As we look ahead to the holiday season, I look back at this autumn — my first at UCLA — with deep gratitude. The excellence and energy of our students, the achievements and passion of our faculty, and the spirit of our entire Bruin family gave us an extraordinary start to the academic year.
Earlier this fall, we cheered when UCLA alumnus Fred Ramsdell Ph.D. ’88 was awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. By uncovering a gene mutation that spurs the body to attack itself, he advanced a new treatment strategy that uses immune cells to halt autoimmune diseases like arthritis, multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease. His discoveries continue to shape therapies that improve — and save — lives.
The honor kicked off a remarkable week for the University of California system, as UC faculty and alumni, including former UCLA professor Omar Yaghi, won five Nobel Prizes across medicine, physics and chemistry — the most ever awarded to a single institution in one year. These recognitions remind us of the impact our faculty make on the world through scholarship, service and discovery.
This fall also brought an exemplary incoming class of students to campus. Our first-year students come from 47 states, Washington, D.C., and more than 65 countries. One in five first-years ranked in the top 9% of their high school class, and nearly a quarter are the first in their families to attend college. Among our transfer students, 40% are first-generation.
The optimism of these students inspires me, particularly as UCLA — and universities across the nation — face a consequential moment. Recent federal actions have disrupted research and teaching. And while we respond to this moment, we must also rise above it. Our core values and our mission — to educate, discover and serve — have guided UCLA through every major challenge of the past century. And they continue to guide us now.
This fall, that shared purpose spurred us to launch One UCLA — a collective vision for the university’s future. It was shaped by more than 6,300 voices, including those of alumni, in this year’s Listening Exercise. We are moving that vision forward through four flagship initiatives.
The first initiative, UCLA Connects, builds bridges of understanding within our campus and with the world beyond it. Through campus dialogues, community partnerships and programming inspired by the values of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are strengthening our culture of mutual respect. The launch of our new Office of Inclusive Excellence and our Initiative to Combat Antisemitism are important steps toward a safer, more welcoming community for all.
The second initiative, the UCLA Research and Innovation Blueprint, helps us translate ideas into impact. The UCLA Research Park, with major projects in immunology and quantum computing, will expand our collaboration with industry, government and philanthropic partnerships. We are developing an innovation ecosystem that turns discoveries into life-changing therapies and technology.
The third initiative, UCLA for Life, reaffirms our commitment to championing education in all its forms — from expanding lifelong learning and professional development to enhancing the classroom experience through instructional design and emerging technologies, including at UCLA Downtown.
The fourth initiative centers on institutional effectiveness. Here, our North Star will be to ensure that the resources entrusted to us by society add maximum value back to society, while protecting our academic core.
Each of these initiatives reflects something essential and shared: a deep belief in UCLA’s role in building a better future — and a community determined to shape that future together. Thank you for being part of that community. Your continued engagement and support inspire our work every day.
Let’s stay connected. And let’s remember: We are One UCLA.
Read more from UCLA Magazine’s Fall 2025 issue.
