Celebrating 25 Years of Public Policy Education at UCLA
UCLA Luskin Public Policy is marking a quarter-century since its first graduating class was sent into the world equipped to make changes for the better. A series of events and opportunities will commemorate the milestone during the 2023-24 academic year:
- A speaker series featuring four Alumni of the Year honorees who will share insights on the state of policymaking and the value of their Luskin education
- An engaging series of alumni panels, open to those seeking networking opportunities, career guidance and inspiration
- A digital yearbook that will virtually connect alumni, students, faculty and staff of UCLA Luskin Public Policy
- A special anniversary-year giving opportunity to support Public Policy students
Alumni Speaker Series
MAX GOMBERG
THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2024
12:30 p.m.
2355 Public Affairs Building
Max Gomberg MPP ’07, an independent water policy consultant and advocate for transformational action to address climate change. Gomberg resigned his post on the California State Water Resources Control Board in 2022 to protest weak government policies regarding water conservation.
More about Gomberg, 2020 MPP Alumnus of the Year.
Past Speakers
REGINA WALLACE-JONES
MONDAY, NOV. 6, 2023
5:30 – 8 p.m.
James West Alumni Center, Collins Conference Room
Regina Wallace-Jones MPP ’99, CEO and president of ActBlue, the tech nonprofit that facilitates online donations to progressive organizations and candidates. Wallace-Jones previously served as a technology executive, elected official and Democratic organizer.
More about Wallace-Jones, 2023 MPP Alumna of the Year.
SANDEEP PRASANNA
MONDAY, FEB. 12, 2024
5:30 – 8 p.m.
2355 Public Affairs Building
Sandeep Prasanna MPP/JD ’15, who served as investigative counsel on the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol. Prasanna is now a senior advisor with the law firm Miller & Chevalier.
More about Prasanna, 2022 MPP Alumnus of the Year
ISAAC BRYAN
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024
6 – 8 p.m.
Legacy Room, Luskin Conference Center
Registration details coming soon
Isaac Bryan MPP ’18, California Assembly member representing the 55th District. Bryan kicked off the 25th anniversary at an MPP Alumni event in April 2023 and will participate in this UCLA Luskin Lecture featuring UCLA Luskin alumni serving in government. The panel will also include Caroline Menjivar MSW ’18, member of the California Senate, and Lourdes Castro Ramírez MA UP ’03, chief housing and homelessness officer for the city of Los Angeles and former secretary of California’s Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
More about Bryan, 2021 MPP Alumnus of the Year.
Alumni Panels
All UCLA Luskin alumni and students are invited to hear from accomplished alumni sharing their experiences, insights and career journeys.
Driving Change: How UCLA Luskin Alumni Are Shaping Transportation
Monday, April 22, 2024
12 noon – 1:15 p.m.
4357 Public Affairs Building
A panel including Khristian DeCastro MURP ’21, Karishma Shamdasani MPP ’21 and Bryan Ochoa MURP ’17 will showcase our alums’ achievements and innovations in the transportation sector. RSVP
Navigating the Future: AI and Public Affairs
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
12 noon – 1:15 p.m.
Virtual
UCLA Luskin alumni connected to the dynamic field of artificial intelligence will discuss the technology’s transformative potential and challenges. The speakers: Timothy Papandreou MURP ’04, founder and CEO of Emerging Transportation Advisors; Ghislene Adjaoute MSW ’18, data scientist at Becton Dickinson and Nisa Gurbuz MURP ’21, a PhD student at USC who works for the USC Price Center for Social Innovation. The conversation witll be moderarated by Prof. John Villaseñor. RSVP
Luskin BIPOC Alumni in Consulting
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
12 noon – 1:15 p.m.
2355 Public Affairs Building
This panel highlighting the significant contributions of BIPOC professionals in the consulting industry will include Richard Xavier Corral MPP ’02, CEO and principal consultant, Corral Consulting; Tamika L. Butler Esq., Urban Planning PhD candidate; and Emma Huang MPP ’17, senior consultant at InfraStrategies LLC. RSVP
Exploring the MBA/MPP Dual Degree Experience
Thursday, April 25, 2024
12 noon – 1:15 p.m.
5391 Public Affairs Building
Jeff Lyu MPP/MBA ’16, senior consultant at InfraStrategies LLC; Iman Nanji MPP/MBA ’20, project leader at Boston Consulting Group; and David Zimmer MPP/MBA ’09, GM SoCal, LSG Sky Chefs will share insights on navigating the dual degree program. RSVP
Past Panels
Luskin Alumni Presidential Management Fellow Meet & Greet
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023
12 noon – 1 p.m.
5391 Public Affairs Building
Meet Sophia Li MPP ’22, Presidential Management Fellow. This event will showcase the diverse journeys and achievements of esteemed Luskin alumni who have participated in the prestigious fellowship program, operated by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Women in Sustainability Alumni Panel
Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023
12:15 – 1:30 p.m.
5391 Public Affairs Building
This panel will feature accomplished alumni who have blazed trails in the sustainability arena: Colleen Callahan MURP ’10, Nurit Katz MPP ’08, Daniela Simunovic MURP ’13, and Kristen Torres Pawling MURP ’12. Panelists will discuss their sustainability journey, the challenges they’ve overcome and their paths to success.
Long Beach City Management Assistant Alumni Panel
Friday, Nov. 3, 2023
12 noon – 1 p.m.
ZOOM
Alumni who have participated in the Long Beach Management Assistant program — Mary Daou MPP ’20, Ryan Kurtzman MURP ’18 and Alvin Teng MPP ’18 — will share stories from their experience immersed in local government and learning about career paths in public service.
Bohnett Fellowship Alumni Panel
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024
12 noon – 1 p.m.
5391 Public Affairs Building
Sponsored by the David Bohnett Foundation, the fellowship program provides UCLA Luskin students with the opportunity to work in the L.A. Mayor’s Office while completing their graduate studies at UCLA. Panelists include Imelda Islas MPP ’23, Alejandro Gonzalez MURP ’21 and Lana Zimmerman MPP ’23.
Paving the Way: LGBTQ+ Alumni in Government
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024
12 noon – 1 p.m.
5391 Public Affairs Building
Panelists include LGBTQ+ alumni who have made significant contributions working in city and county government: Jenny Delwood BA ’06 with minor in Public Affairs, Aaron Ordower MURP ’15 and Micah Peterson MPP ’09
Global Perspectives: International Alumni Insights on Thriving Beyond Borders
Friday, Feb. 23, 2024
3 – 4 p.m.
Virtual
The journey from being an international student at UCLA Luskin to thriving in a globalized world as accomplished professionals is the focus of this meet and greet with Ramiro Alberto Ríos MURP ’10.
Digital Yearboook
UCLA Luskin Public Policy alumni are invited to create a personal page in our new BrightCrowd digital yearbook. Join today to share photos, information about what you’re up to now and memories from your time at UCLA. It’s a great way to reconnect virtually with the Luskin MPP community! Check your email for the BrightCrowd invitation, or request access here.
Fellowship Fund
Your gift to the PUBLIC POLICY FELLOWSHIP FUND ensures that more students can pursue their education, hone their skills in critical policy analysis and tackle the most pressing public policy questions.
