Archive for: Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris

Loukaitou-Sideris on How to Keep Public Transit Safe and Welcoming

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Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, interim dean of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, appeared on the podcast Transportopia to discuss critical issues of safety and security in public transportation.

Loukaitou-Sideris drew on her extensive body of research on the transit experience, including how to protect riders and operators while creating spaces that are open and welcoming.

Transit hubs are not innately dangerous, she said. “It is simply the fact that transit attracts hundreds of thousands of people every day in small spaces, and that increases the opportunities for crime.”

To increase safety and visibility, transit agencies can employ a number of tools, said Loukaitou-Sideris, a distinguished professor of urban planning. These include thoughtful design and new technologies, such as upgrading lighting, installing security cameras, and providing apps that give arrival and departure information in real time.

In some locations, safety audits of transit lines have become a community-wide effort, with participants from schools and other local groups. Some transit agencies also enter partnerships with social service providers to offer appropriate resources for those in need of mental health help.

Loukaitou-Sideris offered practical advice for transit agencies seeking to increase safety and decrease fear: “Don’t only rely on one strategy,” she said. “Do research, find data and match it with your resources.”

Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris on How Hostile Architecture Shapes Our Cities How public spaces are designed to exclude certain groups—and what that says about our cities.

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Hostile architecture, sometimes called defensive design, is becoming increasingly common in cities and public spaces. At its core, it’s an urban design strategy meant to discourage certain behaviors, subtly shaping who gets to use spaces and how. Sometimes it’s as discreet as a bench split by armrests to prevent lying down, other times it’s as blatant as rows of metal spikes installed beneath an awning to keep people from sitting.

“Through design you are making them uncomfortable so that they leave, or you’re making particular activities that they tend to do uncomfortable,” explained Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Interim Dean of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and a Distinguished Professor of urban planning and urban design at UCLA.

These design strategies may deter unhoused people, but they also affect everyone. For example, planters or boulders placed to block tents also make sidewalks harder to navigate for parents with strollers or people with disabilities.

Hostile design is not as obvious sometimes either, says Loukaitou-Sideris. “Another example is there was a Skid Row park in Los Angeles where the authorities would start the sprinklers at night so people could not sleep in the park,” Loukaitou-Sideris said.

The controversy is especially sharp when public transit spaces are involved. “You can consider bus stops public spaces because everybody can sit there and they should be open and accessible to the public, right? And unhoused people often use the bus — sometimes they use it as shelter but sometimes they use it to go to work, or reach a destination. So by excluding them from these spaces, does it retain the publicness of the bench?” she asked.

But on the other hand, Loukaitou-Sideris acknowledges competing pressures: “Local governments would say that if the space is occupied constantly by an unhoused person, then other legitimate riders will not be able to use it.”

To read the full article about hostile architecture, please visit here.

Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris on Why Transit Safety Must Balance Security and Accessibility

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The fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train has reignited national debate over transit safety. Security footage showed the unprovoked attack, prompting federal investigation and sparking broader questions about how to protect riders in open, accessible public transit environments.

While some argue for airport-style security measures, Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, interim dean at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and a transit safety expert, cautions against solutions that could slow down the very systems meant to move people quickly.

“Transit systems have to be open and accessible. It’s very difficult to install measures that you put, for example, in airports because the public is not going to accept such delays,” Loukaitou-Sideris explained.

She suggests exploring advanced scanning technologies at major hubs that can detect weapons without lengthy lines, though such systems remain costly. Loukaitou-Sideris also noted the limits of any single measure: even with cameras and increased patrols, unpredictable incidents can still occur. The tragedy underscores the tension between maintaining accessibility and ensuring safety in public transit.

Class of 2025 Steps Forward: A Celebration of Courage, Commitment, and Community UCLA Luskin’s newest graduates honored in dual ceremonies with powerful reflections on justice, leadership, and perseverance from student speakers and U.S. Ambassador Nathalie Rayes, MPP ’99.

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UCLA Luskin’s newest graduates honored in dual ceremonies with powerful reflections on justice, leadership, and perseverance from student speakers and U.S. Ambassador Nathalie Rayes, MPP ’99.

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Loukaitou-Sideris on Honolulu Public Transit Proposal

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Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris interim dean of UCLA Luskin, commented in a Honolulu Civil Beat story on proposed restrictions by the Honolulu City Council that would discourage people from sheltering in public transit. Under the proposal, the city and county’s bus system, TheBus, could prohibit people whose belongings emit noxious odors or who ride with no destination in mind. Loukaitou-Sideris, distinguished professor of urban planning, said that transit agencies often face a dilemma tailoring transportation services. For example, transit agencies aim to take cars off the road and promote sustainable transportation while providing transportation for people with no other options. Agencies are very concerned about what their regular transit riders were going to think and say,” Loukaitou-Sideris said. “But at the same time, you cannot exclude unhoused people. You really need to provide this service.” She noted, “We have started seeing some transit agencies partnering with social service agencies to tackle the issue in a more humane way, rather than you’re just kicking people out of your transit system.”

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Former United States Ambassador to Croatia Nathalie Rayes Selected as 2025 Commencement Speaker The 1999 Master of Public Policy grad will address UCLA Luskin graduates on June 13.

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By Stan Paul

With a reputation as a transformational leader, Nathalie Rayes, MPP ’99, has had a remarkable career characterized by public service, philanthropy, business strategy, advocacy, and diplomacy.

Rayes, who came to the United States from Venezuela at age nine, recently concluded her diplomatic service as the 10th U.S. Ambassador to Croatia. On June 13, she will return to UCLA Luskin to serve as keynote speaker for the 2025 commencement ceremonies to be held at UCLA’s historic Royce Hall and Ackerman Grand Ballroom.

“We are delighted and honored to have such a distinguished graduate as our commencement speaker following her service as a U.S. ambassador,” announced UCLA Luskin Interim Dean Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris. “As an early alumna, her decades of service and accomplishments — locally, nationally, and internationally — make her a wonderful role model for thousands of subsequent Luskin students.”

Rayes, who holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UCLA and a Master of Public Policy degree from UCLA Luskin, was named UCLA Luskin Public Policy Alumna of the Year in 2014.

She has been recognized for her many contributions to public service, including the AL DÍA Archetype Ambassador Manuel Torres Award. She was named among the 25 most powerful Latinas in the U.S. by People en Español Magazine and was among the Top 10 Líderes by Hispanic Executive Magazine in 2021. Rayes also was recognized in the Huffington Post’s “40 Under 40 Latinos in Foreign Policy” in 2015.

In 2022, she was appointed the board of the United States Institute of Peace by former President Joe Biden. After her nomination as U.S. ambassador was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she was sworn in on January 10, 2024, by former Vice President Kamala Harris.

In her role as ambassador, Rayes was credited with advancing economic prosperity, security, and cultural partnerships while she worked to bolster U.S. business engagement, promote entrepreneurship and economic opportunity. She also fostered meaningful personal connections through cultural diplomacy including educational exchanges and outreach.

Previously, as president and CEO of Latino Victory — an advocacy group working to increase Latino representation — she mobilized millions of voters, expanded fundraising, and elevated Latino representation in leadership roles across the nation. Rayes also was vice president of public affairs for Grupo Salinas in the U.S. and executive director of Fundación Azteca America. Earlier in her career, she served as deputy chief of staff to former Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn, where she oversaw intergovernmental relations and citywide initiatives and established the city’s first Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Her board service includes serving as an early architect of the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program, chairing the Hispanic Federation, and founding the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Binational Fellowship. She was also appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson Center by President Barack Obama.

Following her diplomatic service, she was honored for her humanitarian work by the Hispanic Federation at the organization’s 2025 gala in April. Upon receiving the award, she commented, “Receiving the Humanitarian Award is an incredible honor — a reminder that being a humanitarian means turning empathy into action, using your voice when others cannot, and serving with dignity, compassion, and courage.”

Rayes continued, “… stepping off the plane in Los Angeles, a nine-year-old little girl from Anaco, Venezuela — nervous, uncertain, but full of hope. Hope that through hard work and perseverance, anything was possible. That hope fueled my path from public service to diplomacy — and strengthened my belief that justice is never guaranteed, but always worth fighting for.”

UCLA’s LPPI and Luskin Host Panel on Los Angeles Wildfire Recovery Panelists discussed prevention, equity as wildfire rebuilding efforts continue

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​On March 20, 2025, UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) and the Luskin School of Public Affairs convened a distinguished panel to address the multifaceted challenges of wildfire recovery in Los Angeles. The event, part of the “Defining L.A.’s Future: The Collision of Federal Politics and Local Realities” series, underscored the imperative for equitable and resilient rebuilding strategies.​

Interim Dean Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris opened the discussion by emphasizing the necessity of inclusive recovery efforts that serve all residents. “It’s vital that we ensure that our rebuilding strategies are inclusive and address the systemic barriers that disproportionately impact our most vulnerable communities,” said Loukaitou-Sideris. She highlighted the importance of addressing these barriers and aligning federal policies to ensure justice in the city’s response to wildfires.

LPPI Faculty Director Amada Armenta presented data revealing the uneven impacts of wildfires across communities, noting that many lack the resources required for effective rebuilding. She referenced collaborative research from LPPI, the Bunche Center, the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, and the Asian American Studies Center to illustrate these disparities.​

Moderated by esteemed journalist Jorge Ramos, the panel featured California Assemblymember Isaac Bryan MPP ’18, Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and urban planning expert Cecilia Estolano MA UP ’91. Assemblymember Bryan advocated for addressing the root causes of wildfires, including the climate crisis, and called for long-term investments to combat worsening conditions. Councilmember Hernandez highlighted the exacerbation of health disparities in Black and Latino communities due to wildfire smoke, stressing the need for targeted health interventions and worker relief. Estolano proposed innovative approaches such as leveraging California’s redevelopment law to create disaster recovery zones, acquiring land from owners unable to rebuild, and increasing housing density to facilitate equitable recovery.

The panel collectively emphasized that wildfire recovery in Los Angeles requires a comprehensive approach that integrates climate action, health equity, and strategic urban planning to build a more resilient future for all communities.​ See highlights from the event in our photo gallery here.

For an in-depth account of the panel discussion, please read the full article in the UCLA Newsroom.

Former Greek Prime Minister Cites Roles of Innovation and Imagination in Democracy George Papandreou's UCLA visit includes a briefing on wildfire management with Luskin scholars

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By Sean Brenner

Drawing vivid comparisons and contrasts between democracy’s standing in the world today and its origins in ancient Greece, George Papandreou outlined a vision for preserving and protecting citizens’ role in governance amid a global rise in authoritarianism.

Papandreou, who served as Greece’s prime minister from 2009 to 2011, spoke Jan. 22 at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center. He proposed the need for a “new democratic social contract.”

“If democracy is under siege, we must not merely defend it; we must reimagine it,” he said. “The challenges of climate change, inequality and technology demand innovation in governance.”

Papandreou, whose father, Andreas, and grandfather, Georgios, both also served as prime minister of Greece, enumerated a series of measures he said could help strengthen democracy. Among them: banning unlimited corporate donations to lobbyists, restoring democratic education in public service media, introducing wealth taxes on billionaires and requiring full transparency in political advertising.

“These are some ideas,” Papandreou said. “But politics in the way the ancients taught it was not what we have today, with polling, tweeting, soundbites and looking for donors. It was actually to expand their imagination of a better future. The ancient Greeks said, ‘We don’t need tyrants to tell us what to do. We don’t need monarchs or kings or high priests. We can decide our future. Therefore, we can imagine a better future.’

“So politics, which means being a good citizen, means that we can collectively think of a better future. … Let’s open our imagination. Let’s be open to new ideas.”

woman with dark hair and glasses at podium

UCLA Luskin’s Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris cites George Papandreou’s support for “progressive democratic policies within and beyond the boundary of Greece.” Photo by Vince Bucci Photography

Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, interim dean of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, introduced Papandreou, citing his passion for progressive democratic policies, deep commitment to global cooperation, and belief that governments are responsible for protecting the environment.

During his UCLA visit, Papandreou held a separate meeting on the urgent issue of wildfire management with Loukaitou-Sideris; Liz Koslov, an assistant professor of urban planning who specializes in climate justice; and Nicole Lambrou, who received her PhD in urban planning at UCLA Luskin and is now an assistant professor at Cal Poly Pomona.

At his public talk, Papandreou expressed sympathy for Angelenos who have been affected by the wildfires.

“I stand here before you with a heavy heart, as in recent days you have witnessed the horror of entire neighborhoods reduced to ash, lives uprooted, dreams turned to smoke,” he said, relating the experience to his having witnessed severe fires and floods destroy homes and natural habitats in Greece. “No words can truly capture the anguish of watching the place you call home disappear in flames.”

The talk was organized by the UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture, and sponsored in part by the UCLA College Division of Humanities and Division of Social Sciences, and the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

In her opening remarks, Sharon Gerstel, director of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center, highlighted its role as a nexus for intellectual and cultural programming based in a city that boasts a large and dynamic population of Greeks and Greek Americans.

Gerstel presented Papandreou with Greek and English versions of “Weaving Dreams: Kilims from Geraki, Laconia,” a book she co-edited that examines the history of textile art in the Greek village of Geraki.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were Christina Valassopolou, consul general of Greece in Los Angeles, and Andreas Kyprianides, honorary consul general of Cyprus in Los Angeles.

Watch the full lecture on the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center’s YouTube channel

UCLA Launches New Master of Real Estate Development Program Greg Morrow, a real estate professional, educator and UCLA alumnus, will lead the Luskin School-based initiative

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UCLA is launching a master of real estate development program, or MRED, which combines the resources of America’s top-ranked public university with hands-on learning from industry leaders in one of the world’s most dynamic real estate markets and learning labs.

The one-year UCLA Luskin MRED is a new kind of real estate program, distinguished by unprecedented collaboration with industry leaders and opportunities for students to apply their academic training to real-world challenges through case studies, site visits and competitions. Mentoring, internship and networking opportunities will give them further access to innovative thinkers and workplace experiences to enhance their career prospects.

The MRED program’s cutting-edge curriculum integrates academic and experiential learning to equip students with both the analytical and practical skills to succeed in a range of careers and a big-picture understanding of the real estate industry’s power to create meaningful community impact.

UCLA has appointed Greg Morrow, a real estate professional and educator who founded UC Berkeley’s MRED+Design program, to lead the new UCLA program. Morrow earned master’s degrees in city planning and architecture from MIT and a doctorate in urban planning from UCLA.

Headshot of a man with glasses

Greg Morrow

“I’m thrilled to be back in L.A. to launch an MRED program that is unlike any other in content, outlook and emphasis on real estate’s central role in shaping society,” Morrow said. “Working with our industry partners, we aim to cultivate future leaders who have superb professional skills and a deep understanding of socioeconomic and policy issues in order to create more livable, resilient, equitable communities.”

MRED students will study under and work alongside accomplished professionals, including developers, lenders, private equity investors, real estate and land use lawyers, affordable housing officials, policy leaders, architects, builders, construction executives, planners and innovators in sustainability. These industry experts helped design the curriculum and will teach most of the classes.

“We’re teaming up with UCLA’s faculty to ensure that students gain the essential skills to succeed in whichever real estate field they choose,” said Alex Rose, executive vice president for development at Continental Development Corp. and a member of UCLA Luskin’s board of advisors. “From day one, graduates of the UCLA Luskin MRED program will have the tools to contribute not just to their employers but to make a difference in their communities as well.”

The interdisciplinary program is housed in the Luskin School of Public Affairs’ urban planning department and will include courses in the Anderson School of Management, UCLA Law and other departments across the university. Students will also have access to broad real estate expertise at UCLA through the Ziman Center for Real Estate, Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies and the innovative cityLab research center in the department of architecture and urban design.

The new program reflects the University of California’s effort to establish educational paths that address specific workforce needs. In addition to nuts-and-bolts real estate competencies, MRED students will be exposed to the latest trends in real estate —  from AI and new design paradigms to advanced construction techniques and financing tools. The program will also address key issues of affordability, equity, sustainability and how development interacts with larger urban development systems.

The curriculum is designed to develop students’ critical thinking, teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills, which are also essential for success in the workplace.

“Los Angeles is an ideal city in which to study real estate,” said Cecilia Estolano, a member of the Luskin board of advisors and a leading expert on contemporary urban planning issues with experience in economic and workforce development, land use, environmental equity and urban revitalization. “We have a diverse economy, dynamic neighborhoods and a range of real estate problems requiring bold, innovative, systemic solutions. UCLA’s MRED will challenge students to situate real estate development in a broader policy context.”

A cultural trendsetter that welcomes reinvention, Los Angeles is undergoing an ambitious urban transformation, including major housing and transit initiatives, as it prepares to host the 2026 World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

“Los Angeles has proven to be a laboratory marked by innovations that become models for the nation,” said Andy Cohen, co-chair of the Gensler design and architecture firm. “UCLA is at the heart of this global metropolis, giving students in this important new program front-line access to learn from the best so they can shape the real estate industry and build a better future for our cities — locally and internationally.”

“Luskin is a powerful platform that seeks to educate and challenge change-makers to tackle pressing societal issues,” said Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, interim dean of UCLA Luskin. “The new master in real estate program is a perfect fit for Luskin. We can’t wait to welcome our first class next year.”

The program is designed for applicants from diverse fields, within and outside real estate, and backgrounds.

“UCLA is a global brand that attracts leading scholars, students and industry partners and has a devoted international alumni network,” Morrow said. “By leveraging the best of UCLA and its alumni, the UCLA Luskin MRED program will build a global brand in real estate. Our graduates will not only change the industry but also change the face of real estate.”

New UCLA Certificate Program Meets Opportunity and Challenge of Big Data UCLA Luskin and University Extension are collaborating on a graduate-level program offering in-demand skills to a wide range of students

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By Stan Paul

Big data is here and UCLA Luskin is ready.

With the expansion of digital technologies for big data collection and analysis over the past two decades, new opportunities have been created for professionals in the larger policy arena. With this in mind, UCLA Luskin and UCLA University Extension have developed a collaborative certificate program that has been approved by UCLA’s Academic Senate.

The new program, Data Analytics for Public Affairs, won unanimous approval during the November joint meeting of the university’s Academic Senate Graduate and Undergraduate councils, UCLA Luskin Interim Dean Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris announced.

“It’s really exciting. We realized there is a lot of demand from mid-career professionals to develop analytic skills,” said Zachary Steinert-Threlkeld, associate professor of public policy and political science, who has accepted the interim dean’s request to serve as the director for the certificate. “We have put together an excellent program that gives them the opportunity to do that.”

At the same time, program planners recognized that these opportunities come with a number of risks and ethical dimensions that all professionals should be aware of, specifically privacy, the reliability of big data and unequal access to the internet.

New methodologies have emerged for data collection, analysis and visualization, and the Luskin School already offers a Data Analytics Certificate for its policy, planning and social welfare graduate students. But these new skills were not part of the education of professionals who completed their degrees even a few years ago.

Steinert-Threlkeld, who initiated the data analytics certificate program at the Luskin School and has served as the faculty lead, said that a bit of data analysis went into the decision to pursue this new venture. A survey launched to gauge interest in such a program directed questions at those who might be interested in adding data analytics to their skillsets as well as at supervisors who would find a benefit in having employees with these skills.

“We had over 300 responses, so that gave us confidence that there is strong demand for this certificate,” said Steinert-Threlkeld, who was part of a faculty committee assessing the initiative, led by Loukaitou-Sideris.

The program as envisioned in the committee proposal is designed to “attract and produce diverse cohorts of students interested in data analytics that can help enhance their understanding of big data and how they can be collected and analyzed, the ethical/social justice dimensions of big data, and how big data may apply to their professional practice.”

Housed at a school known for its emphasis on diversity and social justice, the program intends to “do better than other institutions in attracting a very diverse student body” and to “develop a broader perspective on data analytics courses designed to benefit a wide range of students,” the proposal says.

The program’s focus on public affairs also is designed to help it stand out from other UCLA Extension offerings. The graduate-level certificate, like other UCLA Extension programs, is open enrollment but targeted at those with prior academic experience, preferably a bachelor’s degree.

Four core courses will be required, including an overview of a variety of advanced technologies and their relevance to 21st-century governance and community development. Another course will examine ethical issues raised by the use of big data and data analytics for governance and community development projects. Topics to be explored include the tension between using data for the public good and protecting individual privacy.

A required data visualization course will allow students to explore approaches to communicating the value and impact of data to stakeholders at different organizational levels. The fourth course requirement is a data science course with two options: an introduction to programming and data science or a geographic information system (GIS) and spatial data analysis class.

Two optional electives included in the program are an introductory statistics class and an urban data science offering.

A launch date for the program has not yet been established but, said Steinert-Threlkeld, “Everyone in the school recognizes the demand for it and the benefit it will give to the enrollees, as well as to the School. We certainly think this will be received well and hope there’s very strong demand.”