UCLA highlights partnerships with Downtown Magnets High School
On December 12, UCLA Government and Community Relations unveiled a new Community Partner banner at Downtown Magnets High School (DMHS), highlighting partnerships between UCLA and the high school that include the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) and the Riordan Scholars Program. EAOP collaborates with school administrators, counselors, and families to provide resources such as academic enrichment, college preparation, and financial aid workshops, aimed at supporting underrepresented youth. The Riordan Scholars Program mentors disadvantaged students interested in business and leadership. Principal Sean Teer welcomed more than 50 students and guests. Newly elected Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez and UCLA Interim Chancellor Darnell Hunt were among those who offered remarks. The event also
included program representatives from UCLA, DMHS and the Los Angeles Unified School District.
With more than 350 community programs and more than 1,250 community partner collaborations throughout the region, UCLA is deeply connected to the communities it serves. To learn more about these partnerships, visit the UCLA Community Partnerships website.
Steve Yu is chief financial officer and chief operating officer at UCLA’s South Bay campus, a significant expansion the university made after acquiring 36 acres of land from the former Marymount California University. With plans to open doors to students soon, Yu is leading efforts to create a campus that mirrors the Westwood experience while focusing on academic programs related to sustainability, climate change, and environmental justice. A UCLA alumnus with nearly three decades of experience at the university, Yu views this position as a unique entrepreneurial opportunity within a traditional academic institution. UCLA Newsroom spoke with Yu about the importance of building a sustainable ecosystem in the South Bay region, and why he thinks the name “UC Los
Angeles” might be a more appropriate moniker for the rapidly growing institution as UCLA ambitiously advances goal 1 of UCLA’s Strategic Plan: deepening the university’s engagement with Los Angeles.
UCLA Luskin undergrad Fiona Lu became a political activist in high school, driven by the belief that students can create real change. In November 2023, she co-founded the advocacy organization What We All Deserve, which was successful in supporting AB 1810 to provide incarcerated individuals with access to menstrual products. Through her involvement in student organizations at UCLA, she learned effective advocacy strategies, leading to valuable collaborations with state lawmakers such as Assemblymember Isaac Bryan and Senator Caroline Menjivar, both graduates of UCLA. Further refining her skills, Lu participated in UCLA’s summer internship program in Washington, D.C., where she engaged directly in the policy-making process. Through What We All Deserve, she and co-founder
Esther Lau hope to demystify advocacy and empower youth in California, Texas, and New York.
Vicente Diaz, an Indigenous scholar with roots in Pohnpei and the Philippines, recently took on an inaugural leadership role at UCLA’s American Indian Studies Center focusing on preserving Native canoe traditions and ecological knowledge. He previously founded the Native Canoe Program in Minneapolis, where participants learned traditional seafaring skills and ecological practices rooted in their ancestral heritage. Now at UCLA, Diaz promotes community engagement and fosters a sense of “Native peoplehood rebuilding” while advocating for an interdisciplinary approach to Indigenous studies. His appointment aligns with UCLA's efforts to increase the Native student, faculty, and staff population and deepen commitment to research and scholarship in Indigenous studies.
In 2019, the world was amazed by the first-ever image of a black hole at the center of the galaxy M87, captured by the Event Horizon Telescope. Recently, this black hole surprised scientists again with an intense gamma-ray flare, emitting energy billions of times greater than visible light. Researchers, including a team from UCLA, played a crucial role by analyzing data collected from the VERITAS telescope in Arizona, which helped detect the flare's significant luminosity changes. This collaboration among various observatories, including NASA's Fermi and the Hubble Space Telescope, provided essential insights into how particles are accelerated in the extreme environment surrounding black holes.
Faculty members named to National Academy of Inventors
Three professors from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering—Rafail Ostrovsky, Gaurav Sant, and Yang Yang—are among the newest fellows elected to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). This honor underscores their significant contributions to innovation and problem-solving in engineering, bringing UCLA's total number of NAI fellows to nearly 30, with 26 affiliated specifically with UCLA Samueli.
Sorting through the data avalanche: UCLA professors explore AI solutions
Scientists often struggle to make sense of vast amounts of messy data. Andrea Bertozzi, a distinguished professor of mathematics and mechanical and aerospace engineering at UCLA, leads a new initiative funded by a $4-million award from the Department of Energy. Her team develops tools to streamline data analysis. By using artificial intelligence, they effectively classify large datasets with minimal direct measurements, such as those gathered from satellites observing glaciers. Their new methods require far less training data than traditional approaches, making it easier to extract valuable insights.
UCLA experts on Malibu’s Franklin Fire
Severe fire risks in Southern California turned into reality with the Franklin Fire igniting in Malibu on December 9, forcing thousands to evacuate and burning over 2,500 acres. Interviewed about the fire, UCLA climate scientist Alex Hall discussed the ways that climate change intensifies the Santa Ana winds and increases wildfire risks. He explained that the dry and hot conditions fueling the Franklin Fire are similar to those seen during the recent Mountain Fire in Santa Barbara. With a mix of wet and dry seasons creating fuel build-up in wildlands, the rapid spread of the Franklin Fire poses a significant threat, especially near populated areas. Hall stressed the need for research to help policymakers protect communities and the environment, emphasizing strategies to reduce fire
ignitions and improve land management.
President-elect Donald Trump will return to the White House in January 2025, looking to implement economic policies from his 2024 campaign, such as new tariffs, deportations, and tax cuts. The UCLA Anderson Forecast predicts his policies could lead to higher prices for many goods and services due to tariffs, while labor shortages in industries like agriculture and construction may arise from mass deportations. The forecast also indicates inflation might exceed 3% in 2025, with national GDP growth remaining below 2%. California’s economy is expected to follow a similar growth trajectory as the national economy during this period.
Supreme Court considers Constitutional protections for transgender youth
On December 4, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of U.S. v. Skrmetti, which challenges Tennessee's law banning gender-affirming care for minors, a law that prohibits puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery for those whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. This legislation, one of 24 similar laws across the country, could have significant implications for more than one-third of transgender youth in the United States. Elana Redfield, the federal policy director at UCLA's Williams Institute, offers insights into the legal arguments, particularly regarding the application of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. A decision expected in June 2025, will shape future interpretations of transgender rights under the Constitution.
Sinatra family piano with storied legacy finds new home at UCLA
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music recently welcomed a historically significant Bösendorfer grand piano, donated by the Sinatra family. This 9-foot Model 275, once owned by renowned composer Jimmy Van Heusen, was moved to the school’s recording studio in a ceremony attended by faculty and Tina Sinatra. Despite its rich history and connection to the golden age of Hollywood, the piano had been in storage for more than 25 years before finding its new home at UCLA, where it will continue to inspire future musicians.
UCLA researcher receives NIH grant to investigate influenza-A-induced ARDS Andreas Schwingshackl, MD, PhD, division chief and associate professor of pediatrics at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, has been awarded a $3.86 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the role of TREK-1 potassium channels in the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a respiratory complication of flu infections, caused by influenza A.
UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital earns designation for excellence UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital has achieved the prestigious Level I designation in the American College of Surgeons Children’s Surgery Verification program, recognizing its commitment to high-quality pediatric care. It is one of just 55 centers in the U.S. to receive this recognition.
MDMA-assisted therapy promises enhanced recovery for military personnel A UCLA Health analysis led by psychiatrist Walter Dunn suggests that MDMA-assisted therapy could improve treatment outcomes for military personnel with trauma-related conditions beyond PTSD, especially those with neurological injuries.
Supporting Communities: UCLA's Impact
Discover how UCLA's students, staff, and faculty are enhancing the well-being of Greater Los Angeles through UCLA Community Partnerships.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
UCLA Health Sound Body Sound Mind (SBSM)has been a leader in youth health and wellness in Los Angeles for over 25 years, reaching nearly 200,000 students each year. The program focuses on providing equitable access to physical education and wellness resources at middle and high schools. Funded entirely by philanthropic contributions, the program supplies fitness equipment and wellness programs. Recently, UCLA SBSM celebrated the openings of fitness centers at Liechty Middle School, which received a $60,000 grant from the Henry L. Guenther Foundation, and Edison Middle School, which upgraded its facilities with a $25,000 reinvestment from the LA Dodgers Foundation.
