The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs has a global network of more than 9,000 graduate and undergraduate alumni living and working in more than 40 countries.
Our vision for alumni engagement at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs is to foster a vibrant and interconnected community of alumni who are actively involved, inspired, and connected to our institution. We aim to create meaningful and lifelong relationships with our alumni, providing them with opportunities for personal and professional growth while leveraging their talents and expertise to benefit our institution and current students. Our alumni engagement relationship cultivation starts while they are students and continues post-graduation, it’s an ongoing commitment. Through innovative programming, impactful events, and strong communication channels, we strive to build a sense of pride, loyalty, and continued engagement among our alumni, ensuring their continuous connection and contribution to our shared success, they are us and we are them.
Luskin Alumni Regional Receptions
You’re invited to reconnect and network with fellow alumni at our exclusive Alumni Regional Receptions in San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego and Washington, D.C. Join us for an evening of camaraderie, inspiration, and memories. Don’t miss this opportunity to forge valuable connections and celebrate the impact of our UCLA Luskin community.
Save the date for our upcoming Luskin Alumni Regional Receptions and stay tuned for the official RSVP invitation. We can’t wait to see you there!
San Diego, Thursday, October 10th, 2024, 5-7 p.m.
Los Angeles, Friday, November 1st, 2024, 5-7 p.m.
Alumni Panels
We are calling all UCLA Luskin alumni and students! We’re thrilled to invite you to our engaging Alumni Panels. Take advantage of this incredible opportunity to hear from accomplished alumni sharing their experiences, insights and career journeys.
Discover diverse perspectives from experts in various fields, from public policy, urban planning and social welfare to our undergraduate program in public affairs. Gain valuable advice and build connections with fellow professionals.
Whether you’re seeking career guidance, networking opportunities, or simply looking for inspiration, our alumni panels have something for everyone. Mark your calendars and be a part of these enriching discussions.
Tuesday, October 8th,2024, “UCLA Luskin Latinx Communities Alumni Panel”
Wednesday, October 9th, 2024, “Meet and Greet with MAUP ’04 Alumnus Rorie Overby”
Thursday, October 10th, 2024, “UCLA ONE and Networking Info. Session”
Cafecito con Luskin
Fall 2022, we inaugurated Cafecito con Luskin, a networking event for UCLA Luskin School Public Affairs Alumni living in the Los Angeles area. Cafecitos are scheduled in different coffee shops across Los Angeles to reach as many alums as possible. Please join us if you are in town; all alums, faculty, staff, and current students are welcome, and your cafecito is on us. ¡Nos vemos en el Cafecito!
Thursday, December 5th, 2024 at Urth Caffe in Downtown Los Angeles, 9-11 a.m.
Luskin Alumni Networking Night
Join us for an unforgettable evening of connections and opportunities at Luskin Alumni Networking Night! Reconnect with fellow graduates, expand your professional network, and explore new collaborations. Engage with accomplished alumni and industry leaders, sharing insights and experiences. This event promises to foster meaningful connections, empowering you to thrive in your career and make a lasting impact. Don’t miss this chance to strengthen your Luskin community bonds and open doors to exciting prospects. Stay tuned for the next one.
Luskin Aperitivo
Winter 2023, we launched our Luskin Aperitivo, a networking pre-dinner happy hour that will take place across different venues in the greater Los Angeles area.
Our next Luskin Aperitivo will be unique mixer celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and honor the rich cultural diversity within our UCLA Luskin community. We invite all alumni to come out and celebrate their bilingualism or multilingualism at the Luskin Spanish Language Speakers Meet Up! All Spanish levels are welcome; the goal is to practice and keep the language alive while reinforcing the power of community-building.
The Luskin Aperitivo: Spanish Language Meet-Up is on Friday, September 20th, 2024 at the Angel City Brewery in Dowtown LA from 5-7 p.m.
For more information and to RSVP for our events please remember to visit our events calendar.
In addition to these alumni-specific events, UCLA Luskin invites you to attend the many events and programs we organize that are open to the entire Luskin community including: the beginning of the academic year’s Block Party, Luskin Lectures, and the Luskin Summit.
Alumni Network
Network with Luskin alumni & future alumni (currently enrolled students) via UCLA Luskin Office of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations page on LinkedIn. in four easy steps by updating the education section in your personal LinkedIn profile:
- In the Education section of your profile, add “UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs” as your school (not UCLA, the undergraduate college)
- Add your “Dates Attended”
- Add your “Degree”
- Click “Save,” and your profile will automatically connect to UCLA Luskin alumni & student profiles via the UCLA Luskin Office of Student Affairs and Alumni LinkedIn university page so you can network with fellow Luskin-ites!
Post career promotions, and job opportunities, learn about other group members, and keep up-to-date on all things Luskin.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel for the most up-to-date news about fellow alumni, students and faculty, and the latest events and programs on campus and beyond. Have something to share? Tag us at @UCLALuskin
Stay in Touch with Luskin
Stay in touch with the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs by updating your contact information
Interested in speaking on a panel, serving on a committee, or helping with recruitment? Have you moved or changed jobs? Interested in learning more about upcoming events? Please take a moment to complete our stay-in-touch form and update your contact information, and tell us how you’d like to get involved. We would love to hear from you!
To update us with your professional milestone, your day-to-day victories, as well as your ideas. Please contact:
Dr. Karina Mascorro
Director of Alumni Engagement
kmascorro@luskin.ucla.edu
Don’t forget to follow us on social media.
Curious to stay informed and engaged with all things UCLA Luskin? Don’t miss out on the latest news updates! Check out our Luskin Forum Online for thought-provoking articles. Stay updated with UCLA Luskin in the News to see our community’s impact. And for captivating visuals, dive into our vibrant Flickr albums which showcase pictures from our events.
Career Resources for Alumni
Graduate Student Alumni
Luskin Graduate Student Alumni are invited to continue using CareerHub to access the Public Affairs job board. If you do not yet have access to this system, don’t hesitate to contact careerservices@luskin.ucla.edu with your name, email, Luskin program, and graduation date to request account activation. We also invite you to connect with our Luskin School of Public Affairs LinkedIn Page to connect with fellow alumni, current students, and employers. As a Luskin Alum, you have lifetime access to these resources. In addition to Luskin CareerHub & LinkedIn and the UCLA Career Center, please visit UCLA Alumni’s Career Engagement website for UCLA’s alumni career coaches directory and professional development programs.
Recent Luskin graduate alumni have continued access to Luskin Career Services for three months after their last academic term. Recent Luskin graduate Alumni may also attend the next career fair after graduation. For example, if you graduate in June 2023, you can access Luskin career counseling appointments and workshops through September, and you may attend the Fall Internship and Career Fair.
Lastly, in your first year as an alum, you have one year of free access to UCLA’s campus-wide “Handshake for Alumni.” After your first year, a six months subscription is available. Please see the UCLA Career Center Alumni Page for more information.
Undergraduate Student Alumni
We also invite you to connect with our Luskin School of Public Affairs LinkedIn Page to connect with fellow alumni, current students, and employers. As a Luskin Alum, you have lifetime access to these resources. In addition to Luskin CareerHub & LinkedIn and the UCLA Career Center, please visit UCLA Alumni’s Career Engagement website for UCLA’s alumni career coaches directory and professional development programs.
Recent UCLA undergraduate alumni have continued access to all UCLA Career Center services for three months after their Luskin academic term. Additionally, in your first year as an alum, you have one year of free access to UCLA’s campus-wide “Handshake for Alumni.” After your first year, a six months subscription is available. Please see the UCLA Career Center Alumni Page for more information.
Resume Review Resources
Please see the NAWSCA Career Development: Resume Review.
Mentor through UCLA ONE
Register for UCLA One to:
Connect: Find Bruins you know or meet Bruins you should know in a trusted UCLA environment.Give back: Introduce, employ and offer to mentor current students and recent grads.Expand: Leverage your Bruin network to further your knowledge and career aspirations.Re-connect with old classmates: UCLA ONE allows you to find and re-connect with old classmates and expand your professional network.Build Community: This is your community, where Bruins help Bruins. Leverage the collective power of the vast alumni network and cultivate a culture of helping and giving back.
Please join the Luskin School of Public Affairs Group once you register.
Recruitment
Recruit UCLA Luskin Graduate Students
Post Jobs and Internships on the Luskin Job Board
Our career management system is called CareerHub. Please register here to post jobs, fellowships, and internship opportunities. If you have questions regarding CareerHub or posting, please email us.
Attend our Fall and/or Spring Career Fairs!
Employers from all areas of public policy, social welfare, and urban planning at the public, private, nonprofit, and government levels who will have job and internship opportunities available are invited. Please log into CareerHub to register.
Host an Employer Information Session
If you want to promote your organization, job opportunities and meet qualified and department-specific students, please contact Kevin Medina, at kmedina@luskin.ucla.edu. You are welcome to present in person or by Zoom.
Forward us one-time postings.
Please forward job postings to be featured in our weekly newsletter here: Jobs@luskin.ucla.edu
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News
A Celebratory Welcome to UCLA Luskin The entire School community gathers to make connections and launch the new academic year
The entire School community gathers to make connections and launch the new academic year.
‘Tell Your Story in Your Own Words, So That No One Tells It For You’ A commencement message of empathy and resilience for UCLA Luskin’s Class of 2024
A commencement message of empathy and resilience for UCLA Luskin’s Class of 2024.
Blazing Trails for Asian American Health and Well-Being Social Welfare alumni Bill Watanabe and Yasuko Sakamoto are honored for legacy of leadership
UCLA Social Welfare alumni Bill Watanabe and Yasuko Sakamoto are honored for a legacy of leadership.
Spotlight
UCLA Luskin Alumni of the Year
Alumni of the Year awards honor members of the alumni community who have been impactful through community service, public service, University service and/or professional achievement. By recognizing alumni, the award hopes to inspire leaders and change agents who advance solutions to society’s most-pressing problems.
MPP 2023 Alumna of the Year
Regina Wallace-Jones is the CEO and President of ActBlue. A seasoned technology executive, former elected official, and Democratic organizer she succeeds Erin Hill, who led the organization for 14 years. Hill announced in July her intention to step down at the end of 2022.
Since its founding in 2004, ActBlue has transformed political fundraising, helping Democratic campaigns and progressive organizations raise more than $11 billion and more than 21 million small-dollar donors make an impact on the causes they care about. Wallace-Jones will bring a unique mix of experiences from the tech sector, public service, and the organizing community to the role. She has had a dual-track career, both working as an engineer and executive for some of the biggest companies in the tech industry and also running for local office, serving as mayor of East Palo Alto, CA, and dedicating her time and energy to helping elect Democratic candidates.
Regina’s powerful combination of skills and deep commitment to progressive change positions her to lead ActBlue and help envision its next decade. She is an accomplished product and security leader, having held executive positions at Lendstreet, Mindbody, eBay, Facebook, and Yahoo. Her background equips her to deliver solutions for ActBlue’s users while ensuring it remains a trusted and secure platform. This moment calls for innovation and creativity to ensure Democrats and progressives have a strategic advantage when it comes to fundraising. Wallace-Jones is well versed in successfully leading teams to accomplish those goals.
As CEO, Wallace-Jones also brings an understanding of the mechanics needed to successfully win a down-ballot race and what it takes to win a national election. While an engaged citizen throughout her life, she became more involved in public service after serving as a Regional Field Organizer during President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign while balancing her career at Yahoo and caring for her young daughters. After organizing for multiple campaigns, she ran for and was elected to the East Palo Alto City Council. In 2020, the council appointed her as mayor of East Palo Alto, CA, where she guided the city through the pandemic. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., a public service sorority.
Wallace-Jones joins a short but exceptional list of leaders at ActBlue. She will be the fourth leader in the organization’s 19-year history and break ground as the first Black woman to helm the nonprofit.
Joseph A. Nunn Social Welfare 2024 Alumnus of the Year
From left, Bill Watanabe, Yasuko Sakamoto and Joe Nunn at the UCLA Luskin Social Welfare alumni celebration. Photo by Mary Braswell
Bill Watanabe MSW ’72 and Yasuko Sakamoto MSW ’83 were recognized as the Joseph A. Nunn Social Welfare Alumni of the Year for their decades of leadership in strengthening ethnic neighborhoods and training generations of social workers who would carry on a legacy of service.
Watanabe and Sakamoto were two of the three original staff members of the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) when it opened in 1980, and they served together for more than three decades.
The nonprofit now employs more than 150 people and provides culturally sensitive social services, affordable housing, support for small businesses, and programs for children, families and seniors. The June 8 alumni celebration took place in the recently opened Terasaki Budokan, a community sports and activity center 30 years in the making.
Over the years, the service center has also served as a learning site for more than 120 social welfare interns, 60 from UCLA — including three current faculty, Susan Lares-Nakaoka MSW ’99 UP PhD ’14, director of field education; Toby Hur MSW ’93 and Erin Nakamura MSW ’12.
Joseph A. Nunn Social Welfare Alumni of the Year Recipients
2023 Gerry Laviña MSW ’88
2022 Ahmanise Sanati MSW ‘10
2019 Harmony (Dust) Grillo MSW ’05
2018 Helene Creager MSW ’85
2017 Aurea Montes-Rodriguez MSW ’99
2016 Marvin J. Southard DSW ’83’
2015 Tracy Colunga MSW ’11
2014 Melinda Morgan MSW ‘89, PhD ’98
2013 Debra Duardo MSW ’96
2012 Jorja Leap MSW ’80
2011 Nelba Chavez MSW ’71
2010 Herb Hatanaka DSW ’82
2009 John Oliver MSW ’69
2008 Yolie Flores Aguilar MSW ’88
2007 Dennis Murata MSW ’84
Bruin Business 100 Alumni Awardees
2023 Leslea Meyerhoff Urban Planning ‘91 alumna, Founder & CEO, Summit Environmental Group, Inc.
Bruin Excellence in Civic Engagement Alumni Awardees
2023 Lourdes Castro Ramírez MAUP ’96, Chief of Housing & Homelessness for LA City Mayor Karen Bass
2023 Norma E. Fernandez MAUP ’06, Chief Executive Officer at Everyone On
2023 Oceana R. Gilliam MPP ’19, Chief of Staff & Justice Deputy
Chief of Staff & Justice Deputy, Rep. Justin J. Pearson, TN House of Representatives, District 86
2023 Rayne Laborde Ruiz MURP ’21, Associate, Koning Eizenberg Architecture; Adjunct, USC School of Architecture
2023 Teresa Magula MPP ’04, Managing Owner at OIR Group
2023 Veronica Melvin MPP ’21, President & CEO, LA Promise Fund
2023 Aaron Ordower MURP ’15, Environment Deputy, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath
2023 Regina Wallace-Jones MPP ’99, Chief Executive Officer and President
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Luskin Alumni
Bladam Gomez, MURP ’24, UCLA Fellow at UCLA Law School
Alejandra Garcia, MPP ’23, Government Affairs Manager at Comcast
Rocio Perez, MPP ’23, policy and data analyst at UnidosUS
Janet Zamudio, MURP ’23, Western Policy Climate Intern at Environmental Defense Fund
Elizabeth Plasencia Reynolds, MPP ’23, Legislative Fellow at United States Senate
Heidy Melchor, MURP ’23, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Legislative Fellow at CHCI
Ashley Reyes, MPP ’22, legislative deputy at The Office of Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez in the City of Los Angeles
Courtney Taylor MPP ’21, law clerk at Federal Public Defender and current UCLA law student
CORO Fellowship Alumni
Aryon Shahidzadeh MURP ’24, Lead Researcher California Initiatives, Emerging Markets Development Corporation
Sydney Saubestre MPP ’23, Senior Policy Analyst Open Technology Institute, New America
Saman Haddad BA ’22, Jay Fujitani 1L Summer Associate, current law student at Yale
Devina Ortega BA ’21, Public Information Specialist at Covina Valley School District
Adriana Bernal BA ’21, Communications Associate, FISA Foundation
Estefania Zavala MPP ’18, Digital Equity and Economic Inclusion Officer at City of Long Beach
Education Pioneers Impact Fellowship Alumni
Sydney Ganon MPP ’17, Director and Senior Consultant at Education First Consulting
Emily Scheines MPP ’14, Senior Director of Skills Systems at Competency-Based Education Network
Annie Kuo MPP ’12, Senior Director of Technology at Summit Public Schools
Josh Mukhopadhyay MPP ’08, Deputy General Counsel at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Fulbright-Hayes Fellowship Alumni
2024-2025 Juan Carlos Jauregui, Social Welfare Ph.D. student, Fogarty UCGHI GloCal Health Fellow
2024-2025 Andres Felipe Ramirez, Urban Planning Ph.D. ’20, Managing Director at Plane-Site
2023-2024 Yaritza A. Gonzalez Rodriguez, MPP ’23, Policy Manager at Central American Resource Center – Los Angeles (CARECEN-LA)
2021-2022 Jacqueline Adams, MPP ’21, Sustainable Development Analyst at Green Powered Technology
2017-2018 Alejandra Rios, MURP ’24, Data Analyst, UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies
2015-2016 Miriam Julia Pinski, Urban Planning Ph.D. ’22, Research Lead at Shared-Use Mobility Center
2005-2006 Pia Franzese, MPP ’05, Senior Maritime Projects Administrator at Port of Oakland
2004-2005 Orit Stieglitz, Urban Planning Ph.D. ’06, Director of Special Projects at Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee
2004-2005 Jessica L. Nierenberg, MURP ’04, Assistant Director at US Government Accountability Office
1994-1995 Rebecca N. Abers, MAUP ’92 and Urban Planning Ph.D. ’97, Professor at the Institute of Political Science of the University of Brasília, Brazil.
1987-1988 Bruce Ferguson, Urban Planning Ph.D. ’90, Independent Consultant at Self-Employed
1986 James H. Guerin, MAUP ’85, Musician/Teacher at Sweetwater Union High School District
1965-1966 Wilfred D. Coggins, MSW ’55, Founder Kaiser Permanente Watts. Counseling & Learning Center, currently retired
Greenlining Institute Felllowship Alumni
Adriana Ochoa, MURP ’24, Current MURP student at UCLA Luskin
Rachel Lu, MURP ’22, Impact Fellow at UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Adriana Bernal, BA in Public Affairs ’22, Communication Associate at FISA Foundation
Zainab Badi, MPP ’19, Workforce Policy Project Manager, GRID Alternatives
JC De Vera, MPP ’17, Director at Hirsch Philanthropy Partners
Monica Gomez, MPP ’04, Program Officer at the California Wellness Foundation
Harvard Kennedy Government Performance Lab Fellowship Alumni
Gabriela Solis Torres MSW/MPP ’19, Assistant Director at HKS Government Performance Lab
Lindsay Graef MSW/MPP ’19, Doctoral Student at University of Pennsylvania
Jesse M. Unhuh Assembly Fellowship Alumni
Laura Edwards MPP ’23, Legislative Aide at California State Assembly
LA County Management Fellows Alumni
Ross Lenihan, MPP ‘15, Policy & Data Manager at County of Los Angeles Workforce Department (DEO)
Brandon Dowling MPP ’13, Chief of Staff at Pacific6
Long Beach Management Assistant Program Alumni
Adriana Ochoa MURP ’25, Management Assistant at the City of Long Beach
Savanna Doudar MPP ’23, Homeless Strategy and Partnership Specialist at the City of Long Beach
Mary Daou MPP ’20, Administrative Analyst at the City of Long Beach
Estefania Zavala MPP ’18, Digital Equity and Economic Inclusion Officer at the City of Long Beach
Ryan Kurtzman MURP ’18, Technology and Partnerships Officer at the City of Long Beach
Alvin Teng MPP ’18, Homeless Strategy and Partnerships Manager at the City of Long Beach
Elizabeth Calixtro MPP ’16, Labor Relations Manager at Multnomah County
Luskin Bohnett Fellowship Alumni
Discover the Bohnett Fellows’ impactful presence in public service and innovation. Leading transformative initiatives across esteemed organizations and government institutions, they drive progress in city administrations, social justice, sustainability, and technology firms. Their dedication to excellence and commitment to creating positive change inspire brighter futures for all, leaving an indelible mark on the communities they serve.
Antonia Izuogu, MURP ’23, Student Intern, East Bay Community Law Center
Lana Zimmerman MPP ’23, Associate Project Manager, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
Michelle Gallarza, MURP ’23, Planning Assistant, City of Los Angeles
Katrina Deloso, MURP/MPH ’23, Student Professional Worker, Active Transportation Division, City of Los Angeles
Imelda Islas, MPP ’23, Interm Housing Solutions, Mayor’s Office of City Homelessness Initiatives at Office of Mayor Karen Bass
Christina Anecito MPP ’22, Associate, Cityfi
Alejandro Gonzalez, MURP ’21, Program Manager, Connecting Capital and Community (3C) Initiative, Genesis LA
Courtney B. Taylor, MPP ’21, Law Clerk, Noncapital Habeas Unit, Federal Public Defender/ UCLA Law Candidate 202
Karishma Shamdasani, MPP ’21, Senior Deputy of Transportation, Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, L.A. County Board of Supervisors
Mary Daou, MPP ’20 (USCM), Administrative Analyst, City of Long Beach
Jonathan Kosaka MPP ’20, Credit Controller, Robert Walters
Victoria Lewis, MSW/MPP ’20, Clinical Fellow, Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center
Samantha Meyer, MURP ’20, Senior Project Developer, Eden Housing, Inc.
Iman Nanji, MPP ’19, Project Leader, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Sean Tan, MPP ’19, Senior Public Administration Analyst at UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
Shonté Johnson, MSW ’19, Associate Clinical Social Worker, Epiphany Counseling, Consulting, & Treatment Services
Ryan Kurtzman, MURP ’18, Technology Partnership Officer, City of Long Beach
Caroline Menjivar, MSW ’18, California State Senator, District 20
Isaac Bryan MPP ’18, California State Assemblymember, 55th District and California State Assembly Majority Leader
Tammy (Barreras) Ortuno, MSW ’17, Director of Workforce Development, Los Angeles Mayor’s Office
Jayanthi Daniel, MSW ’17, Executive Director, Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation
John Christian “JC”, MPP ’17, Director, Hirsch Philanthropy Partners
Tony Tonnu, MURP ’17 (USCM), Data Scientist, Thyme Care
Jeremiah Atterman MSW ’16, Director of Business & Strategy, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Elizabeth Calixtro MPP ’16, Labor Relations Manager, Multnomah County
Andrew Stricklin, MURP ’16, Senior Manager, Global Expansion Proposals & Permits at Lime
Kiana Taheri, MPP’16, Special Projects Officer, Los Angeles City Administrative Officer
Skylar Ibarra (Lenox), MSW ’15, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Lenarra Therapy
Kelsey Jessup, MPP ’15, Project Director, Urban Conservation, The Nature Conservancy
Jacky Guerrero, MPP ’15, Director, Equity in Community Investments, Catalyst California
Holli Fajack, MURP ’14, Sustainability Manager, California State University, Long Beach
Saira Gandhi, MPP ’14, Senior Management Analyst, Equity, Performance Management & Innovation, City of Los Angeles of the Chief Administrative Officer
Lilly O’Brien-Kovari, MURP ’14, Senior Associate, Fehr & Peers
Dan Rodman, MURP ’13, Senior Transportation Lead, Natural Resources Defense Council
Lila Hayatdavoudi, MPP ’13, Senior Policy Analyst, General Counsel, University of California
Nahtahna Cabanes MSW ’13, Chief Executive Officer, NC Strategies
Michelle De Santiago, MPP ’12, Program Officer, First 5 LA
Joshua Low, MPP ‘12, Municipal Advisors, Ehlers
Lys Mendez, MPP ’12, Communications Strategist, Better World Group
Amanda Smick, MSW ’12, Pediatric Transplant Social Worker, UCLA Health
Daniel Caroselli MURP ’11, Digital Inclusion & Performance Management Unit, Bureau of Street Lightning, City of LA
Tyrone Carter MSW ’11, Associate Master Clinician: Addiction Medicine Recovery Services, Kaiser Permanente
Susanna Curry, MSW ’11, Assistant Professor, California State University- Sacramento
Cathy Dang, MSW ’11, National Co-Director, Grassroots Asians Rising
Karissa Yee Findley, MPP ’11, Director of School Portfolio Planning, San Francisco Unified School District
Priya Zachariah, MURP ’10, Chief Resilience Officer, Harris County Flood Control District
Frank Lopez, MPP ’10, Director, Regional Public Affairs, SoCal Gas
Helen Beckon Kerstein MPP ‘09, Principal Fiscal and Policy Analyst, California Legislative Analyst’s Office
Min-Kuk Song, MPP ’09, Deputy County Counsel, Office of the County Counsel, County of Santa Clara
Jamilla Jordan, UP ’09, Equity Director, County of Marin
Mary Wallace, MSW ’09, Program Coordinator, PEERS, LA County Department of Mental Health
Everardo Alvizio MSW ’08, Community Liaison HIV-Sacramento, Gilead Sciences
Gregory Spotts, MPP ’08, Director, Seattle Department of Transportation
Laura Zahn, UP ’08, Founder and Designer/Maker, Off the Saw
Luskin LA County Office of Child Protection Fellowship Alumni
Explore the careers our esteemed LA County Office of Child Protection Fellow Alumni have embarked on. From fervent social workers to Ph.D. candidates, our esteemed alumni exemplify dedication and commitment to safeguarding vulnerable youth.
Rachel Parker-Chavez MSW and MPP ’25, Human-Centered Design Strategist, Co-Founder
Alex Bowen MSW ’22, Clinical Social Worker and Clinic Manager at UCLA Health
Kimberly Fuentes MSW ’21, Clinical Social Worker at Wombat Mental Health Services, Study Coordinator and Ph.D. Candidate at UC Luskin Department of Social Welfare
Anthony Gomez MSW ’20, Ph.D. Candidate at UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare
Sara Rubinstein MPP ’19, MPP Homeless Initiatives Manager at United Way of Greater Los Angeles
Erica Ontiveros MSW ’18, Deputy Probation Officer at County Santa Barbara
Barbara Lundqvist MPP ’17, Project Director at Los Angeles County Office of Child Protection
Luskin Liberty Hill Fellowship Alumni
Liberty Fellow Alumni hold prominent positions across various fields. From influential government leaders to trailblazing entrepreneurs and innovative changemakers in nonprofit organizations, our esteemed alumni exemplify the spirit of transformative leadership. With their diverse expertise and unwavering commitment to creating a positive societal impact, these exceptional individuals are redefining success and shaping a better future for our communities.
Sonia Zamora MPP ’23 Government Contracts and Grants Coordinator at Step Up
Maura O’Neill MPP ’23, Policy Analyst & Advocate at Ideate Labs
Jesse Ostroff MPP ’23, Assistant Vice President, Client Advisor, Philanthropic Services at Whittier Trust Company
Christian Lua MPP ’23, Planning Technician at the City of Jurupa Valley
Alberto Murillo MPP ’23, Performance Auditor, The City of San Diego
Rasik Hussain MPP ’22, Infrastructure Policy Analyst at Arnold Ventures
Katiana Chang MSW ’22, Associate Therapist at Kaiser Permanente
Casey Leedom MURP ’22, Planner at San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)
Tayler Ward MURP ’21, Senior Manager of Communications and Education at Just Solutions
Gerrlyn Gacao MURP ’21, Program Manager, Community Ownership for Community Power Fund at Common Counsel Foundation
Kaylin Canilone MPP/MSW ’20, Research and Policy Manager at Los Angeles Department of Youth Development
Katherine Cabrera MURP ’20, Senior Program Manager, Capacity Building at The Greenlining Institute
Joel Montano MURP ’20, Housing Planning and Economic Analyst at Lost Angeles Housing Department
Jesus Flores MURP ’19, Director of Policy and Strategy at UC Riverside Inland Empire and Community Center
Jessa Mae McCormack MURP ’19, Deputy Director of Housing Justice at Liberty Hill Foundation
Jessica Prieto MURP ’19, Program Manager, Peace Development Fund
Gabriela Lopez MSW ’19, unknown
Desiree Lopez MSW ’19, Student Success Coordinator at San Diego State University Research Foundation
Cameron Phillips MURP ’19, unknown
Evelyn Larios MSW ’18, Restorative Justice Coordinator, Vaughn Next Century Learning Center
Simi Aliu MURP ’17, Senior Advisor at Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence at John Hopkins University
Brittany Woods MSW ’17, Lead Pupil Services and Attendance Counselor at LAUSD
Michael Janusek MURP ’16, Associate Planner at M-Group
Daniel Lee MSW ’15, Mayor City of Culver City
Partners for Better Health Randall Lewis Health and Policy Fellowship Alumni
Kaitlyn Fu, MURP ’25, Planning Intern at AECOM and current graduate student at UCLA
Lucy Briggs MURP ’24, Research Specialist for the Environment and Public Health at McCune Law Group
Michelle Rivera, MURP ’24, Westlake Buy Nothing Group- Self-employed
Yesenia Becerra, MURP ’24, Coordinator, Systems Components-Time Limited Subsidies at Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
Antonia Izuogu MURP ’23, law student at Howard University School of Law
Sara Durghalli MURP ’23, Co-Founder, Events Liaison at Arab-American Coalition for Equity
Ana Gabriela Tapia MURP ’15, Senior Community Investment Officer at CSH, the Source for Housing Solutions
Peace Corps Alumni
Alicia Nyein, MPP ’23, Assistant Program Manager of Workforce Development at Los Angeles County of Economic Development
Sara Terrana, PhD in Social Welfare ’19 and MSW ’13, Assistant Professor at Adelphi University
Sarah Burtner MPP ’18, Fiscal and Policy Analyst at the City of Seattle
Olivia Nelli, BA in Public Affairs ’22, Peace Corps Volunteer at the Youth Development Program in Peru
Presidential Management Fellowship Alumni
Abraham Cheung MPP ’23, Survey Statistician at U.S. Census Bureau
Monica Mata MPP ’23, Program Examiner| Treasury Branch at Office of Management and Budget
Sophia Li MPP ’22, Presidental Management Fellow at United States Space Force
Shira Bergstein MPP ’12, Senior Grants Program Manager at the US Department of Transportation (DOT)
Tom Schumacher MPP ’12, Director of Investments, Open Road Impact Fund at Open Road Alliance
Melissa Paulding MPP ’08, President and COO, SAVI (Defense & Space)
Varisa Patraporn MPP, Ph.D. Urban Planning ’07, Associate Professor at California State University at Long Beach
Jessica (Hausman) Ramakis MPP ’03, Director, Grants Policy Office at U.S. Department of Education Councilmember, Town of Vienna (VA)
David Bortnick MPP ’01, Professional Staff Member, House Appropriations Committee
Michael Levine MURP ‘79, Executive & Group Coach/ Trainer, Treasury Executive Institute pro bono at the US Department of Treasury and Senior Systemic Team Coaching Practitioner, Executive and Leadership Coach at Churchill Leadership Group Inc. Freelance
SF Foundation Multicultural Fellowship Program
JC De Vera MPP ’17, Director at Hirsch Philanthropy Partners
Switzer Fellowship Alumni
Itzel Vasquez-Rodriguez, MPP ’24, Policy Fellow at UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
Edgar Reyna, MURP ’23, Climate Resilience Senior Analyst at Office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
Monika Shankar, MURP ’21, Ph.D. Student at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
John Scott-Railton, Ph.D. ’21, Senior Researcher at Citizens Lab
Deja Thomas, MURP ’20, Program Manager at Center for the Advancement of Racial Equity at Work (CARE) UCLA Labor Center
Zully Juarez, MURP ’20, Senior and Research and Policy Analyst at Just Solutions Collective
Karen Diaz Ruvalcaba, MURP ’19, Conservancy Project Analyst
Aaron Ordower, MURP ’15, Environment Deputy at Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath
Alexa Engelman, J.D. and MPP ’11, Assistant Regional Counsel, General & Cross-cutting Law Section at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Colleen Callahan, MURP ’10, Co-Executive Director and Co-founder of the Luskin Center for Innovation
Christine Lee, Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a Minor in Urban Planning ’10, Technical Group Supervisor, Water and Ecosystem Group, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jamillah Jordan, MURP ’09, Equity Director, County of Marin
Martha Matsuoka, MURP ’05, Professor and Department Chair/Executive Director, Urban Planning and Environmental Institute at Occidental College
Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship
Oriana Luquetta, MPP ’16, Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
