Chancellor Frenk meets with state legislators in Sacramento
Dr. Julio Frenk made his first trip to Sacramento as chancellor of UCLA. While there, he met with state legislative leaders and attended the 2025 UC legislative reception, welcoming both new and returning state elected officials. The event honored Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin as UC Legislators of the Year. During his meetings with state leaders, Chancellor Frenk emphasized UCLA’s concerns regarding the proposed cuts to the University of California outlined in the governor's January budget proposal. He also provided updates on UCLA’s response to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles and across the region. The conversations reinforced UCLA’s commitment to enrolling California residents, including transfer students, and highlighted the university's role
in expanding opportunities for students from all backgrounds.
A New Chancellor, A New Era
Even before coming to UCLA, our new chancellor’s work and devotion to service had won him acclaim and elevated him to significant positions in government and academia. Now Julio Frenk prepares to steer UCLA into the future.
The University of California emphasizes public service as a fundamental mission, and that is reflected in the significant number of UC alumni who hold elected positions at various levels of government and represent diverse communities and priorities. For example, more than 66 UC graduates currently serve in the U.S. Congress and the California State Legislature, including 17 members of California’s Congressional delegation. In a recent interview, Representative Vince Fong, a UCLA alumnus, stresses the impact of his education and experiences at UCLA on his commitment to public service. He notes that discussions in political science classes and an internship on Capitol Hill shaped his career path. As Representative Fong begins his first full term representing California’s
20th Congressional district, he reflects on how UCLA nurtured his passion for civic engagement.
Darnell Hunt, UCLA’s executive vice chancellor and provost, received the Hall of Fame Award at a Black History Month ceremony held at Los Angeles City Hall for his influential work as an academic leader and advocate for media diversity. Hunt, a longtime professor and administrator who has authored several books on media, race, and culture, founded the Hollywood Diversity Report to examine the impact of racial and gender politics in the entertainment industry. He previously directed UCLA’s Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies and has consistently pioneered efforts to advance diversity, equity, and social justice. He was one of 13 individuals honored for their impact on culture, education, public service, and the arts.
Tackling the city's homelessness crisis has been a priority for Mayor Bass since her first day in office. Early in her term, she appointed Lourdes Castro Ramírez, a UCLA alumna, to serve as the city’s homelessness czar. In less than a year, Castro Ramírez helped expedite the approval process for more than 20,000 affordable housing units and collaborated with various agencies to support thousands of unhoused individuals. Castro Ramírez, who emigrated from Mexico at the age of four and grew up in a working-class family, became an advocate for her community even before graduating from UCLA. Initially pursuing engineering at UCLA, she switched to a double major in political science and Chicano studies, while also mentoring middle school girls through Latinas
Guiding Latinas. Her recognition of the vital role of social policy and affordable housing developed during her graduate studies in urban planning, setting her on a path in community development. In December, Castro Ramírez became president and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), the second-largest housing authority in the country. With her extensive experience across federal, state, and local administrations, she is well-positioned to foster cooperation among agencies to address this critical issue.
George Papandreou, former prime minister of Greece, presented a vision for strengthening democracy during his talk at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center on January 22. He emphasized the need for a "new democratic social contract" to address challenges like climate change and inequality, proposing measures such as banning unlimited corporate donations, restoring democratic education, and introducing wealth taxes. He urged citizens to expand their imagination for a better future, recalling the democratic ideals of ancient Greece. Papandreou also expressed empathy for those affected by recent wildfires in Los Angeles, relating it to similar disasters in Greece.
The state of public transit finance
Brian D. Taylor, professor of urban planning and public policy with the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies, provided an overview on the state of public transit finance during a February 6 informational hearing of the California State Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. His presentation covered ridership trends over the last decade and how those impact fare revenues.
There are 99 neighborhood councils (NCs) in the city of LA, and 88 of them will hold elections this year. Unlike other city, state or federal elections, voting in a NC election or running as a candidate is open to more than just the residents of a community. Anyone who lives, works, attends school, or is in a community organization within a
neighborhood council district can vote or run for a board seat, regardless of citizenship or registration status. However, you must request a ballot by March 10 in order to vote; your normal voter registration does not apply. All NC elections this season will be vote by mail, and all ballots must be postmarked by March 18, 2025.
In 2022, California college students gained access to the CalFresh food assistance program, but a UCLA study reveals that nearly 45% of food-insecure students have never used it, with 9% unaware of its existence. Food insecurity harms students' health and academic performance, contributing to lower grades and higher dropout rates. Researchers point to challenges such as understaffed offices and poor coordination with county CalFresh programs. They recommend that colleges enhance staffing in these offices, promote collaboration with financial aid, and improve outreach efforts to help students understand their eligibility, such as linking Cal Grants to CalFresh eligibility.
As Los Angeles faces a rebuilding challenge unrivaled in its long history, UCLA is mobilizing its diverse expertise through the Climate & Wildfire Research Initiative (CWRI). In the coming weeks and months, CWRI will gather important resources—including reports, tools, partnerships, opinion pieces, statements, and research—to combat disinformation. The initiative strives to provide clear answers to community members’ immediate questions and concerns, while also supporting rebuilding efforts that strengthen and prepare communities for the future.
A new report provides an initial assessment of the extensive losses and economic impact of the recent devastating wildfires. UCLA Anderson Forecast predicts a 0.48% loss in county-level GDP for 2025, amounting to approximately $4.6 billion. These estimates are based on various assumptions and may be subject to future revision.
Stephanie Landregan of UCLA Extension is lending her expertise to recovery efforts in Altadena.
NIH awards $20.6-million grant to establish virome center
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $20.6-million grant to UCLA to establish one of five Human Virome Characterization Centers (HVCCs), a significant investment in understanding the virome's impact on human health across the oral-gut-brain axis. Led by Yvonne Hernandez-Kapila from the UCLA School of Dentistry, this initiative brings together interdisciplinary experts from across the country, highlighting the need to explore the complexity of the human virome, which is largely uncharted despite the presence of over 380 trillion viruses in the body. The HVCC is working to set a baseline for identifying disease-associated virome changes, which could revolutionize early detection, diagnosis, and treatment, underscoring the importance of NIH funding to propel transformative
healthcare advancements.
The transformative impact of AI on diagnostics, patient care, and investment
At the 43rd annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, panelists from UCLA discussed how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare by enhancing diagnostics, patient care, and personalized medicine, while addressing the challenges of integration and investment in AI startups.
UCLA Magazine: Can UCLA really be America’s healthiest campus? UCLA boldly sets out to become a national model for healthy living through pioneering treatments, cutting-edge research, and meaningful outreach. Explore the innovative advancements and health initiatives at UCLA that are transforming lives and communities, and discover how you can actively participate in this vital mission for healthier living.
Toward cutting edge healthcare in Southern California Johnese Spisso, President and CEO of UCLA Health, discusses her journey from critical care nursing to executive leadership. She highlights UCLA Health's use of AI, expansion of mental health services, and advancements in CAR T-cell therapy, all while emphasizing a patient-first approach and commitment to community care in Southern California.
Discover how UCLA's students, staff, and faculty are enhancing the well-being of Greater Los Angeles through UCLA Community Partnerships.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
The Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) is an academic preparation program that works towards expanding postsecondary education opportunities for California's educationally disadvantaged students by providing academic advising, enrichment, and workshops.
