UC President Michael V. Drake speaks at the 9th Annual Winston C. Doby Distinguished Lecture

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Dr. Michael V. Drake, President of the University of California, spoke at the 9th annual Winston Doby Lecture hosted by the Academic Advancement Program (AAP) on Thursday, February 22. 

Drake’s keynote address highlighted Dr. Doby’s ongoing legacy. Dr. Doby, a longtime champion for diversity and equity, founded AAP during his tenure at UCLA. The program continues to provide academic support and resources for first-generation college students, students from low-income families, and students from historically underrepresented communities.

Throughout the address, Drake emphasized the importance of active listening to develop a deep understanding of other’s perspectives – only with this deep understanding can we create pathways to a more equitable future. 

During a moderated conversation with Dr. Adriana Galván, Dean of Undergraduate Education, Drake highlighted the impact of AAP’s work to continue illuminating the path forward for historically underrepresented students at UCLA.

Photography by Vince Bucci

Arushi Avachat selected as 2024 Marshall Scholar

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Arushi Avachat, who plans to graduate in June with degrees in English and political science and a South Asian studies minor, is the latest UCLA student to win the prestigious Marshall Scholarship.

Avachat worked with the UCLA Center for Scholarships & Scholar Enrichment to complete her application and prepare for the interview. The center provides writing workshops, individual counseling, interview preparation and assistance with institutional endorsements to UCLA undergraduates who are applying for scholarships.

Students’ community service projects earn Strauss scholarships

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A program that provides career mentorship to college students and recent graduates on the autism spectrum and those with developmental disabilities. Another that ensures children in the Mojave Desert will continue to learn about healthy eating and sustainability from their elementary school garden. These difference-making initiatives are the beneficiaries of help from two UCLA students who each won one of this year’s Donald A. Strauss Foundation scholarships for community service.

Social justice in the spotlight during UCLA Undergraduate Research Week

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An examination of how a museum exhibition that told the stories of HIV-positive people around the world through photographs they took of their daily lives affected people’s attitudes about HIV. An assessment of the effectiveness of a Los Angeles-area non-profit as it tries to empower Black and Latina girls to enact social change through research, training and community mobilization.