UCLA Luskin

CANCELED Best Practices: Engaging with the Press/Media
2024-05-07 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Have you been curious or confused about how to promote yourself and your work on social media or to the press? Join the UCLA Luskin Communications team to discuss best practices and strategies when working with the press and media. They bring decades of newsroom, media and communications experience to this conversation, where you can get tips for reaching out to media/press, engaging with press on social media, and challenges to look out for when going through these conversations.
Meet our Luskin Communications team:
Les Dunseith, Executive Director of Communications
Mary Braswell, Assistant Director of Communications
Stan Paul, Senior Media Relations Manager and Principal Writer

Coffee & Carbs: Good Luck With Finals!
2024-05-07 12:30 - 13:30 | 3rd Floor Commons, 337 Charles E. Young Drive East, 3383 Public Affairs, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Please join me for the final Coffee and Carbs of the year. I hope everyone has a successful finals week and congrats to our 2024 graduates. Come grab delicious baked goods in the Luskin Commons on Tuesday, May 7th from 12-1:30pm. I will be there along with our Careers team to check-in with students and answer any questions you may have. Feel free to stop by and say hello!

Student Legal Consultations
2024-05-08 12:30 - 13:30 | Zoom
The mission of Student Legal Services is to prevent, ameliorate or resolve legal problems that confront students by providing professional legal counseling and assistance. Student Legal Services also seeks to educate students about their legal rights and responsibilities through informational programs and materials, as well as individual counseling.
This event will feature a free 20-minute one-on-one consultation.

Expression Session: Graduation Cap & Canvas Painting
2024-05-09 12:00 - 13:30 | 3rd Floor Commons, 337 Charles E. Young Drive East, 3383 Public Affairs, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
In collaboration with the UCLA RISE center, this wellness event is designed to provide a fun, de-stressing activity in preparation of finals and graduation. Come join us in expressing your creativity. Please bring your caps for decoration, canvases will be provided for others. Feel free to bring your own personalized cap stickers or photos (Amazon has great examples under $15). Other materials, will be provided. Registration is required, a light lunch and snacks will be provided.

Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Housing Development
2024-05-09 12:30 - 14:00 | Marion Anderson Hall, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, 90024, United States
RSVP HERE
Lunchtime program to discuss the challenges and opportunities for advancing diversity and inclusion in housing development.
Housing development generates numerous professional opportunities in development, financing, and related sectors, yet the field affords relatively few opportunities to women and people of color. Nearly 111,000 of the 112,000 real estate development companies in the U.S. are white-owned, and only about a third of the workforce is women and 2% of C-level positions are held by Black men. California is adopting reforms to increase homebuilding, both to improve affordability and address racial and ethnic disparities in housing outcomes, but more housing production also offers the possibility of addressing disparities in the real estate sector itself. This panel, featuring Los Angeles-based Black and women housing development professionals, will discuss the challenges and opportunities for advancing diversity and inclusion in the field. During the conversation, they will address questions such as: How can people from underrepresented groups enter and succeed in the development industry, and housing development specifically? What barriers keep them from doing so, and how can those barriers be broken down? And what benefits could come from a more diverse development sector, both for individuals and society?
Moderator:

Jose Loya, Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Urban Planning

Speakers:

D’Angelos Svenkeson, Co-Founder and CEO, NEOO Partners
Devean George, President, Building Blocks
Two additional speakers to be named

Admission is free, but registration is required for each attendee.

Land and Labor Acknowledgement
As a land grant institution, UCLA acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, So. Channel Islands) and are grateful to have the opportunity to work for the taraaxotam (Indigenous peoples) in this place. We pay our respects to Honuukvetam (Ancestors), elders, and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.
We hold sacred the labor of enslaved Africans and immigrants, often exploited, indentured and underpaid, that built and continue to serve our institutions of higher education. We honor the labor and resistance of these ancestors, acknowledge that we benefit from this land and labor, and strive to work towards liberation for all.

Canceled: Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives - And How We Break Free
2024-05-09 16:00 - 17:30 | 5391 Public Affairs, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Statement from the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy:
Due to ongoing serious events unfolding at UCLA, we are canceling this program. We staunchly support our students’ right to non-violent protest and we decry the violence that has been perpetrated against them. We hope to have another opportunity to gather in a brighter future.

Housing for Black People by Black People
2024-05-09 18:00 - 20:00 | National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 100-198 N Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
RSVP HERE
In this UCLA Luskin Lecture, experts in housing and real estate will discuss what they and others are doing to address the challenges of limited wealth, investment, and ownership in Black communities, and to improve housing opportunities in those neighborhoods.
Housing and real estate development were instrumental in the concentration of Black disadvantage in U.S. cities. Government and private actors erected barriers to investment in Black communities and homeownership by Black households, producing a system that equates housing conditions with race. Now, many Black neighborhoods are locked in a downward spiral of devaluation, disinvestment, and deterioration. When investments are made, low homeownership rates in Black neighborhoods mean many longtime residents do not benefit from rising property values, and they are increasingly priced out of rental housing as well.
This panel discussion will feature Devean George, a three-time NBA champion with the Lakers and current president of Building Blocks, a housing development company in Minneapolis; Malcolm Johnson, CEO of Langdon Park Capital, which invests in affordable and workforce housing in Black and Latino communities; and Malika Billingslea, senior development advisor at NEOO Partners, a commercial real estate development and planning firm. In a session moderated by Professor Michael Lens, they will discuss the history of Black disadvantage in U.S. cities and provide real-world examples of how they and other Black leaders are investing in Black communities and housing.

UCLA Fitwell Chair Massages
2024-05-14 12:00 - 14:00 | 6326 Public Affairs, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Come join us for a day of wellness and relaxation! Free 5 min massages by UCLA’s own Fitwell massage therapist. Enjoy a relaxing environment and destress. I look forward to seeing you all there. Registration, and completion of waivers for this event is mandatory.

Democracy Challenged? The 2024 Berggruen Governance Index
2024-05-15 11:00 - 13:30 | Legacy Room, Luskin Conference Center at UCLA, 425 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
An examination of the relationship between the quality of democracy, governance and life around the world over time.
RSVP HERE
Join us for lunch as we unveil a landmark project that analyzes the relationship between democratic accountability, state capacity and the provision of public goods to better understand why some countries fare better than others at providing a high quality of life.
The event will present the 2024 Berggruen Governance Index, which examines the relationship between the quality of democracy, the quality of governance, and the quality of life in over 140 countries over a 20-year period.
With democracy under threat and autocratic regimes on the rise across the globe, the BGI illuminates the twin fallacies of governance: one that assumes democracy alone will improve governance performance and the other that posits that only state capacity and financial resources are needed to improve a country´s quality of life.
As autocracies like China, Saudi Arabia and Russia rise economically, it’s more urgent than ever to ponder whether nations with low levels of democratic accountability can sustainably increase people’s quality of life to levels matching liberal market economies like the United States.
Does the BGI suggest that democracy is losing relevance in providing public goods like quality health care and education, or a clean environment?
Join us as experts and the audience debate such issues, followed by a reception.
AGENDA
Welcome and Opening Addresses

Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Interim Dean, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

The 2024 Berggruen Governance Index

Presentation by Helmut K Anheier and Joseph Saraceno, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

Panel Discussion

Chair: Alexandra Lieben (Burkle Center, UCLA)
Brian Levy, Johns Hopkins University and Luskin School of Public Affairs, UCLA
Jody Heymann, WORLD Policy Analysis Center, UCLA
Georgia Kernell, Political Science, UCLA
Michael Storper, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

Q&A with audience
Closing Comments

Nils Gilman, Director, Berggruen Institute

Reception

International Youth Conference
2024-05-30 08:00 - 2024-06-02 17:00 | UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, 337 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs will host International Youth Conference 9 (IYC9), an event bringing together youth from around the world to engage, deliberate and contribute toward multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow.
With a focus on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and youth inclusion in policy, IYC9 will feature speakers including civil society leaders, ambassadors, youth activists, academics and experts in international peace and security, science and technology, and global governance transformation. To date, more than 7,600 people from 176 countries have registered to attend the four-day conference online and in person.
The conference will host discussions on:

Responding to global shocks and advancing peaceful cooperation
Leveraging digital technology for human progress and well-being
Transforming education and promoting inclusive, safe information ecosystems
Re-imagining international financial architectures and norms
Solidifying meaningful youth engagement in global decision-making

IYC9 will produce a Youth Declaration, a synthesis of insights and recommendations that will be presented to the United Nations and other stakeholders.
Spearheaded by Team IYC in partnership with UCLA Luskin, the conference is backed by organizations including UN-Habitat, AFS Intercultural Programs, the Civil Society Unit of the UN Department of Global Communications, International Organization for Migration, UN Environment Program, UN Institute for Training and Research, and IAAI Glocha.
To attend the launch event or for more information about IYC9, please visit the IYC website.

A Conversation With Max Gomberg
2024-05-30 12:30 - 14:00 | Room 2355 Public Affairs Building, 337 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
This event has been canceled.
Join the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs for a conversation with 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 Max Gomberg, 2020 MPP Alumnus of the Year
This event is part of the Alumni Speaker Series marking the 25th anniversary of UCLA Luskin’s Public Policy program.

Super Quiz Bowl 2024
2024-05-30 17:30 - 19:30 | UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Roof, 337 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, 90095
RSVP HERE
Ready to put your knowledge to the test? Teams made up of UCLA Luskin students, faculty, alumni, and staff will compete to test their knowledge and skills of all things UCLA, pop culture, history, etc., in a fun-filled trivia night. Come as a team, or simply come to cheer on your favorite team! 100% of proceeds will go towards each graduate department’s grad nights. Proceeds from Luskin undergraduate student participation will contribute to the Public Affairs Experiential Learning Internship Support scholarship.
This is Super Quiz Bowl’s last year. Which department will end up on top?
Did your entire team attend the Luskin Prom? You could win a margarita pitcher for your table!
Doors open at 5:30pm, Event starts at 6:00pm.
Food and drinks will be provided.
Registration:
Teams are made up of up to 5 team members. Each participant must register individually. Individual participants without a team are welcome as well. Adding a faculty member, staff member, or alumni to your team will grant your team extra points! Participants will need to recruit their own team and faculty/staff/alumni member. Interdepartmental teams are permitted.
Each person must register. Be prepared to provide:

Name of all student team members
Name of faculty/staff/alumni (if any)
Name of team

Price:
Individual Participant $15 ($20 starting on May 23rd)
Team Member $15 ($20 starting on May 23rd)
*If any person has serious financial difficulties, please contact Christian Zarate at czarate@luskin.ucla.edu to set up an appointment.
Prize Breakdown:
All proceeds will go towards each department’s grad nights:
50% of the night’s proceeds will be evenly distributed amongst each participating department.
20% of proceeds will go to the department with the highest percentage of attendance.
15% of proceeds will go to the department with the highest percentage of team participation.
15% of proceeds will go to the department with the highest percentage of faculty/staff/alumni participation.
The winning teams will also receive various, individual prizes.

2024 UCLA Luskin Commencement Ceremonies
2024-06-14 | CA
UCLA Luskin will celebrate the Class of 2024 at two ceremonies: A morning commencement for graduate students and an afternoon commencement for undergraduates.
Click here for additional details.

2024 Summer Sessions at UCLA
2024-06-24 | Los Angeles, CA, United States
UCLA’s 2024 summer sessions, offering both online and on-campus courses, are under way.

Session A: Monday, June 24, through Friday, Aug. 30.
Session B: Monday, July 17, through Friday, Aug. 2
Session C: Monday, Aug. 5, through Friday, Sept. 13.

Click here for more information.

Supporting Your LGBTQ+ Colleagues in the Workplace
2024-06-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
While many companies have advanced their diversity, equity and inclusion policies in recent years, LGBTQ+ professionals continue to face unique challenges based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. In this webinar for UCLA alumni, Kevin Medina, director of the Office of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations at UCLA Luskin and a UCLA Alumni Career Coach, will cover gender and sexuality terminology and frameworks, providing tangible strategies to support prospective and current LGBTQ+ employees. Medina, who earned his MPP and MSW at UCLA Luskin in 2016, is a career coach and trainer for various LGBTQ+ and allyship workshops and programs.
Register in advance for Zoom meeting information.

UCLA Strategic Labor Research Conference
2024-08-02 08:00 - 2024-08-04 17:00 | UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, 337 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Hosted by the UCLA Labor Studies Program, the annual UCLA Strategic Labor Research Conference will include discussions about strategic campaigns designed for new and experienced union and labor movement researchers, as well as workshops on applied skills. The conference will take place at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

Applications for this free conference were due May 17. Sign up here to receive updates about future strategic labor research opportunities.

Conference highlights:

Keynote speaker is Kim Kelly, author of “Fight Like Hell:The Untold History of American Labor.”
Keynote panel will focus on “Strategic Campaigning and the Green Economy.”
More than 20 workshops will feature topics such as “FOIA & Public Records Requests,” “California Labor Policy Strategies,” “Moving From Research to Campaign” and “Researching With Workers.”

SEE FULL CONFERENCE DETAILS

Public Service Weekend at UCLA
2024-08-30 08:00 - 2024-09-01 17:00 | UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, 337 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
UCLA Luskin, in partnership with the Public Policy and International Affairs Program, will host a Public Service Weekend focused on engaging undergraduate students in scholarship and applied work that demonstrates the power of public service careers. This student development conference for up to 30 participants is free to participate in, includes meals and a travel stipend.
Program Highlights

Learn about careers key to advancing social justice
Engage and network with effective leaders
Get tips for applying to graduate school
Earn a free application and $5,000 toward tuition to UCLA Luskin graduate programs

The deadline to apply is Sunday, June 30, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
For more information on the program and how to apply, visit the UCLA Luskin Public Service Weekend Landing Page

Luskin Aperitivo: Spanish Language Meetup
2024-09-20 17:00 - 19:00 | Angel City Brewery, 216 S Alamenda St., Los Angeles, 90012, United States
Join us for a unique mixer to celebrate 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 Meetup! All Spanish levels are welcome; the goal is to practice and keep the language alive while reinforcing the power of community-building.
Appetizers and the first drink are on us!
Celebre con nosotros el Mes de la Herencia Hispana y honre la rica diversidad cultural dentro de nuestra comunidad de UCLA Luskin. Invitamos a todos los graduados y graduadas a celebrar su bilingüismo o multilingüismo en el encuentro de hablantes de español de UCLA Luskin. Todos los niveles de español son bienvenidos, lo importante es practicar el idioma para mantenerlo vivo y enforzar lo importante que es convivir con nuestra comunidad.
¡Los aperitivos y la primera bebida corren por nuestra cuenta!

Fall Quarter Begins
2024-09-23 | CA
UCLA’s fall quarter 2024 begins Monday, Sept. 23, with the first day of classroom instruction on Thursday, Sept. 26.

Urban Planning Admissions Webinar
2024-09-23 18:00 - 20:00, 2024-10-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Los Angeles, CA, United States
Come learn more about the Urban Planning MURP and PhD programs and how to navigate their respective application processes.
Learn more about:
• The field of Urban Planning
• MURP curriculum
• Areas of concentration
• Internships & Career Services
• International study opportunities
• Capstone projects
• Concurrent degrees
• Certificate programs
• Alumni/job placement
Register here!

Luskin Graduate Student Orientation
2024-09-24 08:30 - 14:00 | 147 Dodd Hall, 315 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Incoming graduate students from Public Policy, Social Welfare and Urban Planning will learn about the resources at UCLA Luskin and throughout campus during an annual orientation.
Location: Dodd 147 (check-in is in the courtyard between Dodd and LuValle)
8:30 a.m. Check-in & Breakfast
9:10 a.m. Message from Dean
9:15 a.m. Overview of Student Services

Graduate Student Services (central UCLA)
Graduate Student Academic Case Managers
Graduate Student Resource Center
Graduate Writing Center
Graduate Career Services Team
Financial Education & Loan Support Services
Graduate Student Association
Student Health – Ashe, Counseling, Health
Library Services
Luskin IT Services and Computer Lab
Luskin Fellowships
Office of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations
10:30 a.m. EPA Training

12:30 p.m. Departmental Lunches

Public Policy: Public Affairs Building, 3rd Floor Patio
Social Welfare: Coral Tree Walk
Urban Planning: Public Affairs Building, 2nd Floor, Room 2355

2:00 p.m. Orientation Concludes*

Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Open House
2024-09-25 13:00 - 15:00 | 3383 Public Affairs 3rd Floor Commons Rooftop, 337 Charles E Young Drive East - Public Affairs Building 3383 Rooftop, Los Angeles, 90095, United States
REGISTER HERE
The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs faculty and staff invite you to attend the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Open House learn how the Public Affairs major aligns with your interests.
Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Open House
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
1:00pm – 3:00pm (PT)
3383 Public Affairs Building, 3rd Floor Commons Rooftop
The Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Open House is intended to introduce first and second-year students and incoming transfer students to the Public Affairs major and the Luskin School of Public Affairs. The Open House will feature a welcome from the Luskin Interim Dean, Chair of the Undergraduate Program, and Luskin counselors. Students will also have the opportunity connect with Luskin faculty, staff, and peers. Luskin counselors will be available to speak with you about your interest in the Public Affairs major, or any of the three Luskin minors (Gerontology, Public Affairs, Urban and Regional Studies).
Lunch will be served and attendees will receive Luskin swag!
Can’t make it to the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Open House? Contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program via MyUCLA Message Center to speak with a Luskin counselor!
Keeping Our Community Safe
To create a safe and accessible space for everyone in attendance, we will follow the UCLA COVID-19 health and safety protocols as outlined on the UCLA COVID-19 Resources website (https://covid-19.ucla.edu).
If you are feeling unwell or are unable to come to campus we invite you to connect with our office by scheduling an appointment with a Luskin counselor or following us on Instagram @uclaluskinug.
Register to Attend
Register HERE

Thirteenth Annual UCLA Luskin Block Party
2024-09-26 17:00 - 20:00 | UCLA Dickson Court North, 365 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, 90095, United States
RSVP HERE
Gather with us at the 13th annual Block Party!
This is the one night of the year that all of UCLA Luskin comes together! All incoming and returning students, current and emeriti faculty and alumni from all departments are invited. This is an exclusive event for the UCLA Luskin family.
5:00 pm Check In opens
5:30 pm Food stations open
Please help us welcome the incoming students from all UCLA Luskin departments and reconnect with faculty and alumni at a reception in the scenic Dickson Court North (just south of Perloff Hall).
You can:

Meet new UCLA Luskin students and alumni
Trade ideas with faculty and research scholars
Learn about exciting developments at the School
Enjoy the flavors of LA with a variety of food booths and stations
Get connected to opportunities, organizations, and events

Food and beverages will be provided. Complimentary parking will be available for UCLA Luskin alumni with RSVP by September 6th. Free parking will not be available for UCLA Luskin alumni who register from September 7th and onwards.
REGISTRATION
Registration is REQUIRED per INDIVIDUAL.
Please note there is only one registration per attendee. All duplicates will be deleted. Registrants must be affiliated with UCLA Luskin.
Walk-ins will not be permitted. No exceptions.
The DEADLINE to register is September 24 @ 11:59pm PDT.

CHECK-IN
Lines will open at 5pm for check-in. Please read carefully for where you need to go to check-in:
1 ) West Check-In (across from Haines Hall): Incoming and Current Urban Planning and Undergrad Public affairs students and Urban Planning/Undergrad Alumni
2 ) East Check-In (across from Dodd Hall): Incoming and Current Public Policy and Social Welfare students, PP/SW Alumni, Faculty/Staff, and Luskin Board Members/Donors
Registered student organizations and research centers that are tabling will need to check-in at the East Check-In at their designated time.
PARKING
On-site parking available at Lots 2 & 3 .
Parking Rates at Pay-By-Space stations – All day: $16, After 4pm: $3-5 (1-2 hours), $10 (all night)
Pay-By-Space only has a limited number of stalls available.
Bruin ePermit allows you to park in blue (after 4:30pm) and general (all-day) parking spaces in Structure 2 or 3, but at an all-day rate. There are considerably more spaces available than the Pay By Space option. To pay for a parking permit ahead of the event, use the Bruin ePermit portal.
NOTE: Pay by space is limited and first come, first serve. You can park anywhere in Lots 2 & 3, except as noted above, with an ePermit.
PUBLIC TRANSIT
Public transportation: Big Blue Bus (Routes 2 and 17), Culver CityBus (Line 6), Metro
Ridehailing and public transit locations: Dickson Court, Wyton Circle
More information for on-site parking (using ParkMobile app):
1. When using ParkMobile, you choose how long you want to park and pay for that amount of time.
2. Download the ParkMobile app here and register for an account using a credit card and your license plate number. If you do not have a license plate number, please enter the last 6 (six) digits of your Vehicle ID Number (VIN). Your VIN can be found on the driver’s side door or the lower driver’s side of the windshield.
3. Once parked in a visitor parking stall, open the app and key in your parking zone number:
Parking Lot 3 North: Zone 2504
Parking Lot 3 South: Zone 2505
Parking Lot 2: Zone 2503
Wyton Circle: Zone 2516
4. Select the amount of time you wish to park.
5. Normal parking charges apply, with an additional $0.​45 convenience fee per transaction. The convenience fee is retained by ParkMobile and is not part of the fee paid to park at UCLA.
6. ParkMobile will send a text message 15 minutes before the expiration of your paid parking. You may select to add more time or return to your car on time.

LinkedIn Headshots for Luskin Graduate Students
2024-10-01 09:00 - 17:00, 2024-10-02 09:00 - 17:00, 2024-10-03 09:00 - 17:00 | 6326 Public Affairs, Los Angeles, CA, United States
We host a professional photographer to take our graduate students’ photos to use for their LinkedIn profiles and for graduate student research presenters to use at professional conferences, symposia, etc.
Please sign up for a time slot on CareerHub and be sure to arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled time to check in. The photographer will send a link to your photos to download approximately a week after the session.
The background will be a medium blue.
Indeed: What to wear for a professional headshot

Master of Real Estate Development Webinar
2024-10-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Get acquainted with the advantages of a Master of Real Estate Development degree from UCLA Luskin without needing to set foot on campus.
Come learn about:
• The field of Real Estate Development
• MRED curriculum
• Professional Development opportunities
• Capstone projects
• What sets UCLA apart
• How to apply
Register here!

Latinx Communities Alumni Panel
2024-10-08 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom
Celebrating UCLA Luskin Latinx Alumni
Join us for an inspiring evening as we highlight the remarkable contributions of UCLA Luskin Latinx alumni who are making a difference in Latino communities across various fields. This event is a testament to their dedication, impact, and the powerful role they play in fostering positive change.
This event is open to all Luskin undergraduate and graduate students.
Panelists:
Alejandra Garcia MPP’23, Government Affairs Manager at Comcast
Alejandra is a first-generation Latina with a professional background in public policy. Having worked in all three levels of government, she recognizes the pivotal role that policy plays in shaping our daily lives. Garcia is currently a Government Affairs Manager for Comcast. In her role, she assists Santa Cruz County and Monterey County in expanding their broadband initiatives.
Diana Benitez MURP ‘16, Senior Manager of Advocacy and Engagement at Canal Alliance.
In her role at Canal Alliance, Diana works alongside low-income communities and those of color to create healthy, safe, affordable communities. She has also worked on general plans, racial equity, early care and education, and greenhouse gas reduction analyses in the academic, non-profit, and private sectors. She’s a member of the Steering Committee of the American Planning Association (APA) California Planners4Health Initiative.
Antonio Sandoval Ayala, MURP ‘07, Director & Chair @ UCLA // Academic Success, Student Engagement & Inclusive Environment
As the Department Director for the Community Programs Office (CPO) at UCLA, Tony oversees various programs and services to support the academic success of low-income, minoritized students. His role involves managing a large team, cultivating partnerships, and developing innovative strategies to enhance student engagement and well-being.
He is also the Founding Chairperson of the UCLA Basic Needs Committee, where he leads campus-wide efforts to address food and housing insecurity among students, staff, faculty, and retirees.
Norma Garcia, MSW ‘13, LCSW, CEO and Founder at Norma Garcia
NORMA GARCIA LLC is a coaching and consulting business focused on supporting Latinx/BIPOC communities by raising mental health awareness, providing holistic and trauma-informed healing spaces, mentorship, coaching, and building community through workshops and speaking engagements.

Meet and Greet with MAUP'04 Alumnus Rorie Overby
2024-10-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Join us for an engaging and inspiring evening with Rorie Overby, an accomplished alum of MAUP’s Class of 2004. This is a unique opportunity to connect with fellow alumni, students, and faculty and hear about Rorie’s journey and experiences since graduating.
More details are coming soon.
This event is open to both Luskin graduates and undergraduates.
