James B. Milliken named next president of the University of California
The University of California Board of Regents has appointed James B. Milliken as the 22nd president of the UC system, which encompasses 10 campuses, six academic health centers and three national laboratories. Milliken, who since 2018 has been serving as chancellor of the University of Texas system, has a strong background in higher education leadership, including as head of the City University of New York system and the University of Nebraska system. As the new president of the University of California, he brings a proven track record of enhancing graduation rates and securing research funding, and he has prioritized increasing access to education for low-income students. With nearly 300,000 students, UC plays a critical role in California's higher education landscape and contributes
approximately $80 billion in economic activity to the state, educating young people, producing breakthrough research and contributing to the communities that are home to the system’s campuses.
Chancellor Julio Frenk goes to Washington
Chancellor Julio Frenk made his inaugural trip to Washington, D.C. as leader of UCLA in late April. He took the opportunity to introduce himself to and connect with several members of the California Congressional delegation. Over two days, he met with both of California’s U.S. senators, Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, as well as 12 of the state’s representatives in the House to discuss important matters such as college campus climate issues and the need for robust federal investments in student financial aid and science and research. Chancellor Frenk also attended an alumni event where he engaged with alumni to share his vision for UCLA's future.
UCLA Law hosts gathering of Native American judges
On April 17, the UCLA School of Law’s Native Nations Law and Policy Center hosted a panel with five of the six sitting Native American female federal judges. This historic event emphasized civic awareness, Indian law education, and the importance of inspiring future generations. Judge Diane J. Humetewa, the first Native American woman to serve as a U.S. federal judge, highlighted the need for greater Native representation in the legal field.
UCLA highlights community college partnerships
On May 2, UCLA joined L.A. Harbor College (LAHC) at a transfer recognition ceremony to celebrate students for their achievements and their admission to a four-year university. During the event, UCLA presented LAHC with a “Community Partner” banner to help highlight several partnerships between the two schools. One of those programs, the UCLA Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP)
, aims to increase transfer rates and success of underserved community college populations by equipping students with skills and knowledge to advocate for themselves and become leaders in their communities. The ceremony featured several speakers, including LAHC President Dr. Luis Dorado, California Assemblymember Mike Gibson, UCLA Alumni President Paco Retana ’87, M.S.W. ’90, UCLA Assistant Vice Provost Leigh Harris from the Division of Undergraduate Education, and Claudio Salcedo, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Partnerships and Director of CCCP. The event also included representatives from the offices of L.A. Councilmember Tim McOsker, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, and Congresswoman Nanette Barragan, as well as parents, family and friends of the students.
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.
2025 Bruin Excellence in Civic Engagement
UCLA Alumni Affairs and UCLA Government and Community Relations invite nominations for this year’s Bruin Excellence in Civic Engagement honor, which recognizes exceptional alumni for their contributions to civic leadership and community improvement. Nominations should demonstrate how the nominees are improving the quality of life in their communities, through political and/or non-political processes and organizations.
Apply or nominate an outstanding Bruin to celebrate their impactful work in the community! Nominations are open until June 18.
Improving transit connections between the Valley and the Westside
On April 23, UCLA Alumni Affairs in collaboration with UCLA Government and Community Relations hosted a hybrid town hall to provide information on the future Sepulveda Transit Corridor (STC) project, the potential benefits it could have for the campus community and how alumni can get involved during this pivotal year. The speakers, all UCLA alumni, shared information on Metro's
plans to connect the San Fernando Valley and the Westside through the Sepulveda Pass. If built right, the STC will provide equitable and accessible rail service to approximately 85,000 daily commuters to UCLA and the Westwood area, improving access to major employment, education, healthcare, athletics and cultural centers across the greater L.A. region. UCLA is a member of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor for All (STC4All) Coalition
that includes nearly 100 organizations and hundreds of individual supporters. At the event, speakers emphasized the need for community involvement and encouraged participants to engage in this potentially transformative advocacy effort.
The 2025 UCLA Luskin Summit brought together government officials, scholars, and advocates to address the severe impacts of the January wildfires and the complicated task of reconstruction. The event focused on rebuilding, recovery, and resilience, showcasing research and actionable insights from UCLA Luskin experts and policy makers.
Sanjay Mohanty, an associate professor with UCLA's Samueli School of Engineering, conducts free soil testing for homeowners impacted by the Pacific Palisades and Altadena wildfires through the Community Action Project–Los Angeles (CAP.LA)
. Supported by the R&S Kayne Foundation, this initiative tests soil and water samples for heavy metals and pollutants to help homeowners ensure their properties are safe. Mohanty also researches the effects of urban development and climate extremes on soil and water quality.
The UCLA School of Law's Judge Rand Schrader Pro Bono Program mobilizes students to provide essential legal assistance to Southern California communities in the wake of the January Eaton and Palisades fires, which displaced more than 100,000 residents. By partnering with local public interest legal organizations, students gain hands-on experience while helping survivors navigate FEMA applications, insurance claims, and tenant rights through shifts at FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) sites at UCLA Research Park in West L.A. and in Pasadena. More than 120 students logged 947+ pro bono hours supporting displaced residents.
Confronting L.A.'s affordable housing crisis
The recent UCLA Ziman Center’s Affordable Housing Policy Brief featured an interview with Lourdes Castro Ramírez, CEO of the Housing Authority of City of Los Angeles, discussing challenges in addressing L.A.’s housing crisis. Castro Ramírez ‘ 94, M.A.‘03 leads the second largest public housing authority in the nation, serving over 200,000 individuals.
Federal cuts jeopardize Latino access to Medi-Cal
Potential federal Medicaid cuts pose a special threat to Latino Medi-Cal beneficiaries, who represent more than half of the program’s 14 million enrollees. These funding reductions could impose work requirements and restrict eligibility for essential care, significantly impacting children, working-age adults, and seniors. A new UCLA data brief by the Latino Policy & Politics Institute underscores the critical role of Medi-Cal in promoting community health and economic stability while highlighting the social and economic risks of decreased funding.
How to cut through climate apathy
A recent study by researchers at UCLA and Princeton reveals that presenting climate change data in binary terms—such as whether a lake froze in winter—can effectively combat climate apathy compared to showing gradual temperature increases. Researchers, led by UCLA's Rachit Dubey, found that when participants understood the immediate impact of changing conditions on local activities, such as ice skating, they registered a 12% greater importance of climate change than those who viewed continuous temperature data. The study emphasized the need for effective communication about climate change by illustrating specific, localized consequences rather than just gradual trends. The findings could prove useful for policymakers and communicators as they attempt to convey to the public
the urgent need for climate action.
The UCLA Emmett Institute's "Charging Ahead" symposium brought together more than 175 participants to actively explore strategies for reducing vehicle pollution in the next four years. California Attorney General Rob Bonta delivered the keynote address, highlighting the urgency of protecting climate policies despite political challenges. The event featured panels focused on advancing zero-emission vehicle adoption, transforming urban fleets through place-based strategies, and enhancing public transit systems. Speakers emphasized the need for innovative state-level funding to support clean technology development and called for collaboration to tackle vehicle pollution effectively.
UCLA recently hosted a workshop addressing challenges in automated vehicles, vehicle-to-everything connectivity, and innovative mobility services. Local transportation stakeholders, government officials, business representatives, and researchers attended the event, which examined the impact of smartphone-driven apps on transportation. Participants discussed optimizing access to the Athletes Village for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Jiaqi Ma, director of UCLA's Center of Excellence on New Mobility and Automated Vehicles, stressed the need for collaboration among government, industry, and academia to tackle mobility challenges and develop solutions. California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin acknowledged the commitment of participants to advancing mobility technologies
across the state.
NIH grants $2.1 million for AI-driven diabetes research
An interdisciplinary team comprised of researchers from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to improve diabetes risk assessment using artificial intelligence. This four-year project creates AI models to track disease progression and enhance risk assessment, focusing on practical solutions that can work across various healthcare systems
Discover how UCLA's students, staff, and faculty are enhancing the well-being of Greater Los Angeles through UCLA Community Partnerships.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT UCLA Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP)works to increase transfer rates and success of underserved community college populations, across greater Los Angeles, by holistically equipping students with skills and knowledge of available transfer pathways to gain admission to 4-year universities. UCLA CCCP contributes to the scholarship that focuses on transfer research issues (research, policy-making, publications, etc.) ultimately enhancing transfer sending and transfer receptive culture through the leadership and success of our peer mentors, and scholars and alumni and through the collaboration of staff and faculty at universities and community colleges.
