Charles E. “Chuck” Young, the youngest chancellor ever appointed in the University of California system and the only UCLA alumnus to hold the campus’s top position, passed away on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at the age of 91 at his home in Sonoma, California due to natural causes. He served as the chancellor of UCLA for a record 29 years, and his legacy still echoes throughout the Westwood campus. “During his long tenure, Chuck Young guided UCLA toward what it is today: one of the nation’s most comprehensive and respected research universities and one that is profoundly dedicated to inclusiveness and diversity,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block. “He faced head-on the many challenges of his
time, and his principled leadership positioned UCLA to meet the many challenges of the future.”
President Joe Biden awarded the National Medal of Science to Shelley Taylor, a UCLA Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology, at a White House ceremony on October 24. Established by Congress in 1959, this award is the highest scientific honor in the nation, and is administered by the National Science Foundation. During the award ceremony, President Biden praised Taylor's pioneering research on mental health and the impact of human connection. He acknowledged her contribution to the fields of social cognition, health psychology, and social neuroscience. He also credited her work with improving the well-being of the nation.
Looking ahead to the fall, Chancellor Block provided an update on some of the latest developments at UCLA. Among them, the Nimoy Theater has opened its doors to host a diverse range of performances, talks, and workshops. Additionally, UCLA is taking significant steps towards promoting interdisciplinary studies by launching the first bachelor's of arts in disability studies in the UC and Cal State systems. Chancellor Block also highlighted the progress towards achieving the federal designation as a Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI).
UCLA celebrated its Latinx Welcome event earlier this month, acknowledging progress towards becoming a Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI). To achieve this designation, UCLA must have 25% of students identifying as Latino and 35% of all undergraduates receiving Pell Grants. The university is taking several steps, such as hiring faculty and staff to support Latinx students, providing seed grants for scholarships, and establishing the HSI Fellows Program. Becoming an HSI will allow UCLA to receive federal grants for educational programs, research training, and academic achievement for underrepresented students.
The Federal Highway Administration has awarded a 5-year, $7.5 million grant to UCLA to establish the Center of Excellence on New Mobility and Automated Vehicles. The center will research the impacts of new mobility technologies and automated vehicles on the evolving transportation system. The Mobility Center of Excellence, funded through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will assess impacts on land use, transportation system optimization, equitable access to mobility and job participation, and municipal budget and cost-effective allocation of public resources. The center is set to launch in November and will publish research findings to empower state and local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and commercial
operators in making informed decisions.
UCLA Law is expanding its global reach by launching Promise Europe in The Hague, building on the success of the Promise Institute for Human Rights. This initiative aims to provide a wider international platform for UCLA Law's research, teaching and advocacy in the field of human rights. The institute will work closely with policymakers, practitioners and academics in the international human rights community, offering unique opportunities for students to learn and collaborate. Kate Mackintosh, an experienced international lawyer and human rights activist, will lead Promise Europe and steer its vision towards a more just and equitable world.
The new Latino Data Hub, launched by the Latino Policy and Politics Institute, is an important initiative that aims to offer a more accurate understanding of the diverse Latino populations in the country. This tool provides customizable, disaggregated data visualizations in key areas such as health, education, employment, and citizenship for various Latino groups. The main objective of the hub is to assist advocates, policymakers, community organizations, and researchers in developing data-driven solutions that create stronger Latino communities.
The University of California Sentencing Project published a report on the impact of long-term sentencing in California’s women’s prisons. The study aims to take a close look at the conditions and effects of long-term incarceration, especially on women, trans and non-binary people. California has the highest rate of people in women’s prisons serving a life sentence, with one in four sentenced to life without parole. The study brought together 22 participants for in-depth interviews and group discussions. The report emphasizes that sentencing is a multi-faceted process that involves an array of social processes and state actors. It focuses on themes found in the stories of those currently and formerly
incarcerated and highlights the harm and violence of long-term sentencing that may span generations.
Abraham Amiri, who escaped the Taliban, is pursuing his passion for astronomy — and inviting the UCLA community to join in. He spent six years traveling through Afghanistan teaching astronomy. Many of his students were girls and young women. Now, every Wednesday in UCLA’s Court of Sciences, Amiri sets up a telescope for passersby to learn about his planetary passion.
According to a new genomic study conducted by UCLA, the Eastern North Pacific fin whale breeding population witnessed a decline of 99% in the 20th century due to extensive whaling. However, because there is enough genetic diversity, current conservation measures should help the population rebound without becoming inbred. It is important to note that the future of fin whales in the Gulf of California is dependent on the recovery of the Eastern North Pacific population.
Gerardo Moreno, chair of the UCLA Department of Family Medicine, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), one of the highest honors in the fields of medicine and health. Moreno is recognized for his outstanding professional achievement and community service, and is cited by the academy as "one of the most influential young Latino academic leaders in family medicine and health care." He is a clinician investigator whose research focuses on effective health care delivery for vulnerable populations, and is also the executive director of UCLA PRIME-LA, a joint-degree program for diverse physician leaders who address the needs of underserved communities through patient care, public policy, and research. Moreno
joins 42 UCLA faculty members previously elected to NAM.
UCLA Health's TechQuity Accelerator launched its second edition in September, with eight companies selected to participate. The program focuses on creating innovative healthcare tools and services that provide equitable access for vulnerable populations. This year's participants are working on transformative solutions for mental health, addressing chronic diseases, skin cancer prevention, safety net programs, and women's health. The accelerator provides student interns from local community colleges, with BioscienceLA subsidizing internships through its BioFutures Internship Program. It aligns with UCLA’s broader educational commitment to build a diverse life science workforce, in partnership with UCLA Biodesign and BioscienceLA.
The program aims to provide career-building opportunities for people from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
