The Office of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations orchestrated a symphony of connections during Alumni Engagement Weeks held every quarter of the academic year.

“Our vision for alumni engagement at the 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,” said Karina Mascorro, director of alumni engagement.

Winter quarter events included:

• A Cafecito con Luskin at Blue Bottle Coffee at the Historic Bradbury Building in Downtown Los Angeles. Despite the day’s relentless rain, a small group of UCLA Luskin alumni braved the weather to meet up with Mascorro and Vishal Hira, associate director of development.
• The Bohnett Fellowship Alumni Panel, featuring Alejandro Gonzalez MURP ’21 and Imelda Islas MPP ’23. Graduate students interested in applying to the fellowship heard panelists share their experiences, challenges and triumphs during their time working with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office as Bohnett Fellows.
• Paving the Way: Luskin LGBTQ+ Alumni in Government. During this virtual discussion, Jenny Delwood BA ’06 in international development and sociology with a minor in public affairs, Aaron Ordower MURP ’15 and Micah Peterson MPP ’09 shared their journey as members of the LGBTQ+ community working in government. The panelists’ words resonated deeply, reminding us of the importance of visibility, representation and advocacy in shaping inclusive spaces within government institutions.
• A virtual meet-and-greet featuring international alumnus Ramiro Alberto Ríos MURP ’10. An urban mobility and transport consultant with 15 years in the field, Ríos has contributed to sustainable transport initiatives at the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank, as well as an expansion of e-bikes at Uber. His extensive experience in Europe, Latin America and the United States opened students’ eyes to the urban planning field’s vast potential reach.

Events scheduled for spring quarter’s Alumni Engagement Week included panels featuring alumni shaping the field of transportation, BIPOC alumni in the consulting field, MBA/MPP alumni sharing reflections on the dual-degree program, artificial intelligence in public affairs, understanding social work licensure and navigating disabilities in graduate school and the workplace.

“We aim to create meaningful and lifelong relationships with our alumni, providing them opportunities for personal and professional growth while leveraging their talents and expertise to benefit our institution and current students,” Mascorro said. “Alumni Engagement Week allows us to live up to that mission.”