Left to Right: Gary Clark, Associate Vice Chancellor Enrollment Management; Howard Welinsky '72; Jennifer Poulakidas '89 Associate Vice Chancellor Government and Community Relations; Assemblymember José Luis Solache (D-Lakewood); Assemblymember Mark González (D-Los Angeles); Caleb Rabinowitz '18 Chief of Staff to Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Culver City); Janet Lopez Executive Director State Government Relations; Marvin Smith Executive Director Financial Aid and Scholarships
Assemblymembers José Luis Solache Jr. and Mark González visit UCLA
On February 20, UCLA Government and Community Relations, alongside senior campus leadership, welcomed Assemblymembers José Luis Solache Jr. and Mark González for a campus visit. During their time on campus, the assemblymembers participated in a roundtable discussion with the UCLA offices of Administration, Housing & Hospitality, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid & Scholarships, and Health. The roundtable highlighted UCLA’s far-reaching impact across the region and state, while also addressing key challenges the university faces.
UCLA launches campaign for student mental health
Colleges across the country, including UCLA, confront a growing mental health crisis, with rising anxiety, loneliness, and depression afflicting many students. In response, UCLA launched the "Hope Connects Us" campaign to enhance mental health support services, promote early intervention, and foster a culture of connection. Chancellor Julio Frenk emphasized the importance of a community-focused approach that encompasses promotion, prevention, protection, and preparedness to ensure every student feels supported and connected.
UCLA’s David Myers featured in PBS series on Black-Jewish history
UCLA historian David Myers and students from the university’s Dialogue Across Difference Initiative appeared in the PBS docuseries “Black and Jewish in America: An Interwoven History.” The series explores the intertwined relationship between Black and Jewish Americans. Myers contributed historical expertise to the program and stressed the value of understanding this relationship, particularly in today’s political climate. The documentary explores the importance of open dialogue and coalition-building as means of tackling societal divisions. It features students who discuss campus challenges and demonstrate the power of bridging differences.
Social Spotlight
Bruins make history
Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw is the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Cinematography. Arkapaw got her start taking a night class in cinematography at UCLA Extension.
UCLA Veteran of the Year
Daniel Martin, a graduate of the UCLA Extension Veterans Success Academy, received the 2025 UCLA Veteran of the Year award last November during a UCLA football game at the Rose Bowl. The Success Academy, a collaboration between UCLA Extension, the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, and UCLA Veterans Initiatives and Partnerships, helps veterans develop communication and teamwork skills for job-seeking success. Martin, a member of the academy's first graduating class in 2019, regularly shares his experiences as a guest speaker to inspire others.
New UCLA analysis finds post-pandemic shifts in California’s teachers
The recent analysis of teacher data from the California Department of Education, conducted by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools, reveals significant post-pandemic changes in the state's teaching workforce. The data shows a decline in experienced teachers and an increase in first-year and under-credentialed educators, particularly in crucial subjects such as English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. These patterns create pressing challenges but also open doors to improve preparation pathways, enhance retention efforts, and build a more stable and diverse teacher workforce in California.
Protecting California's kelp forests
A project funded by the California Ocean Protection Council and the Nature Conservancy enabled UCLA researchers to apply AI deep learning to generate high-resolution maps of California’s kelp forests. This technology allows precise tracking of kelp health and supports restoration along the coast. Using this new technology, scientists are able to pinpoint thriving or declining areas, so conservationists can deploy targeted responses. The effort is intended to safeguard coastal ecosystems that support fisheries, marine biodiversity, and recreation—strengthening both ecological resilience and the state’s economy.
What do we know – and need to know – about extreme heat?
With Southern California gripped by its first heat wave of 2026, UCLA’s Dr. David Eisenman, a physician and professor, highlights the dangers of extreme heat in Los Angeles, especially for lower-income neighborhoods affected by the urban heat island effect. These communities experience higher rates of emergency room visits during heat waves. To combat this, Eisenman recommends increasing tree canopies and improving roof reflectivity to reduce temperatures and health risks. He also urges residents to personally check on elderly neighbors during heat events to help prevent heat-related illnesses.
Road repair
Earlier this month, transportation planners and community advocates convened to examine environmental justice-centered approaches to freeway removal and community reconnection in California. The UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies organized the virtual mini-symposium. Participants delved into critical issues that transportation planners and policymakers face today.
UCLA researchers test soil for contaminants
UCLA researchers are collaborating with community organizations to test soil samples across Los Angeles County for contaminants like lead and heavy metals. At recent events, including one at a community garden in Watts, the team screened hundreds of soil samples and provided residents with consultations on improving soil health and safety. They emphasize the importance of offering accessible solutions, such as soil amendments and clean soil, to effectively reduce exposure risks.
COVID-19 viral fragments shown to target and kill specific immune cells
An international team led by UCLA researchers discovered that remnants of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein specifically target and deplete critical immune cells. The mechanism may explain why COVID-19 becomes severe in some patients. The fragments attack the structure of spiky dendritic cells and protective T cells. Notably, the Omicron variant damages these cells less severely, preserving more of the immune system. The findings open pathways to new treatments for managing severe COVID-19.
How UCLA researchers cleared the nanoscale bottleneck holding back next-gen electronics
Researchers at UCLA have made a significant breakthrough in improving the efficiency of perovskite semiconductors, which are key to advancing electronics. By enhancing how electrical current flows through these materials, they have the potential to create faster, more reliable devices that consume less power. This innovation could lead to the development of more efficient solar cells, sensors, and other electronic technologies, ultimately transforming how we use and interact with electronics in our daily lives.
UCLA Health complex planned in El Segundo
The UC Board of Regents approved a $298.2 million budget to transform an El Segundo office building into a UCLA Health South Bay complex, which will feature a Sports Medicine Institute, community pharmacies, and the relocated UCLA Clinical Microbiology Laboratory. Scheduled to begin construction in January 2027 and finish by June 2028, the facility will focus on providing comprehensive care for musculoskeletal needs by bringing together specialists in various fields such as sports medicine and orthopedics. Funding will primarily come from external financing supported by UCLA Health’s revenues, along with a $5 million grant aimed at promoting decarbonization. This project addresses capacity constraints and enhances resources for community health and surgical services in the area.
Universal, ready-to-use immunotherapy detects and destroys endometrial cancer
UCLA researchers created a CAR-NKT cell therapy that outperforms current immunotherapies against endometrial cancer. Unlike expensive, weeks-long custom treatments, this approach uses an off-the-shelf platform for faster, more affordable access. With preclinical studies complete, the team now prepares FDA applications to launch clinical trials.
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.
