Chancellor Julio Frenk gets a warm Los Angeles welcome at City Hall
On March 21, Chancellor Julio Frenk met with local officials, business leaders, and community members in the Mayor Tom Bradley room at Los Angeles City Hall to celebrate the century-long partnership between UCLA and the city. During the event, he shared his life’s journey and commitment to public service, emphasizing that UCLA is not just a university in Los Angeles but of Los Angeles. He noted that a third of the 15-member City Council are UCLA alumni and highlighted the university's community initiatives focused on clean energy, homelessness, and health care, along with its collaboration with the Los Angeles Unified School District. Councilmember and UCLA Law alum Katy Yaroslavsky introduced him in a packed City Council chamber, where he stood with his partner, Dr. Felicia Marie
Knaul, and university leadership, marking his entry into Los Angeles' civic life.
UCLA engineers aid L.A.’s wildfire recovery
Following the severe wildfires in Southern California this January, faculty and students from UCLA's Samueli School of Engineering mobilized to aid recovery efforts. They collaborated with local and federal agencies on field reconnaissance and conducted research on soil testing and waste safety. As Los Angeles rebuilds, researchers urge policymakers to focus on long-term wildfire resilience by investing in slope stabilization and runoff management to prevent landslides, while also calling for comprehensive water management strategies that align fire suppression with agricultural sustainability. Additionally, they highlight the potential of AI-powered detection systems to enhance fire response times, showcasing UCLA’s commitment to using engineering expertise to support communities
during crises.
In conjunction with the University of California system, UCLA is working to support members of the campus community and provide Bruins with legal, informational, and emotional support services. This commitment includes safeguarding the rights of international and undocumented students, offering privacy protections regarding their immigration status, and providing resources that help students navigate their rights. Additionally, UCLA has launched a federal updates webpage to keep the community informed about policy changes and ensure clear communication.
Symposium: Women in Stem Cell Science
The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA celebrated its 20th anniversary by hosting the inaugural Women in Stem Cell Science Symposium on March 6. Judith Gasson, UCLA medical school senior advisor for research and innovation, moderated the event which featured panelists who shared their groundbreaking research and personal experiences in STEM. Chancellor Frenk emphasized the ongoing need for equal representation of women in science and called for efforts to secure a diverse future in scientific leadership. The conversation highlighted opportunities for strengthening mentorship, leveraging philanthropy to fund transformative research, and the urgent need for accessible regenerative medicine therapies.
The UCLA School of Dentistry’s Special Patient Care Clinic has secured a $4.2 million grant from the state of California, enabling a significant expansion that will enhance its capacity to treat medically compromised patients. This funding, part of the California Health Facility Financing Authority's Specialty Dental Clinic Grant Program, represents the clinic’s largest contribution to date and will allow the addition of new patient treatment spaces and increased admissions in the general practice residency program. With this expansion, UCLA will reduce long wait times for patients and provide better training opportunities for dental students and residents in special patient care, ultimately improving access to essential oral health services.
A new hub for UCLA students
The Latinx Success Center will soon open on the UCLA campus with a celebration on Cesar Chavez Day. The center will provide support for students and the community as part of UCLA's efforts to become a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution. This initiative, developed by a diverse coalition of staff, faculty, students and alumni, addresses the academic and social needs of UCLA's Latino population, which makes up 24.2% of undergraduates and about 39% of Californians overall. The center, set to officially open on March 31
, will provide advising, mentorship, and culturally responsive services to enhance student experiences and retention. In announcing the center, Chancellor Frenk, the university’s first Latino chancellor, and Dean Adriana Galván stressed the importance of inclusivity. Student voices have been integral in shaping the center to meet their needs and strengthen their sense of belonging at UCLA.
The UCLA Luskin Office of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations (OSAAR) plays a crucial role in preparing the future workforce of Los Angeles through targeted professional development and networking opportunities for students. The office introduces students to the work of professionals, activists and others involved in Los Angeles civic life. On recent tours to firms such as Estolano Advisors and Better World Group, students in public affairs and urban planning have the opportunity to engage directly with industry experts, gaining insights into diverse career paths. OSAAR continues to expand its initiatives, emphasizing the importance of building connections between students and industry leaders, thereby ensuring that UCLA graduates are well-equipped to contribute to the evolving
landscape of Los Angeles.
Real estate experts release report focused on wildfire rebuilding
The January 2025 wildfires ravaged Los Angeles, destroying over 16,000 structures and 40,000 acres, leading to widespread displacement and strain on the housing market. In response, the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate, the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, and the Los Angeles chapter of the Urban Land Institute assembled about 100 experts to create Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles after the January 2025 Wildfires. This thorough report outlines a roadmap for recovery and resilience, addressing key challenges with recommendations such as standardizing debris removal, fast-tracking rebuilding processes, resolving construction labor and supply chain issues, stabilizing the property insurance market, forming community rebuilding authorities to coordinate recovery efforts, and securing funding for infrastructure restoration focused on preparedness.
The future of fire
Joan Chimezie, a graduate student in the Geography Department, showcased her wildfire research at the California Council on Science & Technology (CCST) Science Week in Sacramento this February. As one of 15 selected Science Translators, she discussed the importance of clear science communication in informing policymakers about wildfire management and climate resilience. Her research includes a long-term look at vegetation and fire history in Plumas National Forest, site of the Paradise Fire in 2018.
Can science survive politics?
In a recent seminar at UCLA, acclaimed sci-fi author Kim Stanley Robinson emphasized the critical role of science in shaping the future despite the distractions of politics. He highlighted the urgent need for a global energy transition and warned that defunding scientific research could have dire consequences, potentially shortening lifespans for billions of people. He cautioned against the dangers of self-censorship among federal science agencies and called for proactive optimism rather than defeatism. Imagination and scientific inquiry, he said, are essential for a sustainable and livable future
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain recently criticized the abrupt layoffs of more than 800 meteorologists and staff at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), nearly 10% of its workforce. He warned that these reductions threaten climate research, public safety and economic stability, potentially resulting in preventable deaths during extreme weather events. NOAA’s critical role in providing life-saving forecasts makes these cuts particularly concerning, he said, as the private sector cannot quickly fill the gaps.
What’s the deal with tariffs?
In a recent Q&A session, economist and tax law expert Kimberly Clausing from UCLA Law examined the impact of tariffs, particularly in light of President Trump's proposals to use them as a fiscal policy tool. Clausing explained that tariffs function as consumption taxes, disproportionately impacting poor and middle-income individuals by raising the prices of imported goods and domestic competitors. She highlighted common misconceptions, noting that tariffs can complicate U.S. production by increasing costs for industries reliant on imported intermediate goods. Clausing argued that the broad use of tariffs today is misguided, as they harm international relations and can negatively affect exporters.
Climate Action Day showcased talks and discussions on sustainability. Watch the highlights, including UCLA research summaries and a panel on investing in sustainability.
Artificial intelligence and prostate cancer UCLA researchers discovered that artificial intelligence can enhance prostate cancer treatment outcomes by identifying men who will benefit from partial gland cryoablation, a minimally invasive procedure for localized tumors.
UCLA wins grant for next-gen cellular immunotherapies UCLA’s Theodore Scott Nowicki received a $4.5 million award to enhance cellular therapies for solid tumors. The funding will help test these advanced T cells for more effective, precise treatments.
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
The Center for Community Engagementcreates opportunities for UCLA faculty, students, and staff to collaborate with community partners to build an equitable and just society through community-engaged research, teaching and community programs.
