CHAIR’S LETTER
Edith Wharton once wrote, “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” As I step into the role of Chair of the UCLA Chancellor’s Society, I am inspired by these words and excited to work with you to build and strengthen the fabric of UCLA and reflect its impact in the communities where our students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and supporters study, work, and live.
My journey to UCLA began in my childhood in Hull, Massachusetts. Images of Royce Hall, the Rose Bowl, and UCLA’s reputation as an academic superpower inspired me to “go west” and explore new horizons. The Olympic flags were still flying when I stepped onto campus in the Fall of 1984. The next five years (yes, I was on the five-year plan) as an undergraduate flew by, changing the trajectory of my life, bringing unimagined opportunities and immense joy.
Many years later, when the indefatigable Judy Levin invited me to join the Chancellor’s Society as a volunteer, I eagerly accepted the chance to reconnect with the university and ensure those same opportunities remain available to new generations of students. Each time I step onto campus, listen to a renowned professor discuss her research, learn about the lives impacted at the hospital, or attend a performance, my Bruin pride swells.
UCLA stands at an exciting inflection point. We are at the pinnacle while simultaneously embarking on new journeys. With the appointment of a new chancellor, the expansion of our campuses, entry into B1G, and our commitment to educating more low-income and first-generation students, UCLA is stepping further onto both the national and international stages. The university’s impact on California and on modern society is enormous and growing.
The Chancellor’s Society, which began as a leadership annual giving stewardship program, has evolved into a unique recognition and engagement platform. We welcome donors who give $1,000 or more annually across campus. We align with current fundraising practices, support our peers and colleagues in various academic divisions, professional schools, and programs, and bring their work to our members. By supporting programs meaningful to you, you become part of a dedicated group of supporters, with opportunities to deepen your connection and expand your impact, to be both the candle, and the mirror.
Thank you for your dedication and support. I am excited about the future of the UCLA Chancellor’s Society and look forward to the remarkable journey ahead. Please feel free to reach out to me with any thoughts, questions, or suggestions. Together, we will continue to inspire, innovate, and lead.
Go Bruins!
Paula Judge ’89
Chair, UCLA Chancellor’s Society
UCLA CHANCELLOR’S SOCIETY: CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
UCLA Chancellor’s Society hopes you all had a wonderful summer! We warmly welcome our students, to a new academic year at UCLA – just named the nation’s No. 1 public university for the 8th year in a row! With gratitude, we are happy to announce that UCLA received a transformational $120 million gift, among the largest in UCLA’s history for the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy. Dr. and Mrs. Michelson’s remarkable gift will have an impact that will extend decades into the future and will change countless lives here and across the globe.
Join us next month, November 17 to midnight November 23 for UCLA’s 13th annual Blue and Gold Challenge. Please watch your email to get notified when the website goes live and help us meet our challenge goal! Along with several announcements you may have seen over the summer, we also share with you a message that Interim Chancellor Hunt shared about UCLA’s programs and operational changes that will be put into place to promote inclusive excellence:
Our Four-Point Plan for a safer, stronger UCLA
UCLA #1 Public University 8 Years Straight
Announcing a Transformational Gift
To keep up with UCLA in the news, please visit the UCLA Newsroom.
UCLA Chancellor’s Society: Events
Chancellor’s Society is looking forward to meeting and reconnecting with our bruin community at our exclusive events and tours this fall quarter. This is our second-year hosting On the Road events, where we travel to different regions and meet bruins where they are! This month we were in Washington D.C. and we hope nothing more but to have reinforced bruin bonds out in D.C. We encourage you all to watch your email for our next event! Please see below for some wonderful photos of our Chancellor’s Society members at our events earlier this year.
STUDENT HIGHLIGHT
“The generosity of my donors has inspired me to give back by supporting future students, just as they have supported me. I am deeply grateful to my donors for believing in me.”
Desiree G. ’27 is an Earth and Environmental Science major at UCLA. As a first-generation Latina, an important deciding factor for attending UCLA was being able to find a community. Through her scholarship, she has found a sense of belonging on campus. She now serves as both a mentor and the Social Media Coordinator for the Chuck Lorre Scholars Program. Additionally, she is actively involved with Hermanas Unidas (a Chicana/Latina group at UCLA focusing on academic, community service, and social activities) and the Academic Advancement Program (AAP). Receiving scholarship support not only provided financial security, but gave Desiree the confidence to pursue study abroad, internship, and research opportunities. Desiree is hoping to continue her passion for environmental sustainability by applying to graduate study programs. With scholarships, she has been able to embrace all that UCLA has to offer and explore the possibilities of her future without limitations. “The generosity of my donors has inspired me to give back by supporting future students, just as they have supported me. I am deeply grateful to my donors for believing in me. Your generosity has made this incredible journey possible, and I hope to one day pay it forward just as you have done for me.”
If you would like to learn more about how you can continue to support our current and future Bruins through Financial Aid & Scholarships, please reach out to our Office of Scholarships & Student Support Initiatives at uclascholarships@support.ucla.edu.
AMBASSADOR HIGHLIGHT
In almost every academic field, members of the UCLA Chancellor’s society help to accelerate discovery that has the potential to make a worldwide impact. This article, we are thrilled to feature Randy and Jan Kessler ’75, chair emeritus of the UCLA Chancellor’s Society, and their philanthropy to help realize a brighter future for patients facing Alzheimer’s disease.
Jan and Randy have been longtime loyal Bruins and members of the Chancellor’s Society, a campuswide leadership annual giving program that recognizes donors who give $1,000 or more per fiscal year. Jan dreamed of going to UCLA since she was a child and graduated with a degree in sociology in 1975. She started volunteering with the Chancellor’s Society in 2008 when the couple’s son Drew began attending UCLA in 2007. During this time, she and Randy learned a tremendous amount about Jan’s treasured alma mater and became familiar with UCLA’s Alzheimer’s disease research and Dr. Carmichael’s work through their involvement. Read full story here.
JOIN THE TEAM!
Become a Chancellor’s Society Ambassador! The UCLA Chancellor’s Society Ambassador program is available to any active Chancellor’s Society-level donor. There are several volunteer subcommittees that you can join to be an Ambassador. Activities can include making phone calls, writing letters, attending events, and taking part in call-a-thons. Ambassadors work with Chancellor’s Society staff and partner with campus groups (including professional schools, Alumni Association, Athletics and more) to support events and initiatives across campus and provide peer to peer engagement with donors.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Lucy Tseng, Director, at chancellorssociety@support.ucla.edu.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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