Friday

Jason De León, Professor of Anthropology and Chicana/o Studies

Since the mid-1990s’, the U.S. federal government has relied on a border enforcement strategy known as “Prevention Through Deterrence.” Using various security infrastructure and techniques of surveillance, this strategy funnels undocumented migrants towards remote and rugged terrain such as the Sonoran Desert of Arizona with the hope that mountain ranges, extreme temperatures, and other “natural” obstacles will deter people from unauthorized entry. Since the 1990’s, thousands of people have died as a result of this policy. In this talk I discuss how anthropology and archaeology can help us understand the violent social process of clandestine migration and the implications of the many lives lost during the process. In addition, I describe an ongoing global exhibition called Hostile Terrain 94 (HT94) that seeks to raise awareness about this issue.

Connie Kasari, Distinguished Professor of Human Development and Psychiatry

Autism is one of our fastest growing populations in schools. However, if you have met one person with autism you have met one person. Autistic individuals vary tremendously from those who cannot speak and have significant support needs to those who have genius levels of intelligence. Understanding why there is such variability, and how to personalize interventions is a major focus of research. This talk will discuss how autism is currently conceptualized, the experience of autism in school, and current efforts of intervention science to personalize support.

Lauren Ng, Assistant Professor of Psychology

Almost 80% of children in the US will experience a traumatic event, and approximately 7% will have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) before they turn 18. Low-income youth and youth of color are even more affected. PTSD in adolescents is associated with a vast range of poor health, academic, and social outcomes. While effective treatments exist, very few adolescents receive them. How can we do better? In this lecture, Professor Ng will explore questions relevant to this topic including definitions and descriptions of trauma and PTSD, related mental health disparities, treatment options for youth, factors impacting the effectiveness and accessibility of care, and strategies we might employ to improve treatment access and outcomes for all.

School of the Arts and Architecture
Broad Art Center Plaza
Dean Brett Steele

Samueli School of Engineering
Court of Sciences
Dean Alissa Park

The Herb Alpert School of Music
Dickson Court South
Dean Eileen L. Strempel

Luskin School of Public Affairs
Dickson Court North
Interim Dean Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris

School of Education and Information Studies
Royce Hall
Dean Christina A. Christie

School of Nursing
Royce Hall
Dean Lin Zhan

School of Theater, Film and Television
Coral Tree Walk, south of Macgowan Hall
Interim Dean Brian Kite

UCLA College

The five divisions of UCLA College and the International Institute span research and teaching in the liberal arts and sciences.

Division of Humanities
Dickson Plaza
Dean Alexandra Minna Stern

Division of Life Sciences
Dickson Plaza
Dean Tracy L. Johnson

Division of Physical Sciences
Dickson Plaza
Senior Dean Miguel García-Garibay

Division of Social Sciences
Dickson Plaza
Interim Dean Abel Valenzuela Jr.

Division of Undergraduate Education
Dickson Plaza
Dean Adriana Galván

International Institute
Dickson Plaza
Vice Provost C. Cindy Fan

Achuta Kadambi, Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, UCLA

Today, billions of light-based medical sensors are used by hospitals to measure quantities like blood flow, temperature, oxygenation and more. Just as a soap dispenser may not always work for those with dark skin, a light-based medical device has fundamental challenges with signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio, and measurement accuracy. To solve this problem, and make devices more inclusive and even more accurate (for everyone), we need to rethink the sensing process. We draw from a paradigm of “equitable computational imaging”, where we co-design the optical sensing and computation layers to resist bias. Removing biases in both hardware and software, attacks the root causes of bias at the physical layer (e.g. light-based reflections). We will discuss new types of equitable imaging systems that measure heart rate and blood volume (contact-free and wirelessly); synthetic data pipelines that model melanin content; and theoretical results on dataset composition.

Karen McKinnon, Assistant Professor; Departments of Statistics and Data Science, and Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, and the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

The nine hottest Northern Hemisphere summers on record have all happened in the past nine years, including 2023, which featured the hottest month on record. While we have understood that the earth will warm in response to increasing greenhouse gas emissions for more than 150 years, recent summers have brought the realities of global warming to the forefront of public awareness. In this lecture, Professor McKinnon will discuss the science of climate change, with a focus on summer heat extremes. We will explore questions including: Why are summertime heat extremes warming more than global mean temperature, often used as a metric of climate change? Are heat extremes changing faster than expected? How is humidity changing on hot days, and what are the implications for wildfire?

Laura Wray-Lake, Professor of Social Welfare

Young people have abundant potential to act as positive change agents and address society’s problems locally, nationally, and globally. Today’s youth are rapidly reimagining what it means to be civically engaged. They have led movements from Black Lives Matter to March for our Lives to Fridays for Future, and they create change in big and small ways to improve society and advance equity and justice. Yet, young people do not become changemakers overnight. Professor Wray-Lake will highlight how families, schools, and communities support young people’s development into changemakers and how, knowingly and unknowingly, adults create major barriers to youth civic engagement. It is time to consider youth as leaders and how we can follow or get out of the way.

Through an innovative approach to career and professional development, UCLA actively supports the career needs of all students and alumni at every phase of their journey. During this interactive session, staff will talk about the programs and resources that play an essential role in your Bruin’s lifelong professional success.

Nearly one-third of the UCLA undergraduate population are first-generation college students.* Parents and family members of first-generation Bruins are invited to join the First to Go program and First-Generation Alumni Network to hear stories of the successes and challenges of current students and alumni, learn about the resources available to first-gen students and their families, and spend some time mingling and getting to know each other.

*Note: At UCLA, a “first-generation college student” is identified as a student whose parent/guardian have not received a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree.

UCLA’s fraternity and sorority community has provided a home away from home to students for 100 years! Hear more from current fraternity and sorority leaders representing all 6 Greek councils about their experiences and role within the Bruin Greek Community that has been thriving since 1923. Also learn about how you can support your student as they become involved in a fraternity or sorority. This session will include opening remarks by Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life staff and a Q&A panel of fraternity and sorority students.

Study abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and a Bruin’s family and loved ones are an important part of this journey. Come learn about how students can make academic progress towards their degree, regardless of major, while traveling the world, and how families can support their Bruin in their study abroad goals.

This workshop provides information on AAP and its services. Engage in conversation with the AAP staff about the resources and programs available to historically underrepresented students. Learn about the support available to family members of students who may be the first to attend a university. The session includes opening remarks by AAP Director Charles Alexander and a Q&A panel of AAP staff and students.

Through an innovative approach to career and professional development, UCLA actively supports the career needs of all students and alumni at every phase of their journey. During this interactive session, staff will talk about the programs and resources that play an essential role in your Bruin’s lifelong professional success.

Enhance your academic and professional experience with UCLA Summer Sessions. Learn about the extensive opportunities for students offered each summer, including hundreds of courses that can help you get ahead in your degree and specialized Summer Institutes that provide hands-on, career preparatory experiences. Explore how you can incorporate Summer Sessions to maximize your time at UCLA.

Parents and families of transfer students, please join us for an informal gathering to learn about how your student can maximize the Transfer Student Center, UCLA Alumni Association, plus many other resources during their time at UCLA. You will hear from staff, students, and the Transfer Student Alumni Network, and have the opportunity to connect with each other. We look forward to seeing you there!