Isaac Bryan, UCLA Luskin MPP ’18, has been named recipient of the 2025 UCLA Award for Public Service by the UCLA Alumni Association. Bryan, a member of the California State Senate representing District 55, was recognized by the association for his impactful leadership in improving the lives of Californians.

The Alumni Association announcement noted, “Throughout his career, Bryan has built diverse coalitions to champion environmental justice, racial equity, housing justice and reform of the criminal legal system.”

While at Luskin, he was an advocate for policy reform rooted in research and scholarship. He served as the Director of Organizing for the Million Dollar Hoods research project, co-authoring a report on the cost of mass incarceration. He became the inaugural Director of Public Policy at the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center and the founding director of the UCLA Black Policy Project. Bryan received numerous fellowship awards and in 2021 was honored as the MPP Alumnus of the Year from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

As a member of the California State Assembly, now in his third term, he has successfully fought for policy changes and investments that protect marginalized Californians. He chairs the Committee on Natural Resources and the Assembly’s first Select Committee on Poverty and Economic Inclusion. He is also vice chair and a founding member of the Renters Caucus and also serves as vice chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.

Bryan will be honored along with other outstanding UCLA Alumni at the Association’s 2025 ceremony on May 17, 2025.

Read more about Isaac Bryan.

Read the full award announcement.