Category: Luskin Forum Online

content from Luskin Forum magazine

In Support A new Social Welfare fellowship, honoring a civil rights scholar, plus donor updates

January 24, 2025/0 Comments/in Luskin Forum Online /by Mary Braswell

Paco Retana, a dedicated advocate for social welfare and education, has established the Paco Retana Endowed Fellowship for Graduate Students in collaboration with his wife, Ruthie Flores Retana. The fellowship will provide financial support to students pursuing graduate studies in social welfare at UCLA Luskin.

The Retanas’ ultimate goal is to grow the fund into a sustainable endowment that will continually offer need-based financial assistance, helping to ensure access to education for those from marginalized and underserved communities.

Retana is a Double Bruin who earned his undergraduate degree in 1987 and master of social welfare in 1990. Born to immigrant parents — his father from Costa Rica and his mother from Mexico — Retana grew up in Pico Rivera, California, where he cultivated a profound respect for education and a drive to help Los Angeles’ most vulnerable populations. Currently serving as chief program officer at Wellnest Emotional Health and Wellness, Retana plays a pivotal role in empowering children and young adults through access to mental health services.

In the summer of 2024, Retana began a two-year term as president of the UCLA Alumni Association, a role in which he will leverage his extensive experience and networks to support the university community. He also serves as a mentor to graduate students through UCLA Luskin’s Senior Fellows career leadership program, providing guidance to those pursuing careers in social welfare and public service.

In his commencement address to UCLA Luskin’s Class of 2024, Retana urged the next generation to embrace collaboration and community-driven change, saying, “Together, you have the potential to create a tapestry of positive change that is richer and more vibrant than anything you could achieve alone.”

Inaugural Goldstein Activist Award Honors Legacy of Civil Rights Scholar

The inaugural Dr. Michael Goldstein Activist Award for Social Justice has been awarded to a UCLA Luskin Public Policy graduate, made possible by the support of longtime donor Susan Bales, the widow of Dr. Goldstein.

“At some point, that question looms large for many of us who have lost an extraordinary loved one,” Bales said. Beyond the plaques and eulogies, she wondered, “is there a way to pull that person’s vision into a tomorrow they will not see?”

This question inspired her to create the Goldstein Activist Fund to honor her late husband Michael Goldstein and reﬂect the family’s long commitment to cultivating activists within the Luskin School. This year’s award went to Double Bruin Sebastian Cazares MPP ’24, who became an organizer for social justice issues at the age of 15.

Goldstein, a scholar and civil rights advocate, died in 2019 of glioblastoma, leaving behind an unﬁnished manuscript that explores how various racial and ethnic groups navigated the color line in 20th Century California.

“My parents achieved much in their lives,” Goldstein wrote, “but to do so they constantly had to navigate the ‘they’ – those reﬂecting the powerful forces of discrimination and hate in American society.” Cazares said he is honored to receive the award, noting that Goldstein committed his life to advanced scholarship for political change and played a key role in passage of the U.S. Voting Rights Act.

Cazares’ own journey as an activist has been guided by a number of inﬂuences: the xenophobic political climate that shaped his formative years as a descendent of migrant workers; environmental and colonial injustice during Hurricane Maria on the island of Puerto Rico, where family members live; election systems that suppress the vote of people of color; and nationwide movements against racial injustice and gun violence.

Why They Give: Ruth Sugerman MSW ’67

For Ruth Sugerman MSW ’67, giving back to UCLA Luskin Social Welfare is deeply personal. After a long career of service that took unexpected turns, Sugerman has been recognized for her lifetime achievements. Now, as an alumna and long-time supporter of the School, she seeks to invest in the next generation of social workers, and the ﬁeld of social work itself. Sugerman shared her reﬂections:

When I was a young child, I went to Sunday School in my working-class neighborhood. Each week, we put money from our allowance into a little box with the word for “justice” in Hebrew on it. We were told that this wasn’t charity, that we were lucky to have a place to live and food and the things that we needed — but not all children were that lucky. It was only fair that we should share some of what we had.

I was raised with the idea that each of us is required to do what we can to make the world better. We aren’t expected to do something major, but whatever we can, we must do. In school, I decided I would work in psychiatric hospitals with patients and their families. I’m sure that I was inﬂuenced by the fact that my father was psychotic and I would have liked someone to help me deal with that. To reach that goal, I went to UCLA to earn an MSW.

UCLA Social Welfare challenged us to recognize and correct our prejudices and biases. They taught us that everything we said or didn’t say, did or didn’t do, should be for the client, not ourselves. They asked us, if someone is throwing babies into a stream, do we go downstream and try to pull them out before they drown or do we go upstream to stop the person who is throwing them into the water? They said being a social worker just trying to help people cope with and survive a harmful system was futile. We should change the system to prevent the harm.

I give to Luskin MSW students to pay it forward and give them the opportunities that I had when tuition was lower. I give to Luskin MSW students so they can gain the knowledge and skills to make the world better.

Where They Are Now: Edgar Reyna MURP ’23

Edgar Reyna MURP ’23 shared his experiences at UCLA Luskin and beyond, including the impact that his Luskin Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship made on his educational and career trajectory. Reyna is currently working as a climate resilience senior analyst for the Ofﬁce of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

What made you choose UCLA Luskin? I chose to attend the Luskin School primarily due to the diversity within its faculty and student body, which is reflected in its approach to urban planning that centers equity. The faculty’s leadership in areas such as environmental and climate justice appealed to me greatly, as did the opportunity to craft my own focus area within the planning department. This provided greater access to UCLA expertise from disciplines including atmospheric sciences, the Fielding School of Public Health and geography.

What experiences did your fellowship provide that you may not have had otherwise? I had the opportunity to participate in a climate adaptation initiative in a sensitive mangrove ecosystem in Nayarit, Mexico. This experience underscored the importance of centering climate solutions around the voices and priorities of indigenous and front-line communities.

What would you say to prospective or current students? Apply to grants, fellowships and other funding opportunities that will allow you to focus on what you’re most passionate about. Take time to listen to and learn from your classmates because they’re on the forefront of every issue you’ll read about in class. Also, step out of your field of expertise while in school and learn new approaches to the problems you’re focused on. UCLA has some of the brightest minds in the world in every possible subject — go learn from them!

Honoring the Legacy of Ralph Shapiro: A Lifelong UCLA Champion

The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs extends its deepest gratitude for contributions made to the Shapiro Luskin School Special Patient Care Fund in memory of Ralph Shapiro. A distinguished UCLA alumnus, visionary business leader and dedicated philanthropist, Shapiro passed away Aug. 14, 2024, at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire the university community and beyond.

For more than ﬁve decades, Shapiro was an integral part of UCLA’s growth and success, serving as a donor, volunteer, mentor and board member. His dedication to advancing education, particularly in social welfare and public health, was a hallmark of his support.

Shapiro recognized that ﬁeld education is essential to preparing social work students for their future careers. The Shapiro Luskin School Special Patient Care Fund, established in his honor, supports two key staff supervisor positions and provides opportunities for four second-year social work students to gain professional experience at UCLA Dentistry’s Special Patient Care Clinic and the UCLA cerebral palsy clinics.

One Shapiro Fellow said the fellowship enabled her to practice social work at a high level. The hands-on experience working with families and individuals who have unique strengths and challenges equipped her with the skills needed for her professional journey, and she now holds her dream job as a hospital social worker.

Alumni Notes Festive receptions, a career fair, a Spanish-language meetup and more engage our vast community

January 24, 2025/0 Comments/in Luskin Forum Online /by Mary Braswell

The UCLA Luskin Office of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations launched Fall 2024 with a vibrant lineup of events designed to reconnect, inspire and engage its multilingual and mission-driven community.

The season kickoff began with the Luskin Aperitivo: Spanish Language Meetup at the iconic Angel City Brewery. This gathering was a perfect blend of casual conversation and cultural camaraderie, drawing Luskin alums and students across programs, many excited to practice their Spanish in a fun, relaxed setting.

Two Alumni Regional Receptions brought graduates of our Urban Planning, Social Welfare, Public Policy and Public Affairs program together to exchange stories and spark new collaborations. In October, we marked a milestone: UCLA Luskin’s first-ever alumni reception in San Diego, held at the scenic Stone Brewing Bistro and Gardens in Liberty Station. A month later, L.A.-area alumni and current students enjoyed a stunning cityscape backdrop at a rooftop reception at The Godfrey Hotel in Hollywood. At both receptions, faculty and staff were on hand to acknowledge alumni who give back in myriad ways — attending events, participating as panelists, hiring young graduates, facilitating career tours or beginning their philanthropic journey.

Also this fall, Alumni Engagement Week included a virtual Latinx Communities Panel featuring distinguished alums Alejandra Garcia MPP ’23, government affairs manager at Comcast; Diana Benitez MURP ’16, senior manager of advocacy and engagement at Canal Alliance; Antonio Sandoval Ayala MURP ’07, director of the Community Programs Office at UCLA; and Norma Garcia MSW ’13, LCSW and founder at Norma Garcia. The speakers shared their career journeys, challenges and insights into working within and advocating for Latinx communities.

The week continued with a virtual meet-and-greet with Rorie Overby MURP ’04, a founding member of Placebase, a Los Angeles-based location technology company acquired by Apple in 2009. Since the acquisition, Overby has managed product and engineering teams focused on building location-based services for the Apple ecosystem.

Capping off the week, alumna Nurit Katz MPP/MBA ’08, chief sustainability officer at UCLA, led a Sustainability Career Tour showcasing innovative career pathways in the environmental and sustainable development sectors. It was an eye-opening experience for UCLA Luskin students who heard how sustainability interlinks with social welfare, public policy and planning.

A number of alumni employers also came to support and hire UCLA talent at the Fall Career Fair, a testament to the robust network of opportunity available to our students.

Together, these events underscored the depth and diversity of the Luskin community and the shared goals that continue to unite us all.

Seeking Solutions for Today’s Issues — and Tomorrow’s With an equity lens, faculty pursue research on plastic pollution, transportation access, mortgage lending and youth empowerment

By Stan Paul

The outcome of the 2024 national election will impact our nation and world for decades to come, and during this critical time, UCLA Luskin remains committed to — and actively engaged in — research that addresses pressing global, national, regional and local issues.

One UCLA Luskin research initiative is focused on civic engagement among young people who will be determining the direction of the nation through their vote. Others are investigating housing access and affordability, transportation access, the environment and other issues that intersect the fields of urban planning, social welfare and public policy.

Amid rising costs and declining state funding for the University of California system, external funding sources large and small allow individual scholars and UCLA Luskin-affiliated research centers to continue to pursue important and timely research on numerous policy issues.

During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, donors committed $856.5 million — the second-highest fundraising total in UCLA history. Alumni and friends of the university came forward with more than 68,000 gifts, 94% of which were less than $10,000. The Luskin School’s fundraising efforts brought in $7,811,898 of that total.

Here is a spotlight on faculty research made possible by this funding:

Mitigating Plastics Through an Environmental Justice Lens

Plastics are all around us — and in us. It’s in our water and soil, the food and water we consume, and the products and packaging that we use on a daily basis. However, some communities are more negatively impacted, or plastic burdened, than others, according to work being conducted by UCLA Luskin researchers.

Veronica Herrera, associate professor of urban planning and political science, and Daniel Coffee MPP ’20, a project manager at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI), received funding through LCI from the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation to define and map the plastics burden in California and its communities.

In 2022, California Gov. Gavin Newsom approved SB-54, a bill that would establish the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act. The law requires producers to ensure that 100% of single-use packaging and plastic food service ware sold in California is recyclable or compostable by 2032, and will provide about $500 million annually for the California Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund to help communities affected by plastic.

While SB-54 is one of the most comprehensive laws of its kind, there are concerns by environmental justice organizations that the money may not be equitably distributed to communities most impacted by plastic pollution.

“Our research creates an environmental justice framework to help decision makers route the mitigation funds toward communities most disproportionately impacted by plastic pollution, which are communities of color and low-income,” Herrera said.

The report defines the plastics burden as being threefold: site-based exposures (living or working near plastics industrial facilities), dietary exposures (such as via processed foods) and consumer products exposures (such as through personal care products), and shows how these exposures are more likely to present disproportionate impacts on communities of color. Herrera and Coffee have also created a geospatial map that shows the site-based exposures on California’s communities for facilities such as landfills and plastics recyclers.

“Our report stresses that some communities are more likely to be doubly or triply burdened and also have pre-existing vulnerabilities in dealing with these burdens, such as lower access to health care,” Herrera said.

“We want to continue to add to the mapping tool to expand our measures of the plastics burden. Maybe this will inspire researchers in other states to get data to replicate what we are doing for California. More data on the plastics burden will help policymakers make real change.”

Removing Obstacles to Transportation Access

Transportation is not equally accessible or distributed equitably across regions. The lack of reliable and affordable transportation only adds to socioeconomic inequities for low-income communities and individuals, especially for people of color.

Researchers at the Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs are studying the effects of a novel approach — universal basic mobility (UBM) — to address financial barriers to reliable transportation. UBM was recently piloted in a small number of cities nationwide, including Los Angeles.

Madeline Brozen, co-principal investigator and deputy director of the Lewis Center, is leading the team that is analyzing the effectiveness of the L.A. pilot program, also known as mobility wallets. Researchers at UC Davis also are working with UCLA to complete the comprehensive mixed-methods evaluation examining travel trends, experiences and spending for pilot programs in Los Angeles.

The initial pilot program, launched in 2023 by the city of Los Angeles, with partners LA Metro and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, is the largest UBM pilot to date. This first phase provided $150 a month to 1,000 participants in South Los Angeles. According to Brozen, a second phase started last fall and also includes 1,000 people from South Los Angeles but has been expanded to include an additional 1,000 participants from throughout Los Angeles County.

Brozen explained that the UBM works like universal basic or guaranteed income in the form of a prepaid debit card, which can be used for a range of transportation options. These include city buses, bikeshare and e-scooters as well as ride-hail servicesincluding Uber and Lyft and Amtrak for more regional travel.And the wallets are being used, she noted. The programshave tracked thousands of transportation transactions since the program began.

So far, the results have been promising. Brozen is working with Lewis Center Director and longtime Luskin Urban Planning Professor Evelyn Blumenberg, as well as Urban Planning PhD students who are assisting with analyzing the experiment’s results.

“People know this is a one-year program. So, they’re not going to change their behavior really drastically for a temporary support,” Brozen said. “Most people have figured out how to get to their job, how to get their groceries, but a lot of times, it’s the trips they aren’t making.”

These include trips that people with reliable transportation may take for granted, like having the ability to see family and friends. It also helps with trips that would normally be expensive, long and in places where transportation would become burdensome for them.

An additional benefit is that program participants are allowed to use the wallet for themselves or anyone else, such as a child that requires transportation, Brozen explained. The mobility wallets give participants options that provide both stress relief and budget relief.

“It gives them autonomy. … There’s improvement to people’s lives,” she said.

Investigating Barriers to Home Ownership

Buying a new home has been challenging for most people before — and, even more so, after —the COVID-19 pandemic. But for low-income people, that dream has moved almost beyond reach.

A two-year grant has allowed UCLA Luskin’s José Loya to examine those barriers for low-income people as they seek upward social mobility through homeownership. Loya, an assistant professor of urban planning, received the grant asa 2023-25 Emerging Poverty Scholarship Fellow through theUniversity of Wisconsin’s Institute for Research on Poverty. Loya, also a faculty affiliate with UCLA’s Chicano Studies Research Center, said that the first part of his research is to investigate the relationship between low-income households and homeownership, and barriers in the search for upward social mobility.

Working with Luskin PhD students, he is already seeing some interesting results:

“We see that low-income individuals are heavily constrained in the mortgage market, which limits their home ownership opportunities more broadly,” he said. “That’s both at the individual and community levels. So low-income communities also face very large barriers to accessing or to improving or to increasing ownership opportunities in their neighborhoods as well.”

Another factor is that high home prices coupled with higher interest rates has an impact on whether financial institutions are willing to lend to lower-income individuals, pricing them out of the market.

“The monthly payment itself is just too high to afford homeownership under current circumstances,” Loya said.

A second aspect of the research has been to examine the impact of neighborhood poverty on appraised home values. He explained that while home values are typically thought of as based on the actual home and land, appraised values also are a reflection of community resources.

“And this has a dramatic impact on lower-income neighborhoods or minority neighborhoods that often are neglected when it comes to public investment,” Loya said.

Loya also noted that housing studies for lower-income people has typically focused on rental markets because the majority of low-income residents are renters.

“However, the next stage for upward social mobility is signaled by homeownership, the largest vehicle for generating wealth,” he said. “When we think about low-income households and neighborhoods, essentially we want to determine or assess the opportunities that they have for homeownership and other ways of generating wealth.”

This is where Loya’s research comes in.

“I’m able to look at that intersection of wealth building through homeownership and poverty research,” he said, pointing out that poverty or household income is not static.

“We know that incomes fluctuate, opportunities fluctuate, and homeownership is a good marker of mobility,” he said, explaining, “When people view homeownership as an opportunity, do families have access to it?”

Understanding Youth Civic Engagement and Opportunities

Generations are given labels, stereotyped and defined, and each generation is actively engaged in defining itself.

Professor of Social Welfare Laura Wray-Lake is in the third year of research funded by AmeriCorps to assess civic engagement among young people and understand experiences of youth activists with different social identities.

Her research is multi-pronged. In partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Wray-Lake is looking at survey data from a large sample of youth advocates, which she said will help in understanding “some of the factors that differentiate the way that young people are engaged and the different issues that interest them.”

Another aspect of that work involves evaluating the ACLU’s National Advocacy Institute, a one-week summer training program for youth advocates, to find ways the institute made a difference for participants. Wray-Lake and colleagues surveyed young people who went through the institute before and after the training along with a follow-up six months later.

The findings are showing that institute participants increased their civic knowledge, agency and likelihood of action one week after the institute, relative to a comparison group of civically engaged young people who did not participate in the program, and some of the effects are maintained six months later.

A third part of her AmeriCorps-funded work involves a longitudinal study to map out trajectories of how young people become activists. Over three years starting in 2023, Wray-Lake is tracking 1,000 young participants, ages 14-18, as they transition to adulthood and move on to college or other paths.

“Adolescents are really engaged and really involved in a lot of different issues,” including racial justice, women’s rights, LGBTQ issues, and justice here and abroad related to conflict in the Middle East, Wray-Lake said.

Wray-Lake said the young people she studies represent a general sample and weren’t recruited because they were civically engaged. But she said that the vast majority are engaged in at least one issue.

“Young people today are paying attention. They care about many different things. And so I think the way that relates to the election is they’re looking for which candidates are really speaking to the issues that they’re interested in.

“I’ve noticed that young people have gotten more motivated since Kamala [Harris] has joined in, but they also have issues and interests that neither candidate is really speaking to. I think that’s a piece that’s important.”

And although the youngest of the participants who were surveyed cannot yet vote, their views still matter and their actions can make a difference, she said.

“There might be ways they’re participating, like sharing their views on social media or with friends and family, and some of them might be campaigning for the candidates,” Wray-Lake said, adding that people don’t have to be 18 to be an active citizen.

“The motivation for doing what I do is showing how teenagers can be contributors to society and their communities. They have ideas, they have motivation, and they actually make real change in their communities through youth-led movements and organizations that they’re part of.”

The View From the Top With leadership transitions in five signature UCLA Luskin programs, a glimpse at what lies ahead

January 23, 2025/0 Comments/in Luskin Forum Online /by Mary Braswell

By Mary Braswell

There’s change at the top in five of the Luskin School’s key academic programs. Faculty members Poco Kernsmith of Social Welfare, Robert Fairlie of Public Policy, Michael Lens of the Undergraduate Program, Michael Manville of Urban Planning and Vinit Mukhija of the new Master of Real Estate Development degree are now in the first or second years of their leadership roles — a good time to catch up with what’s ahead for each of the programs.

SOCIAL WELFARE

Poco Kernsmith earned her PhD at UCLA Social Welfare in 2002 and returned to campus in fall 2024 as chair of the department. She arrived at a time of significant expansion, including the addition of 50 master’s students over two years as part of a state-funded program to grow California’s behavioral health workforce. Kernsmith comes from the University of Texas at Arlington where she served as director of the doctoral program in the school of social work. She took a break from packing up for her drive from Dallas to Los Angeles, son and two cats on board, to share her vision for Luskin Social Welfare.

On what drew her back to UCLA

There are a lot of great thinkers here and a lot of opportunity for innovation to do some new and different things. I’m coming from Texas, which is battling with some really difficult legislation around academic freedom, about what can and can’t be taught in classrooms. At UCLA, there is greater freedom to address some of the really important issues and to try and think about how we can support other places in the country where they’re facing challenging legislative and political environments.

And Southern California has always felt like home to me. There’s my childhood home in Minnesota, where I grew up, and then there’s my heart home. And this has always felt like my heart home.

On the evolution of DEI and anti-racism efforts

We’re seeing across the country, and on campuses specifically, that what DEI means is changing, and it’s important for us to be able to have really difficult conversations with people who don’t agree with us on things, who might have different perspectives.

In the field of social welfare, we don’t necessarily have a great history of always being on the right side of racism, but in general we tend to agree on social justice and equity and inclusion. Now we’re in a different environment where it’s nuanced and it’s complicated. With all that is happening in the Middle East, people are experiencing pain and trauma in different ways.

One of the things I want to do is to help grow that intellectual curiosity and capacity for dialogue among students and faculty, to address these really challenging issues that are facing our communities and our world. We might feel uncomfortable because these conversations are hard, but we grow through uncomfortable conversations. The question is how do we do that in a way that’s empathetic and respectful?

On her initial contacts with UCLA Luskin students

I’ve had several meetings with students who’ve just reached out and wanted to have a conversation. They’re brilliant. I love their passion. They are so eager to learn, and their intellectual curiosity just oozes out of them. And I love that when I work with this caliber of student, it helps me to be a better thinker.

PUBLIC POLICY

Economist Robert Fairlie arrived at UCLA Luskin in summer of 2023, taking over as chair of Public Policy after nearly three decades of teaching and research in the University of California system. As he prepared to welcome the newest MPP students in fall 2024, Fairlie was also busy working on a new book about the lasting impacts of COVID-19’s economic shocks and compiling data about the health of the nation’s small businesses at the request of Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

On what draws public policy students to UCLA Luskin

Our MPP program is known for quantitative research. It’s a niche that we have, and we’re on the cutting edge. A lot of policy schools have been stuck in the old world, too slow to adjust. But the new reality is that there is so much data being collected on literally everything, and our students need to learn how to use it. And certainly, a lot of students are attracted to the fact that we are in Los Angeles. It’s such an amazing place, so diverse and with so much going on. And then of course we are UCLA, a top-ranked university with such an incredible reputation.

On curriculum changes amid a changing policy landscape

We have pretty extensive stats requirements, and a lot of the classes use data sets. Programming is tricky. It’s not math, it’s really a language — a very basic language, but you still need to learn syntax and how to put code together. So instead of just throwing our students into this, we instituted a two-unit programming class this year, something totally new. We’re making it optional, but everyone signed up immediately. And some of the second-year students want to take it, too, so we let some of them in. It’s a skill that is very marketable.

On campuswide resources available to students and researchers

Our students have these incredible opportunities to take law classes, business classes, econ, political science, social welfare. That’s pretty unusual and it’s a huge advantage that UCLA offers. A lot of people here are doing number crunching on policy issues, and there are so many resources that are right next door. I do a lot of work with the California Center for Population Research and the California Policy Lab and the UCLA Anderson School of Management. There’s a federal research center right on the second floor of our building, where I can tap into restricted-access data not available to the public. I’m also working with a doctor and a post-doc over at the medical school on racial inequality in health care.

On the importance of creating networking opportunities for policy students

I would really like to get more people connected, in person. More seminars and professional development opportunities for students and for alums. We regularly take our students to professional conferences around the country, so they can experience what it’s like. Some of the talks are very statistical, with nitty-gritty detail, and some are more “big idea.” But it’s all going to be policy relevant.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

Michael Lens wears many hats at UCLA Luskin. He is a professor of urban planning and public policy, serves as associate faculty director of the Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies and, since 2023, has directed the Public Affairs undergraduate program. As the fall quarter began, Lens was preparing to teach an undergrad survey course in U.S. urban history and social theory, and making final edits on his just-released book, “Where the Hood At? Fifty Years of Change in Black Neighborhoods.”

On the BA in Public Affairs’ growth since its 2018 launch

The undergraduate program is absolutely a big new thing at the Luskin School. I was on the committee that designed the major, and we’re pretty much on target with the kind of growth trajectory that we set out, with more pre-majors, minors and majors coming into the program. The core curriculum is solid, and there is a changing lineup of electives that reflect faculty interests and expertise.

On the impact the undergraduate program has had on the School

Since I came to Luskin in 2011, the handful of deans we’ve had have always rightfully tried to find different ways to create synergy across the three graduate departments, to create more opportunities for the sum to be greater than the parts. The undergraduate program shows the promise and challenge of that. The promise is that we’re all under the umbrella of the School when we teach, not in our silos, and the curriculum draws from a diversity of faculty and departments. One thing that our undergraduate students are craving more and more is a deeper connection to the School and a greater potential to be mentored or at least get to know some of the graduate students on a more informal basis.

On differences between teaching students at the undergraduate and graduate level

It can almost surprise you how sharp and curious our undergrads are. Coming from high school, you don’t get into UCLA without a pretty strong academic record. Many of our graduate students have often worked in different fields, looking for solutions to urban poverty or segregation, for example. They’ve been studying these issues for longer and are now seeking some additional training to round that out. Compared to the master’s students, the undergraduates are often a little more adaptable to different ways of thinking. They haven’t been convinced that a particular problem is caused in a certain way, or that a particular problem requires a specific solution.

URBAN PLANNING

Michael Manville earned his master’s and PhD in urban planning at UCLA, then returned to join the School’s faculty in 2016. In the summer of 2023, mere days before he assumed the role of chair, some exciting news broke: UCLA Luskin Urban Planning was ranked No. 1 in North America by the planning and development network Planetizen. Manville took a few minutes away from his academic duties to speak about the outlook for UCLA Luskin Urban Planning.

On key factors behind the program’s success

Candidly? We’re big. Over the last 10 years, we have been very fortunate to have added a lot of faculty who are well-known in their field, who are good teachers, who publish a lot. For some students, there may be all sorts of great reasons to go to a smaller program, but ultimately, larger programs can offer more things to the typical student.

We’re also very well-rounded. We have multiple people working really at the top of their game in a number of different subfields of planning. In transportation, we have a great cluster of people doing research that I would say is unmatched by any other program in the country. On top of that, you’ve got faculty doing cutting-edge stuff on urban theory and social justice planning, and you’ve got a collection of really great housing scholars.

This year, we ended up ranked No. 1, but I think the more important fact is we have an excellent program year in and year out. Whether we’re ranked 1 or 3 or 7, people who come here can get a great education.

On the launch of two ambitious programs, a dual-degree partnership with the French university Sciences Po and the new Master of Real Estate Development

I was fortunate to have taken the reins to programs, and an entire department, that were already on the right track. The Sciences Po program is a great opportunity for people who are interested in an education that spans two different continents. A benefit for us is that by taking in students from Sciences Po for a year, just by default we get a bigger international student body. And the students we send from UCLA are very interested in international planning and comparative work, and they get that in a number of ways by being at Sciences Po. We’re super excited to have this partnership with a really prestigious school in Paris.

The MRED will give us a presence in this growing field of real estate programs, and we want to put our own spin on it. A lot of what’s out there looks a little more like business school. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I think there’s a place for one that comes at it more from the planning side.

On how urban planning education at UCLA has changed since Manville earned his master’s in 2003 and PhD in 2009

The department, and the whole field of planning, has changed quite a bit. We’re better endowed and better staffed and, as a result, the volume and quantity of the research that we do is substantially larger. But of course, we’re now in an environment where Los Angeles is obviously a very expensive place to live. The cost of supporting PhD students in particular, especially if they are from outside California, is higher.

When I came to UCLA from Massachusetts, it was partly out of curiosity — I had always lived on the East Coast — and partly because, back then, the tuition was very cheap. One of the initial ideas behind the UC was that if you could lure someone out here and educate them, California’s climate and natural environment would keep them here, and you’d have an educated workforce. I think that that was a bet that paid off very well for California, and it certainly worked for me.

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

In his role as founding director of the new Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) housed at UCLA Luskin Urban Planning, Vinit Mukhija draws on decades of scholarship and professional experience. Mukhija has advanced degrees in urban planning, urban design and architecture, and worked on renewal strategies for cities in Asia, the Middle East and the United States before arriving at UCLA in 2001. The professor and former chair of UCLA Luskin Urban Planning spoke as recruitment for the inaugural MRED class, arriving in fall 2025, was just getting under way.

On what sets the UCLA MRED apart from other programs

Real estate development is tremendously impactful, one of the most powerful forces shaping buildings, neighborhoods, cities and regions. So it was a necessity for us, with our mission here at Luskin, to be involved in that sphere. We believe that financially successful, innovative real estate development goes hand in hand with socially responsible, environmentally sustainable development.

With our MRED, real estate development is a lens that can lead to any of a number of careers that meet a real need in the industry right now. We have worked closely with real estate industry leaders who understand what proficiencies are in demand so that our curriculum ensures that our students will be competitive in the marketplace. They’ll be adept at finance, technology, including the latest construction technologies. And most of our courses are taught by the industry experts themselves, from real estate law and asset management, from finance and investing, from all aspects of the field. Day-to-day management of the program will fall under our new executive director, Greg Morrow, who comes to us with extensive experience launching a similar program at the University of California, Berkeley.

On the significance of Los Angeles as a home base for the program

In many ways, Los Angeles has been a bellwether for other cities and regions — and not just in this country. We see patterns of development, as well as their drawbacks, across the world. Take the affordable housing crisis. In California, we have shown how development is necessary to expand the supply of housing, and it will be so while meeting significant environmental regulatory requirements. As a tremendous global laboratory, we are well-positioned to find solutions.

On how the UCLA MRED is primed for growth

We plan to offer our students the opportunity to earn a certificate in affordable housing, and we are also exploring potential dual degrees with other programs at UCLA Anderson and UCLA Luskin. The MRED is a transformative opportunity to train our students to be visionaries and change makers in an exciting industry.

Why They Give Urban Planning alumna Kayne Doumani on the importance of delivering on your mission

June 21, 2024/0 Comments/in Luskin Forum Online /by Mary Braswell

UCLA Luskin alumna and longtime supporter Kayne Doumani shared her experiences as an urban planning graduate student followed by a professional life with unexpected twists and turns. Doumani, who earned her master of arts in urban planning in 1995, has held numerous roles in affordable housing, beginning as a policy analyst for the city of Los Angeles and, more recently, director of asset management for Chinatown Community Development Center in San Francisco. She now possesses an array of skills that has made her an expert on housing in this critical moment and led her to to her current role as an asset management consultant to nonprofit housing organizations. “I didn’t know I was training to be an asset manager,” she said, “but every bit of that experience has contributed to my success.”

Tell me about a transformative experience in your life that led you to your passion?

There wasn’t one. I wrote in my application to what was then GSAUP [Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning] that I didn’t know why I cared. There’s no history of public service in my family. We didn’t discuss lofty topics like justice. But that’s been my lens for as long as I can remember. I see things in terms of economic justice and leveling the playing field. I got interested in urban planning when I saw it being used as a tool for making sure that development didn’t only benefit the developer.

What were your early professional experiences like?

The school helped me get a summer internship at the Los Angeles Housing Department in the Policy and Planning Division, which became a part-time job during school and a full-time job after graduation. I worked under the late Gary Squier, a UCLA planning school alumnus and a true powerhouse. It was an amazing experience. I worked closely with Gary to write policy, interfacing with the city’s lobbyists and community advocates. The breadth of issues we dealt with was a great extension of my education.

How did the Luskin School help you get closer to your goal?

For me, Luskin was the complete package. I considered the work of the professors vitally important. Los Angeles was a rich laboratory for professors and students; and those students contributed nearly as much to my education as the professors. We were a diverse and accomplished group coming into the school.

What classes at Luskin now seem most meaningful to you?

It’s been almost 30 years! Can you send me my transcript? The professor I took the most classes from was Don Shoup and he was on my thesis committee. He taught me a way of looking at and analyzing things (even parking!) that is imbedded in my thinking. Neal Richman provided the practical, technical knowledge that launched me into the affordable housing field, where I’ve been ever since. “The Built Environment” with Professor Loukaitou-Sideris informed me as a citizen as well as a professional.

Was there a moment or a person that was critical to your Luskin School experience?

I’m a lifetime member of the Shoupistas.

What is your perspective on the importance of field work for students? Do you see that as an essential component of education in the field of public affairs?

I came to school having worked for two years for a city planning department on their general plan. It gave me a good structure on which to hang what I was learning. Field work can also provide that structure.

What is something people might not understand about the importance of your work, impact of funding and the Luskin School?

I attended UCLA at a particularly tumultuous time. In the face of budget cuts, Chancellor Charles Young was defunding all the schools that educated people for professions in public service. At the same time, the business school was moving into a gorgeous new building. A year after I left, Ward Connerly led the UC Regents to end affirmative action. But Luskin and its stakeholders are not without remedies. If those of us who care about this school want to see it thrive as a diverse and equitable institution, we need to pay for that.

How has philanthropy impacted you in your own life?

Philanthropy can fund those things that the government can’t or won’t, but which are critical to delivering on your mission.

How have you seen the impact of your philanthropy play out?

I try not to. I’m helping a couple of young students I know with their college expenses and the only stipulation I made was, “No gratitude.” You have to trust the people you hand your money to. Then don’t bug them.

What values do you hold closest in your life and work?

Sometimes you need to sublimate your values to those of the people affected by your work. Listen as long and hard as is necessary to understand. The people you need to hear aren’t necessarily speaking your language. Be fierce, not popular.

Dean’s Message

June 20, 2024/0 Comments/in Luskin Forum Online Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris /by webteam

I am writing this note at a time when UCLA and many other universities around the country are in a state of upheaval, conflict, anger and sorrow. War and violence are still raging in Gaza. In the United States, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests have become common occurrences on university campuses. Academic officials are caught between often conflicting responsibilities — to uphold freedom of speech and the right to protest, while also ensuring safety, well-being and a welcoming environment for everyone regardless of their political views. As we witnessed during the violent confrontations that took place at a pro-Palestinian encampment on our campus this spring, efforts to satisfy this dual mandate are not always successful.

In the past, social causes often have served to unite university communities around an overwhelmingly shared view during controversy. This time, it is different. The core issues are complex, divisive and deeply tied to individual identities and beliefs. As a microcosm of society, UCLA faculty, staff, students and alumni encompass a wide range of characteristics and perspectives, many of which inform passionate opinions about the tragic ongoing developments in Gaza. Significant, deeply held divisions exist about the Middle East and what type of responses are appropriate to the related protests at UCLA and other universities.

The path forward is uncertain, but I feel strongly that the most important role that universities can play is to foster tolerance, openness and appreciation of our disparate identities, ideologies and religions. Universities have been and should remain society’s premier public forums — places where competing ideas are nurtured and conflicting ideologies are given opportunities for explanation, discussion and thoughtful debate. Universities foster scholarship, which helps us understand the historical roots, context and impacts of current events and policies. Through a deeper understanding, we seek to promote sound policy solutions and compassionate responses to conflicts. We treasure diversity — not just in gender or ethnicity or upbringing, but in ideas as well. The Luskin School must seek to lift up all voices and provide a place where competing ideas are not just tolerated but welcomed.

This issue of Luskin Forum was in production before conflicts on campus came to a head. Even so, in some ways it exemplifies the power of our School as a public forum. One example is the Luskin Briefing in Sacramento, which in mid-February brought together in the state’s capital an assemblage of scholars and Advisory Board members with senators, assemblymembers and other state officials to discuss two issues of vital importance in California: water management and housing affordability.

Later, the sixth annual Luskin Summit provided a wonderful forum for discussion of a variety of topics and policy responses to extremely pertinent issues in Southern California. Panels on mobility, transportation infrastructure, elections, governance, climate resilience and equity were bookended by presentations from two prominent public servants. Former Los Angeles Councilman and County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky opened the Summit with findings from the ninth Quality of Life Index, a survey that presents the pulse of Angelenos on important matters affecting the region. And Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass closed the event in conversation with Jacqueline Waggoner, president of our Board of Advisors and an urban planning alumna. In a frank, open-ended Q&A with Waggoner and the audience, the mayor related her vision regarding the city’s efforts on homelessness.

These two events highlighted the terrific research carried out by UCLA Luskin scholars and the School’s many research centers. Additionally, our continuing series of Luskin Lectures furthered our mission to serve as a public forum. This year, attendees heard from former L.A. Laker and current housing developer Devean George and others working to advance real estate development in Black neighborhoods. Professor Barbara Ransby of the University of Illinois, Chicago, delivered a Luskin Lecture on the “new McCarthyism” on college campuses. And the series featured a joint presentation by three UCLA Luskin alumni who now serve as elected or appointed government officials — Lourdes Castro Ramírez, Caroline Menjivar and Isaac Bryan — on their efforts
to address homelessness and the affordable housing crisis.

These events represent just a few examples of the academic environment’s potential at its best — a positively transformative agent for society, one that espouses diversity and tolerance of ideas and people. I remain proud of our university and the Luskin School, and I know that our academic community will survive the traumatic experiences of recent months and continue to thrive.

Anastasia

Alumni Accolades Career changes and other updates from alumni of the various departments at UCLA Luskin

June 20, 2024/0 Comments/in Luskin Forum Online /by Les Dunseith

Katie Pool MSW ’15 has dedicated her professional endeavors to clinical oncology and palliative care. With LCSW, APHSW-C and OSW-C certifications, she is a recognized expert in providing compassionate support to adults navigating the challenges of cancer, neurodegenerative conditions and other serious illnesses.

Erika Cervantes MPP ’20 is part of this year’s HOPE Leadership Institute, which trains professional Latinas in California in leadership and advocacy skills to create fundamental change in their neighborhoods and across the state.

Chuck Gatchell MPP ’05 started a new position as vice president of brand concepts and Olympics at Nike.

Karleigh Shepard MPP ’22 is now a communications specialist at UC Davis.

Ali Panjwani MPP ’16 is the founder and CEO of Merit Medicine, which secured a $2 million seed round to research new ways to manage health-care costs, particularly for self-funded employers.

Estefany Garcia MURP ’23 is now senior policy analyst with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services.

Jessica Ramakis MPP ’03 is now a Town Council member in Vienna, Virginia.

Martin Reyes MURP ’18 is now principal transportation planner in government affairs at the San Francisco County Transportation Authority.

Donte Boyd Social Welfare PhD ’19 received the Deborah K. Padgett Early Career Achievement Award from the Society for Social Work and Research. The award recognizes innovative work that influences the social work profession.

Elizabeth Solis-Molina BA in Public Affairs ’23 joined the Luskin School Development team as the new fundraising coordinator.

Maxwell Albrecht MURP ’18 is now a housing finance consultant at California Housing Partnership.

Greer Cowan MURP ’23 started a new position as air pollution specialist at the California Air Resources Board.

Alejandra Garcia MPP ’23 is now government affairs manager at Comcast.

Jenny Yu MURP ’16 is now vice director for professional development for the American Planning Association in California, Orange County section.

Sean Kennedy Urban Planning PhD ’18 is now deputy director of energy investments at California Strategic Growth Council.

Alumni Notes Engagement events promote 'a vibrant and interconnected community of alumni'

June 20, 2024/0 Comments/in Luskin Forum Online /by Les Dunseith

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.”

Luskin Up-Close Office of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations emphasizes connectedness to UCLA Luskin at every stage.

June 20, 2024/0 Comments/in Luskin Forum Online /by Mary Braswell

By Mary Braswell

Supporting students’ career goals, caring for their well-being and keeping them engaged after graduation are responsibilities of the Office of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations. In its second year after a staff reorganization, OSAAR emphasizes connectedness to UCLA Luskin at every stage.

Signature initiatives that offer the opportunity for mentorship and networking include the Senior Fellows program, which pairs graduate students with leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. And the Bohnett Fellowship, which places students in roles at Los Angeles City Hall, this year included a trip to the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C.

In its 18th year, the annual UCLA Luskin Day at Los Angeles City Hall brings Public Policy, Social Welfare and Urban Planning graduate students together with government and civic leaders. This year’s focus: How will the city prioritize first- and last-mile transportation investments ahead of mega-events including the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Summer Olympics?

The Paint & Sip session in February was a wellness event offering a chance to build community. Photo by Mary Braswell

OSAAR also hosts career fairs, panels with employers and alumni, and special offerings like a LinkedIn photo shoot — 204 professional headshots taken this year!

And wellness programs relating to housing support, navigating conflict, dealing with stress and managing finances are offered all year long, as are referrals to UCLA’s array of student services.

This year’s events included a “Paint and Sip” organized in partnership with the UCLA RISE Center (Resilience In Your Student Experience). Students came together to re-create their “happy place,” turning the Public Affairs Building’s 3rd Floor Commons into a safe space for relaxation, creative expression and community-building.

After graduation, alumni bonds are strengthened at gatherings around the country and during informal Cafecito and Aperitivo meetups around Los Angeles.

Thriving at 25 Founded amid budget turmoil as an experiment in policy education, UCLA Public Policy is now among the country’s top programs

June 20, 2024/0 Comments/in Luskin Forum Online /by Stan Paul

By Stan Paul

UCLA Luskin Public Policy has grown from upstart to leader among programs of its kind in just 25 years by stressing world-class scholarship and an interdisciplinary teaching approach.

Archie Kleingartner, the founding dean of what is now the Luskin School of Public Affairs, said it was the first new professional school at UCLA in over three decades. It merged existing Social Welfare and Urban Planning departments with a fledgling program in public policy at a time when teaching programs in public policy and related fields were flourishing elsewhere.

The School emerged from what Kleingartner describes as a complex, four-year process of deliberations and restructuring to serve a mandate to make deep cuts from UCLA’s professional schools amid a budget shortfall. As UC’s systemwide vice president for academic staff and personnel relations, Kleingartner chaired the committee that determined the need to restructure the professional schools.

“The centerpiece of this effort needed to include a robust expansion of the commitment to public policy,” Kleingartner recalled. The result has proven successful. “What the Chancellor and Board of Regents hoped to achieve when they approved the new school has in fact exceeded all expectations.”

Kleingartner served as dean from 1994-96, followed by the first permanent dean, Barbara J. Nelson. He praises today’s high research output and the quality of the faculty in policy fields, plus the School’s public service contributions — all visions that have transformed into actions.

“A growing cadre of alumni and recognition among experts and decision-makers add to the School’s prestige,” Kleingartner said. “UCLA is making a clear and visible contribution toward the public good through the Luskin School of Public Affairs.”

Emily Williams MPP ’98, the 2005 Alumna of the Year, would agree. As part of the School’s first class, she often had to explain at first what a Master of Public Policy was and had even developed an elevator pitch.

“Nobody knew what it was, let alone the acronym MPP. I mean, even among policymakers. It just wasn’t a term of art at the time,” Williams said. “I remember every single job interview, I had to explain it.”

Williams, who is now chief executive officer at UCLA-UCSF ACEs Aware Family Resilience Network (UCAAN), said, “Looking back 26 years after I graduated, what’s so great is I don’t have to explain what public policy is, and what that carries in this region is enormous.”

Marking 25 years since the first cohort of Master of Public Policy students graduated, a series of speaker events and alumni panels highlighted the program’s accomplishment during a monthslong commemoration. The speaker series featured four Alumni of the Year honorees who shared insights on the state of policymaking and the value of their Luskin educations.

The speakers and honorees included Assemblyman Isaac Bryan MPP ’18, who also participated in two other Luskin School events highlighted elsewhere in this issue of Luskin Forum.

Additional alumni speakers included Regina Wallace-Jones MPP ’99, CEO and president of ActBlue, a technology nonprofit that facilitates online donations to progressive organizations and candidates; and Sandeep Prasanna MPP/JD ’15, a senior legal advisor who served as investigative counsel on the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“The thing they say about law school is that they teach you how to think like a lawyer,” Prasanna told the audience in February. “What I feel I learned at Luskin was how to do.”

Prasanna received his alumni award from UCLA Luskin’s newest chair of Public Policy, Robert Fairlie.

Commenting on his role, Fairlie said, “Teaching in the MPP program and being involved in alumni events has been extremely rewarding and inspiring. It is exciting to see what amazing things our graduates are doing.”

Also playing a key role has been Maciek Kolodziejczak, the department’s graduate advisor in 1996 when the first cohort arrived in Westwood. Although officially retired from the university since 2017, he has continued to participate in and influence the department, playing a major role in organizing the anniversary events.

“I started with the first class, so I didn’t recruit them — I received them,” Kolodziejczak said. “They were a class of 18, and I got to know each of them … [that’s] the fun part and the exciting part,” he said.

He described the first class as entrepreneurial trailblazers for taking the leap into “an unknown program with no reputation, no alumni and no track record.”

Kolodziejczak continued, saying, “They were just very willing to take the risk, and so there was just a kind of an esprit de corps among the class.”

UCLA Public Policy graduates now serve throughout the local, national and international levels. Among them is 1999 MPP alumna Nathalie Rayes, whose appointment as ambassador to Croatia is covered on page 4 of this edition.

In a UCLA Daily Bruin story, Rayes commented, “The importance of service is something that is part of my DNA. And so when the president calls you and says, ‘You know, I have a job for you: Would you like to be ambassador to Croatia?’ you say, ‘Yes.’”

Longtime UCLA Luskin Professor Mark Peterson also has seen Public Policy develop from over the years, calling it “the little engine that could.” Its high national standing “is remarkable given the fact that all of the top-ranked programs are older, most by decades, and almost all of them have vastly larger faculties than we do.”

Master of Public Policy — and MPP — now garner an immediate reaction, said Williams, who now also teaches a class at the Luskin School.

“I don’t even have to say UCLA, people know what the Luskin School of Public Affairs is, and that carries so much weight and merit. The Luskin name has really made the brand.”