiwonnu, M.S. ʼ12

Services: E-Commerce

Phone: 213-537-3994

Website: https://pickytarian.com

Email: hello@pickytarian.com

Social: @pickytarianinc

About:

Pickytarian creates dinnerware products that are beautifully designed, elegant, sturdy, compostable and disposable. Our tableware products are meant for those special occasions where it’s a huge hassle to use fine dinnerware but you are also conscious enough not to use toxic plastic or flimsy paperware. Pickytarian products are made from renewable resources such as bamboo and sugarcane pulp. In addition, we donate 5% of sales to organizations working to alleviate food and shelter insecurities in our various communities.

Review:

“I am so happy that I chose Pickytarian to supply the plates and cutlery for my daughter’s baby shower. The high-quality of the eco-friendly materials, which included the leaf shaped plates and the durable cutlery provided a positive visual appeal to all my guests. The customer service was over the top by the owner. The price was fair and well worth it! I highly recommend doing business with Pickytarian. You will be highly satisfied like I am.” — Adriene B.

Innovative Imprints

Owner: Travis Scott ʼ91

Location: 0861 Kinsbury Ridge Court, San Diego, CA 92130

Phone: 760-798-4804

Website: https://www.innovative-imprints.com/

Email: service@innovative-imprints.com

Social: @innovativeimprints

About:

Innovative Imprints has been a leading supplier of custom promotional products and apparel since 1997. Through our vast network of manufacturing partners, both domestic and overseas, our product line is immense. Innovative Imprints offers hundreds of thousands of unique and customized gifts, incentives, rewards, giveaways (aka, advertising specialties) and more.  We like to say that "we offer everything from pens to polos to portfolios!"

Review:

“I have had the opportunity to work with Mike Scott, Innovative Imprints for many years. His prices always come below other vendors, his professionalism and efficiency are first rate and I can count on him to help me identify creative, practical and trending products that will forever leave an impression on my students, faculty and stakeholders that I work with.” - Sabrina

Daily Work Journal

Owner: Jessica Yen ʼ14

Services: E-Commerce

Phone: 604-923-8152

Website: https://www.dailyworkjournal.com

Email: hello@dailyworkjournal.com

Social: @dailyworkjournal

About:

Meet Daily Work Journal, the company that's here to help you navigate your career in a fulfilling way. Their hero product, also called Daily Work Journal, is a journal notebook that's packed with career coaching worksheets, journal prompts, reflection space and blank note pages. This journal was created by Jessica Yen, a former data analyst turned executive coach who noticed that people were struggling with career fulfillment during the pandemic. She decided to create a tool that could help more people achieve their career goals in a sustainable and mentally healthy way. The journal is designed to assist individuals in gaining confidence in their careers, documenting work accomplishments and navigating work challenges.

Review:

“Before having Daily Work Journal, every time I tried to keep a journal it always ended up being some random journal. This is definitely not the case with DWJ. It’s like a coach guiding me through my monthly, weekly and daily goals and intentions. And the best part, I don’t write random stuff but what is essential for me. I greatly recommend having your own DWJ.” — Aditi K. 

Cuccio Somatology

Owner: Danielle Cuccio ʼ10

Location: 29120 Avenue Paine, Valencia, CA 91355

Phone: 323-863-5041

Website: https://www.cucciosomatology.com

Email: info@cucciosomatology.com

Social: @cucciosomatology

About:

As a celebrity yoga instructor and a licensed esthetician, Danielle learned about the value of achieving balance in one’s personal and professional life and the effects it had on one’s skin and overall glow. This became the foundation for the creation of Cuccio Somatology — a multi-faceted approach to the study of the body and the development of inner and outer beauty through wellness and self-care. Today, Danielle is the CEO of Cuccio Somatology, one of the fastest-growing, women-led beauty businesses, with a global reach of over 120 countries. Her vision is to continue to bring new and innovative self-care products to people’s homes and to define the principles of today’s Wellness category.

Review:

“I never heard of this before but once I smelled it, I was absolutely in love. It goes on the outfits without leaving any type of stain and it smells absolutely fabulous and lasts all day. This was the cutest and sweetest gift. My mother was so delighted and I love sniffing the little one afterwards. We never put it directly on her skin but it was always a mist on clothing and blankets and everything smelled divine. Definitely a good value. It's a nice size bottle also.” — Rina B.

Honeycut

Owner: Darcy Post ʼ84

Location: 2925 College Ave., Suite A2, Costa Mesa CA 92626

Phone: 949-478-1960

Website: https://honeycutofficial.com

Email: honeycutofficial@gmail.com

Social: @honeycutofficial

About:

From the hive, located in Southern California, creative director and owner Darcy Post and her team conceive and curate this contemporary dancewear line. Channeling their obvious love of movement, saltwater and a natural boho beach lifestyle, the collection combines form and function and brings an ever-fresh perspective to the dynamic dance world.

Review:

“Love these pants! These are my new favorite dance pants. I've been wearing them nonstop at class and conventions. They stand out in crowded convention classes and are so comfy and versatile with the snaps. Honeycut is the best and the customer service is so superior.”
— Samantha

Dreamy Vegan

Owner: Tanisha Pitts ʼ07

Services: E-Commerce

Phone: 562-450-3334

Website: https://dreamyvegan.com

Email: hello@dreamyvegan.com

Social: @dreamyvegan

About:

Welcome to Dreamy Vegan, where every spoonful whisks you away on a whimsical journey to the sweetest corners of your childhood. Our founder, Tanisha, drew inspiration from the love of her family and the magic of her great-grandmother, Meme, to create a world of delectable dairy-free delights.

Review:

“Loveee dreamy vegan! I honestly was shocked by how good the popsicles tasted. When you hear vegan anything you automatically assume it would taste like something is missing but it’s the exact opposite! The ice cream tastes delicious and the fact that it’s a healthy alternative to regular ice cream is a bonus! I enjoy eating the ice cream without feeling guilty about it. Highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t tried it yet! You won’t be disappointed.” — Bonnie W.

District Clay Center

Owner: Cass Johnson ʼ81, MBA ʼ88

Location: 2414 Douglas St. NE, Washington, DC 20018

Phone: 301-615-1434

Website: https://www.districtclaycenter.com

Email: membership@districtclaycenter.com

Social: @districtclaycenter

About:

Washington, D.C., while rich in many arts and crafts, has lacked a single dedicated ceramic center, until now. Unlike many cities of its size (such as neighboring Philadelphia and Baltimore) there has been no institution that provides the full spectrum of ceramic offerings. In November 2016, the new District Clay Center more than tripled in size to include a ceramic gallery, cultural outreach and education, community and low-income classes, private studio space, regular Master Class workshops, guest resident artists and the largest array of ceramic equipment in the Washington area.

Review:

“I love District Clay Center! I highly recommend it as an introductory pottery studio. It is a large teaching studio (the largest in the area). The teachers are great and knowledgeable. Once you get in a class you are able to drop in on any other scheduled classes to practice. Getting off the waitlist can be a challenge; I recommend signing up for as many waitlists as possible.” — Sam G.

Orange County Guitar Academy

Owner: Payam Larijani ʼ01

Location: 4561 Pinyon Tree Lane, Irvine, CA 92612

Phone: 949-231-2763

Website: https://orangecountyguitaracademy.com

Social: @payam.larijani

About:

Orange County Guitar Academy was founded by Dr. Payam Larijani, who is a current alumni member of the 2019 UCLA Guitar Ensemble directed by Professor Peter Yates. Payam completed his doctorate in musical arts at Claremont Graduate University with an emphasis on classical guitar performance, music history and music recording technology. He also successfully pursued a masterʼs degree in commercial music from CSU Los Angeles and has worked with many leaders of the industry. Today, Payam offers students not just his expertise in playing music, but also his experiences in navigating the ins and outs of the music industry. Payam’s professional skills and passion for teaching are evident in his commitment to academic achievement.

Review:

“Dr. Payam is a wonderful guitar teacher. Both my teenage daughters took lessons with him and he is able to tailor his teaching to their levels since one has musical background and the other didn’t. They both enjoyed their lessons and Dr. Payam often go above and beyond to give them guidance. We appreciate his teaching style and patience very much. His love and passion for music is evident in his lessons as he encourages kids to elevate their appreciation for music through guitar.” — Christina L.

J.N. Shapiro Watches

Owner: Josh Shapiro ʼ08

Services: E-Commerce

Website: https://www.jnshapirowatches.com

Email: info@jnshapirowatches.com

Social: @jnshapiro_watches

About:

Joshua Shapiro is the founder and CEO of J.N. Shapiro Watches, a brand recognized for its dedication to precision and craftsmanship. With a background in education, holding both a bachelor's and a master's degree in U.S. history, Shapiro's journey into watchmaking began with the creation of traditional engine-turned dials for other watchmakers. In 2018, the brand introduced the Infinity Series, showcasing intricate engine-turned dials crafted from traditional and exotic materials. A milestone was reached in December 2021 when J.N. Shapiro Watches produced the first tantalum wristwatch cases made outside of Switzerland for the Infinity Series. The brand's latest creation, The Resurgence, is a fully U.S.-made watch that has been in development for over four years. It represents the culmination of a vision rooted in humble beginnings, aiming to inspire individuals to strive for perfection and appreciate both the journey and the destination.

Review:

“The dial is the star of the show and is amazing. I wonder how cutting into this material was accomplished. There must have been a few accidents and throwing away some meteorite dials may have had to happen. This was accomplished and added some texture to the dial in addition to the natural pattern of the meteorite. This makes this a step up from other meteorite dials in my humble opinion. This combined with the blued hands and chapter ring just completes this amazing dial. The movement is no slouch either. I think Sinn used this movement in one of their watches and it’s beautiful to look at. This is a great watch and J.N. Shapiro deserves a wider audience. This is a brand that I’d love to support sometime in the future.” — Richard B.

The Racket Doctor

Owner: Jan Rashoff Lee ʼ87

Location: 3214 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039

Phone: 323-663-6601

Website: https://www.racketdoctor.com

Email: info@racketdoctor.com

Social: @racketdoctor

About:

SoCal's undisputed GOAT of legendary tennis shops. Don't get salty, it's a fact. Racket Doctor is the iconic standard-bearer: 50-plus years and still thriving in our original location. Home to certified stringers, Master Racket Technicians (MRTs) and killer selection – it's the winning formula. We don't settle for average and neither should you. And that's why we're still evolving, still pushing the limits...

Review:

“Super great spot. The store feels very welcoming and the staff is very friendly and helpful. They also have very fast service. I made an appointment to get my racket re-strung and shopped while I waited. In and out in under half an hour, no need to drop off my racket and come back to get it. I imagine they probably get busy sometimes so if you want to get in and out, I would call ahead to make an appointment.” - Kevin C.

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To submit a Bruin-owned business for future consideration, please send a note to connectfeedback@alumni.ucla.edu.

All Bruin-Owned Business Articles

• Bruin-Owned Restaurants Part 4
• Bruin-Led Businesses: Nonprofits
• Books by Bruins: Summer Reading
• Books by Bruins - LGBTQ Stories
• Books by Bruins - Health and Wellness
• Bruin-Owned Businesses: Tech
• Books by Bruins - Stories About Women
• Books by Bruins - L.A. Stories
• Bruin-Owned Businesses: Gift Ideas 4
• Books by Bruins - Vol. II
• Bruin-Owned Beverage Businesses 2
• Bruin-Owned Businesses: Fitness and Wellness 3
• Books by Bruins
• Bruin-Owned Businesses: Gift Ideas 3
• Bruin-Owned Restaurants Part 3
• Bruin-Owned Businesses: Fitness and Wellness 2
• Bruin-Owned Photography Part Two
• Bruin-Owned Businesses: Gift Ideas 2
• Bruin-Owned Photography
• Bruin-Owned Art Galleries and Collectives
• Bruin-Owned Restaurants Part 2

• Bruin-Owned Gift Ideas
• Bruin-Owned Fitness and Wellness Businesses
• Bruin-Owned Event-Planning Businesses
• Bruin-Owned Apparel Businesses
• Bruin-Owned Beverage Businesses
• Bruin-Owned Restaurants

Recent Articles

Books by Bruins - Vol. II

I

f you’re looking for a new book to settle down with over the holidays, or gift a loved one, why not get one written by a Bruin? In continuation of the Books by Bruins series, we've put together a list with something for every reader — from young adult mysteries to memoirs or a nonfiction bestseller if that’s more your taste.

Have you written a book or do you know an alum who has? Take a look at our list of Bruin authors at the bottom. If you don't see their name, be sure to enter their information to be included in the online Bruin Library coming soon.

“Desert Echoes” (2024) by Abdi Nazemian, MBA ’14

Iranian-American author, screenwriter and producer Abdi Nazemian has written six novels, including “Desert Echoes,” a young adult novel about loss and love. His book “Only This Beautiful Moment” received both the Lambda Literary Award and a Stonewall Book Award. Nazemian is also a screenwriter and producer with credits including films “The Artist’s Wife” and “Menendez: Blood Brothers.”

Review:

“This story, told in three points of view from three generations of the same family, is nothing short of masterful. This is the kind of story that young adult literature is made for — a story of the heart, of the very real human struggles young people face and that adults try to — but never truly — forget.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)

“We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights” (2018) by Adam Winkler

Adam Winkler explores the Supreme Court decision to extend free speech and religious liberty to corporations. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award, the American Bar Association's Silver Gavel Award and the California Book Award. Winkler is a professor at UCLA School of Law, where he specializes in American constitutional law. He is also the author of “Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America,” which explores the ongoing political battle.

Review:

“Much of the value of Winkler’s book lies in his elegant stitching together of 400 years of diverse cases, allowing us to feel the sweep and flow of history and the constantly shifting legal approaches to understanding this unusual entity ― Blackstone’s ‘artificial person.’ Four hundred years is a lot of time, and Winkler does a wonderful job of finding illustrative details without drowning in them, and of giving each case enough attention to make it come alive…By nailing down the absurdities of the past, Winkler allows us to see how the future becomes more open.” ― Zephyr Teachout, New York Times Book Review

“Compton in My Soul: A Life in Pursuit of Racial Equality” (2024) by Albert Camarillo ’70, Ph.D. ’75

Entering UCLA in the mid-1960s, Camarillo was one of only 50 Mexican American students, and became one of the first Mexican Americans to earn a Ph.D. in history in the country. He is widely regarded as one of the founding scholars of the field of Mexican American history and Chicano Studies. At UCLA, he played basketball under legendary Coach John Wooden with teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ʼ69. The author of seven books and numerous articles and papers, “Compton in My Soul” weaves his personal story with the history of his L.A. neighborhood.

Review:

“Al Camarillo has been a mentor, role model and inspiring educator to thousands of students over decades. His life's journey reminds us of the wonderful progress America has made toward racial equality and also inspires us to keep working hard to close the gaps that still exist.” ―Julián Castro, Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

“Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil” (2024) by Ananda Lima, M.A. ’08

Ananda Lima came to UCLA from her home of Brasília on a study-abroad program, returning to earn her master’s in linguistics. She is a poet, translator and fiction writer. Her 2021 poetry collection, “Mother/land,” was awarded the Hudson Prize. “Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil" is her fiction debut, a book of stories that travel through time and place.

Review:

“Irreverent and very conscious of form, this is a remarkable debut that announces the arrival of a towering talent in speculative fiction.” ―The New York Times

“Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling” (2024) by Jason De León ’01

The winner of the 2024 National Book Award for nonfiction is a character-driven look at human smuggling which revolves around a coyote (human smuggler). De León spent seven years chronicling the lives of people living on the border to be able to share their stories. A UCLA anthropology professor, he is also the author of “The Land of Open Graves: Living and Dying on the Sonoran Desert Migrant Trail” (2015).

Review:

“The book’s great virtue is in its close attention to the individual lives of its small group of central characters...toggling between the macro and the micro: the globe-spanning, incomprehensibly vast forces that have brought these smugglers’ lives into being, as well as their own individual struggles to make something of what the world has made of them.” — The New Republic

“Super-Italian: More Than 110 Indulgent Recipes Using Italy's Healthiest Foods” (2025) by Giada de Laurentiis ’96

Giada De Laurentiis is the author of 10 New York Times bestselling cookbooks. Her first cookbook “Everyday Italian,” based on her TV show, has almost 1,500 reviews on Amazon and 50,000 ratings on Goodreads. It introduced her take on Italian-American recipes. Twenty years later, her newest cookbook, Super Italian, will be released in March, 2025, with recipes that use Italian superfoods to create nutritious and delicious meals. She is an Emmy winning television host, a judge on Food Network Star and the owner of three restaurants. 

Review for “Giada’s Italy” 

“After so many years of focusing on convenience, I love that we’re all getting a little more savvy about foreign ingredients and that Giada can showcase local foods and tempt us with new flavors, picking out a whole red snapper at the market, slicing up fennel like it’s no big thing and telling you why you have to try Calabrian chiles (no seriously, try them). If you’re hungry for fresh and light Italian fare, and are craving an escape to the coast, come back for this one.” — the kitchn

“26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career” (2019) by Meb Keflezighi ’99

Long-distance runner Meb Keflezighi was recruited by UCLA in 1994, where he won four NCAA distance titles and earned a degree in communication studies. The four-time Olympian is the only man in U.S. history to win the Boston Marathon (2014), the New York City Marathon (2009) and to medal in the Olympics (Athens). In his newest book, he shares the life lessons he has gained through the hard work and sacrifice that went into completing 26 marathons.

Review:

“Meb’s 26 Marathons is like opening a treasure chest full of inspiring stories that give a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the mental and physical joys and obstacles that elite-level racing can bring. His advice on training, overcoming injuries, and adversity is for everyone. It’s pure gold!” — Shalane Flanagan, 2017 TCS NYC Marathon Champion

“At the Hour Between Dog and Wolf” (2023) by Tara Ison ’87

A graduate of the UCLA Department of English, where she studied literature and creative writing, Tara Ison is the author of books including “A Child out of Alcatraz,” a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the essay collection, “Reeling Through Life: How I Learned to Live, Love, and Die at the Movies.” Her book “At the Hour Between Dog and Wolf” tells the World War II story of a twelve-year-old Jewish girl hiding in plain sight from the Nazis. 

Review:

“’At the Hour Between Dog and Wolf’ is a thrilling novel, not just as a splendid read but as a deeply resonant work of art driven by the central yearning in the greatest literary narratives: the yearning for a self, for an identity, for a place in the world. Tara Ison has always been a writer I've ardently admired. Here she is at the height of her estimable powers.” — Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain” and “Paris in the Dark”

“Brown Girls Do Ballet: Celebrating Diverse Girls Taking Center Stage” (2024) by JaNay Brown-Wood ʼ07

Children’s picture book author JaNay Brown-Wood grew up in Fresno, California, and followed her interests in writing and children’s education to UCLA, where she studied psychology and applied developmental psychology. She is an early childhood professor and the author of many books for children. Her first book, “Imani’s Moon,” won the NAESP Children’s Book of the Year Award. Her book “Brown Girls Do Ballet: Celebrating Diverse Girls Taking Center Stage” comes out next year.

Review:

“Photographs of brown girls of all ages, shapes, skin tones and abilities are the star of this empowering ode to the grace and beauty of dancing brown bodies.... text and image(s) send the fierce message not just that ballet is for everyone, but that brown girls, too, have the right to move, to take up space and to be seen.” — School Library Journal, starred review

“Kill Her Twice” (2024) by Stacey Lee ’93

Stacey Lee is the New York Times bestselling author of young adult fiction, including the New York Times bestseller “The Downstairs Girl.” A fourth-generation Chinese American, her books have won the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association Award, the PEN Center Award for YA and the Golden Poppy Award. She is a co-founder of the We Need Diverse Books movement. Her newest book, “Kill Her Twice,” is a young adult murder mystery that takes place in 1930s Los Angeles's Chinatown.

Review:

“Takes readers on a wild ride. Woven into the mystery are elements of grief, romance, family dynamics, struggle, prejudice and deceit. Lee skillfully introduces actual history into this fictional story, leading readers to learn what the residents of L.A.'s Old Chinatown faced. The story contains intriguing characters, but not everyone is who or what they appear — these twists will delight readers . . . Whether teens enjoy mysteries, historical fiction or both, this is one to get into their hands.” — School Library Journal, starred review

“All My Rage” (2022) by Sabaa Tahir ’04

Sabaa Tahir grew up at her family's 18-room motel in California's Mojave Desert. The former newspaper editor is the author of the bestselling “Ember in the Ashes” series, which has been translated into more than 35 languages. The first book in the series, “An Ember in the Ashes,” was named one of TIME's 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time. Tahir's most recent novel, “All My Rage,” won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2022.

Review:

“’All My Rage’ is a love story, a tragedy and an infectious teenage fever dream about what home means when you feel you don't fit in.” — New York Times Book Review

“Gay Bar: Why We Went Out” (2021) by Jeremy Atherton Lin ʼ96

In this National Book Critics Circle Award winner, Jeremy Atherton Lin embarks upon a historical, transatlantic tour of gay bars, a place of solidarity and sexual expression. From Hollywood in the 1970s to London in the 1770s, he charts police raids and riots, as well as his own personal history. Atherton Lin is an Asian-American essayist based in Los Angeles and East Sussex, England. His debut book “Gay Bar” was listed in the New York Times Critics' Top Books of 2021 and received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography. His memoir, “Deep House,” will be published in 2025

Review:

“A remarkable debut. . . it’s a difficult book to pin down, but that’s what makes it so readable and so endlessly fascinating. . . Each observation is sharp and phrased beautifully; Atherton Lin wastes no words, and the ones he chooses are carefully considered. Gay Bar is a book that’s beyond impressive, and Atherton Lin’s writing is both extremely intelligent and refreshingly unpretentious.” ― NPR

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Books by Bruins Library

Previous articles in the Books by Bruins series

We’re building an online Bruin Library and these are the alumni authors we have thus far. Don’t see a name that should be in there? Submit a Bruin author.

Recent Articles

In Memoriam: Kelli Tani '17

Former Student Alumni Association board member Kelli Tani '17 has passed away in a tragic biking accident. She was 28.

A celebration of life service for the California-born resident of Colorado will be held on at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, at Riviera United Methodist Church, 375 Palos Verdes Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90277. Those wishing to attend are requested to RSVP for planning purposes by calling Tani's home church, Faith UMC, at 310-217-7000.

A communications studies major and member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Tani, who worked at NBCUniversal Media and Google, participated in UCLA Alumni's Entertainment Networking Night. At the time of her death, she was an MBA candidate at the NYU Stern school of Business.

Tani is survived by her parents, Gary and Cathie Tani; brother, Andrew; fiancé, Jon Hurwitz of Los Gatos, California; grandfather, Koichi Ono; uncles Daryl Ono and Dr. Lloyd Tani of Salt Lake City, Utah; aunt, Colleen Tani; cousins Ryan (Bronte) and Jaclyn Tani, and many family and friends.  She was predeceased by her brother, Christopher; grandparents, Joe and Lorraine Tani and Hisako Ono, and other relatives.

News of Tani's passing prompted an outpouring of grief and remembrances from her friends and colleagues, some of which we share here.

There are no words that could encapsulate Kelli's spirit and her warm nature. Kelli was truly one of a kind. She was so energetic, fun, inclusive, kind, and bubbly. She made everyone feel seen and heard, and was able to fill a room with her light in a very special way - her light only made everyone else's shine brighter. Kelli was very diligent in her work and I always trusted in whatever she was delivering to be of very high quality. She was always someone I could count on. While I respected and admired her professional accomplishments, it was her zest for life and community building ability that made her truly special. She excelled at everything she put her mind to, and that included finding balance in her professional and personal life. Kelli was known to make you feel special and heard, and could connect with practically everybody. Kelli will truly be missed by so many of the lives she deeply touched.
— Eunice Jung, former president, Student Alumni Association

Kelli truly was the most incredible human.  We bonded as a true family on Spring Sing together as we spent countless hours putting together an amazing show for UCLA students and becoming such a close knit unit.  lli was always a bright light in any room. She was thoughtful, selfless, kind, bubbly and the life of the party. She was dedicated and hard working yet also knew how to not take life too seriously. She made any moment more fun and always brought an infectious positive energy that lifted everyone around her and brought people together.
— Abby Freemire

Kelli was my director on Alumni Relations during her senior year and was truly the piece that brought us all together. Our committee was very close that year and we all have Kelli to thank for that. She was incredibly thoughtful, funny, kind, and always there to listen. Her zest for life and those around her was so apparent. She will be deeply missed by us all.
— Grace Hunter

There were so many things I admired about Kelli, but one of the biggest ones was how she so effortlessly and genuinely built community with others. Whether it was her committees or friends, she had such a special way of bringing people together and making them a group that cared for and supported each other.
— Geena Shah

Without a doubt, Kelli was truly a rare and special person. She had the most vibrant and beautiful soul, with a contagious smile and laughter that would light up every room she walked into. She possessed the amazing gift of humor, cared tremendously for her friends and loved ones, and poured her heart and soul into all of her passions. She made an indelible impact on so many of our lives, and I know all of us lucky enough to know her will carry her in our hearts for the rest of our lives. I am grateful for our unforgettable memories and friendship, from the all-star cast we had in Career Networking to losing our voices together at football games to graduating together as SAAniors.
 — Christian Tejeda

Her beaming smile that we all knew and loved was always the first thing you noticed about her, and then quickly after came her radiant light, warmth, and energy. I truly don’t have a single memory of her not smiling or being her happy self. 
 — Paulina Hernandez

Kelli and I were on Spring Sing committee together where we spent so many weekends and long nights preparing for the big show. We became one big family and Kelli was the light in the center of it. She brought so much joy, positive energy, and laughter into every moment. Kelli was such a rare person.
— Amir Ghowsi 

Kelli was my co-Director on Spring Sing. We spent countless hours during one of the most monumental years of my college experience putting together a dream Stage Crew for the event. She was pure sunshine - not only to work with day after day, but to simply be around, laugh with, play with. Her genuine kindness and pure silliness was contagious, and I’ll always be grateful for that time spent with her as a partner in crime, Stage Crew mom and friend. May her unmatched light continue to shine bright on us. 
— Ari Stanton

I am sending so much love to your family. Kelli was so sweet and always made me feel seen & included. I had what I know now was severe social anxiety, and she was quite literally one of the handful of people from my time in SAA with whom I immediately felt comfortable and got to connect with. I'll remember her dearly.
— Tunrayo

Kelli reminds me of the sun, radiating warmth on the days you need it. Big ol' smile on her face whenever I walked into meeting. Thank you Kelli. Your shine made Tuesday nights even better.
— Frankie

I met Kelli during my sophomore year at UCLA. Kelli was a senior and the director of my Student Alumni Association committee. I feel grateful to have met Kelli during this period of my life, because it was a formative time as I was exploring who I wanted to be. I instantly looked up to Kelli, and saw her as the older sister I never had...
— Read more of Catherine Zhang's tribute to Kelli here.

Recent Articles

Dialogue Across Difference Initiative

"Bring people together, and they'll awaken to their common humanity.”

- Dr. Jamil Zaki (War on Kindness, UCLA Common Book 2024)

T

he COVID-19 pandemic, political polarization and economic uncertainty have exacerbated growing divisions and we’re experiencing an erosion of discourse. Given the importance of robust communication to the work of a university, then-Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Darnell Hunt, Ph.D. ’94, determined that as a public research institution, UCLA must fulfill its mandate to bridge these divides and foster open dialogue, critical thinking and empathy. He convened a committee chaired by UCLA professor David Myers, the Sady and Ludwig Kahn Chair in Jewish History and director of the Bedari Kindness Institute. Myers says, “The work of the University is to create the necessary friction to generate knowledge in order to serve society. We have to begin by imagining UCLA as a laboratory of experimentation to figure out how to engage people across differences in ways that can build a shared sense of community.”

The committee developed a plan to build a campus-wide culture of respectful communication, called the Dialogue across Difference Initiative (DaD). Interim Chancellor Hunt introduced the program as part of his Four-Point Plan for a Safer, Stronger UCLA. He said, “Part of our learning and growth comes from engagement with viewpoints we may not agree with or readily understand. While this may be uncomfortable, it is also what helps us deepen our thinking, weigh different approaches and consider new ways of looking at an issue.” 

DaD is a long-term commitment to providing the tools and confidence necessary to increase understanding and empathy among Bruins. Open and respectful dialogue is essential to fostering the innovative, collaborative thinking that drives positive change. 

Maia Ferdman ’15, M.A. ’15, is staff director of UCLA’s Dialogue across Difference Initiative and deputy director of the Bedari Kindness Institute. She says, “We are working to support our community to face the extraordinary divides of our time. The challenge for us is how the University can bring people together across differences with more resilience.”

The Initiative has four prongs of engagement: cultivating student capacity to navigate differences; supporting faculty to teach across difference; public programs modeling dialogue and compassion; and training programs and workshops that will be available to students, faculty, staff and alumni interested in building their skills. 

The prongs of activity include workshops for students, staff, faculty and alumni; training sessions; community-building exercises; public lectures, internships and fellowships. DaD will be compiling a digital clearinghouse of existing dialogue-related efforts and opportunities on and off campus so members of the UCLA community can easily find and access them. DaD is also exploring the launch of the Bruin Bridge Builders fund to support students in accessing workshops, internships and conferences. Ferdman says, “We want to elevate many different approaches to dialogue through the Initiative and bring in people from across campus audiences, because culture change requires an all-hands-on-deck approach.” 

The Initiative has also partnered with national nonprofit Resetting the Table to bring their field-tested approach for navigating differences to campus. It is offering their Speaking Across Conflict workshop to various campus audiences, which focuses on effective communication with those who hold differing beliefs. In this training, participants learn a key communication skill for productive conversations. UCLA vice chancellors and deans have taken a version of this workshop, and it is being offered on a regular basis to faculty, staff and students. Ferdman also led a day-long advanced facilitation training for those who often lead groups, specifically around navigating political or other kinds of differences. 

Co-founded by Eyal Rabinovitch, Ph.D. ’05, Resetting the Table supports "collaborative deliberation in the face of strong differences.” Rabinovitch says, “There isn't a substitute for actively engaging in the process of direct communication across differences. People want to gravitate towards areas of commonality out of fear that our differences are destructive. When you're able to share your views, that's much more productive and constructive.” 

A cohort of eight UCLA staff members are participating in the Resetting the Table “Train the Trainer for Higher Education Administrators.” They are learning the program’s framework as well as how to run their own workshops. Cory Rosas ʼ16, director of UCLA Alumni Diversity Programs & Initiatives, is among the group who are participating and will be a resource for future alumni events.

In addition, there is a faculty fellowship in partnership with the Teaching and Learning Center consisting of 16 faculty members from across 11 disciplines including psychiatry, writing, law and disability studies. Members of this fellowship are either launching a new course or revising a course with an eye for advancing values including active listening, empathy and engagement across divides. The fellowship is convening multiple times a quarter to improve and deepen their skills for teaching across difference.

Denise Pacheco, M.A. ʼ04, Ph.D. ʼ11, senior director of UCLA Alumni Diversity Programs & Initiatives, has been a member of the DaD advisory committee since its formation, bringing an alumni perspective to these important conversations. She says, “We are at the table actively seeking to engage alumni as critical stakeholders, to elevate their influence and inform future programs and resources.” As part of her efforts to incorporate the alumni perspectives, to support the development of student leadership trainees, DaD invited alumni board leaders to share their insights.

The Bedari Kindness Institute (BKI) is the administrative home for the Dialogue across Difference Initiative, along with the multidisciplinary research program Initiative to Study Hate. The Institute launched nearly five years ago to study and advance the practice of kindness in the world. Myers says, “This is a multiyear undertaking to transform our culture into one which could tolerate and, in fact, embrace debate and discussion across difference.”

BKI and Alumni Affairs have also partnered with The UCLA Common Experience, which fosters community and inspires activism at UCLA through its selection of a title centered around compelling social issues, to hold an event related to this year’s common book, “The War for Kindness” by Dr. Jamil Zaki. They are in the early stages of planning and hope to invite alumni to join students in discussion with the author. Future plans include expanding student-alumni connections to provide skill-building opportunities.

Since the DaD Initiative was rolled out in late 2023, there has been a strong demand for programming. Ferdman says, “The capacity to communicate constructively across differences is an essential leadership skill for the 21st century. We all need to be able to understand how to navigate differences because we are in a pluralistic, democratic and diverse society.”

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We welcome your thoughts. If you have a suggestion or would like to get involved, please reach out to Dr. Denise Pacheco, Senior Director, Alumni Diversity Programs and Initiatives (dpacheco@support.ucla.edu). To learn more, visit the Dialogue across Difference website. 

Recent Articles

“Art & Science Collide” at UCLA

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ST ART, the largest arts event in the United States, returns this fall with the theme “Art & Science Collide.” The Getty’s arts event brings together 800 artists and 70 cultural institutions across Southern California to engage audiences in art as a way of understanding the natural world. UCLA received nearly $2 million in grants, making it the largest granted recipient. The collaboration between scientific research and artistic expression is a perfect forum for UCLA, with its long tradition of interdisciplinary, cross-campus research.

UCLA museums, professional schools and departments are all contributing to PST ART, including The UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, the UCLA Film & Television Archive and The UCLA Art | Sci Center, founded to bridge the gap between media arts and bio/nano sciences.

Art | Sci is presenting “Atmosphere of Sound: Sonic Art in Times of Climate Disruption,” to explore how sound can connect audiences to a deeper understanding of the effects of climate change. The exhibit is co-curated by Victoria Vesna, artist, professor in Design Media Arts and founder of Art | Sci, and Anuradha Vikram, writer, curator and lecturer. As Vikram explains, “We are going for the heart to address the reality of a changing climate. We believe very strongly in the UCLA community, and we want to create a different sense of what is possible.”

“Atmosphere of Sound” will feature exhibitions by 13 artists who use sound and vibration to create innovative works of art.  The exhibition will feature interactive installations, live performances and sound walks. For example, Katie Grinnan, M.F.A. ’99, created two copper cephalopod forms, “The Sensitives,” with touch-sensitive iridescent suckers. When pressed they play a tone that was derived from a fragment of an octopus’ genetic material. Amber Stucke’s sound art installation, “Talking to Plants,” uses two vinyl recordings played simultaneously that were created in response to the questions, “What is the idea of a plant and how would you talk to it?”

The power of sound and vibration creates art that goes beyond the visual, and engages the audience on a physical and emotional level. Vikram says, “Climate change is something that you can't always see, so we wanted to speak to people in different ways about these issues. We think of this exhibition as restorative to keep us going another day. This is a public campus, and we feel strongly that public art is important to reflect conditions that affect everyone.”

The inaugural piece in “Atmosphere of Sound” is the American premier of artist Bill Fontana’s “Silent Echoes: Notre-Dame and the Dachstein Glacier.” With a career spanning 50 years, Fontana uses sound as his medium. His piece is a duet between the sound vibrations of a melting glacier in the Austrian alps and the undamaged but dormant bells of Notre-Dame after the 2019 fire, which he recorded with a scientific vibrometer. The six-channel sound sculpture will be amplified from UCLA’s Royce Hall and at the Nimoy Theater from Sept. 14 through Oct. 5.

Fontana says, “Notre Dame is an incredible cultural icon that was nearly destroyed by fire. Climate change is like a fire that’s destroying the planet. So the idea of having Notre Dame’s bells bear witness to the melting glacier is a reminder of our interconnectedness and the fragility of our world.” He continues, “It makes sense to have Notre Dame’s resonating bells coming out of this historic building, although Royce’s towers have never held bells.”

You can find the PST ART exhibitions and events at UCLA through May 25, 2025.

UCLA Film & Television Archive in partnership with UCLA Cinema & Media Studies Program

“Science Fiction Against the Margins,” Oct. 4 - Dec. 14, 2024, Billy Wilder Theater

This 12-night series showcases innovative sci-fi films beyond the mainstream.

The Hammer Museum

”Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice,” ongoing through Jan. 5, 2025

This contemporary exhibit considers climate change, environmental justice and social justice through art.

The Fowler Museum

”Sangre de Nopal/Blood of the Nopal: Tanya Aguiñiga & Porfirio Gutiérrez en Conversación/in Conversation,” ongoing through Jan. 12, 2025

A multivocal exhibition that focuses on immigration and labor justice through ancestral knowledge and technical experimentation.

The Fowler Museum

"Fire Kinship: Southern California Ecology and Native Art," ongoing through May, 25, 2025

The exhibition argues for a return to Native fire practices, in which fire is regarded as a vital aspect of land stewardship, community wellbeing, and tribal sovereignty.

UCLA Art | Sci Center

“Atmosphere of Sound: Sonic Art in Times of Climate Disruption,” Ongoing through May, 31, 2025

Thirteen artists bring interactive installations, live performances, sound walks and more experiences that demonstrate that ambiguities of sound can help audiences understand the rapidly shifting state of the climate and its effects on the physical world.

UCLA Arts Conditional Studio

“Conscious Tether: Art and the Internet in LA,” Oct. 5 - 20, 2024

Contemporary artists living and working in Los Angeles respond to work on and with the internet.

The UCLA Center for the Art of Performance

“Live Night: Cruising Bodies, Spirits and Machines,” co-presented by CAP UCLA and REDCAT at The United Theater on Broadway, Dec. 7, 2024

A night of experimental performances by Rafa Esparza, MUXX collective, among others.

Getty's PST ART (formerly Pacific Standard Time) can be found throughout Southern California through May 2025. For more information, visit their website. 

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Introducing Our New Logo

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very Bruin has a story. Whether it’s a story of struggle or success, of growth or giving back, each journey is unique and very often life defining. Together, these stories give power and strength to the collective. They inspire, they illuminate, they enrich our understanding of our Bruin identity and diversity. The narratives of all 660,000-plus alumni cannot be told all at once, but with a renewed focus on what makes each person extraordinary, we boldly proclaim to every UCLA alum, “We see you!"

This logo is the visual identity of our alumni community, representing the connectedness of each one of our living alumni to UCLA. Intended to convey a colloquial, friendly, approachable vibe, it’s a call for Bruin camaraderie and engagement. The singular, gender-inclusive and commonly used term “alum” speaks to you as an individual, providing a contemporary update that honors your personal and professional needs, and contributions to the community. Simply put, we’re here to tell your Bruin story. 

Our new logo and visual identity will be rolled out throughout the coming months. A lot of exciting things are in the works, which we look forward to sharing with you soon.

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