“Transcendently psychedelic.” That’s how designer, illustrator and art director ERIK CARTER describes the visuals he created to convey the “unique, magical experience” of college for our story by Jonathan Riggs that explores the question of whether pursuing higher education is still worth it. Carter is grateful that colleges and universities are available to students who understand their value, even as the institutions, which he calls a “foundation of our country,” weather persistent attacks from all sides. Carter has designed for Verso Books, The New York Times, MIT Technology Review, The New Yorker and New Directions. He is also a writer, exploring the ethics, contradictions and futures of visual communication in his essays. His first book of essays, Design Harder, was published in 2025 by Book Ideas and is currently in its second printing.

Veteran journalist BLAIR R. FISCHER wrote our story highlighting the work of UCLA political science professor Jeff Lewis on Voteview.com, the online resource that tracks congressional roll call vote data across history and geography. "I'd always just assumed that all things related to congressional ideologies were easily attained via a simple Google search,” says Fischer. “It's nice to know there are other databases out there doing the heavy lifting." Fischer’s reporting and writing have appeared in esteemed publications, such as Rolling Stone, Playboy, the Chicago Tribune, ESPN The Magazine and Entertainment Weekly, among others.

She’s a fourth-year sociology major with a minor in education, but Bruin GABRIELA JAQUEZ is no doubt far better known as a star guard for the UCLA women’s basketball team. Last season, for the very first time in program history, the team made it to the storied Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, a journey Jaquez recounts in a touching tribute essay in this issue. “It’s been better than I could have ever dreamed,” she says of her time so far in Westwood. “It’s been so much fun to have this college experience at UCLA, and to be on an amazing basketball team, and to just experience life outside of basketball.” Does Jaquez think the Bruins will get to this year’s tournament, and this time make it all the way? “Of course!” she says with a laugh. “Of course I do.” We do, too.

“Time is one element that you can’t always get into a painting, but this came close,” says MICHAEL PARASKEVAS of his simple, animated illustrations that accompany our tribute to the late legendary UCLA urban planning professor Donald Shoup. Although he has lived and worked in the Hamptons for more than three decades, Paraskevas says, “There is something about the light in L.A. that’s always intrigued me. I know the area of UCLA, and from the first time I ever set foot in Los Angeles, I felt like I had been there before.” Paraskevas’ work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, Time, Town & Country, New York Magazine and Rolling Stone. He has also written and illustrated 24 children’s books with his mother, Betty, and is currently developing a new prime-time animated series with his wife, Maria.

“I love talking to anyone who can push my worldview a bit,” says SALEEM RESHAMWALA, a filmmaker whose work exploring culture, ethnicity and music has taken him to more than 50 countries. In this issue, he interviews Zoë Ryan, the director of the Hammer Museum at UCLA. “The way Zoë arrives in new places, listens and then figures out what people want to experience was surprisingly similar to the work of documentary film,” he says. “I loved her description of London’s National Gallery being a sort of ‘front room’ for her as a child, and how its being free, like the Hammer, allowed that.” A contributor to The Guardian and PBS, Reshamwala was recently nominated for an Emmy for his work on implicit bias for The New York Times.

For this issue, photographer JESSICA SAMPLE took pictures of Zoë Ryan, director of the Hammer Museum at UCLA. “This was shot at a hidden, peaceful place in the middle of Los Angeles,” Sample notes. Ryan posed in the Hammer’s courtyard, a calming oasis that feels a world away from the busy intersection of Wilshire and Westwood boulevards just outside the museum’s walls. Sample’s connection to UCLA extends beyond her wonderful photos for this issue: Her parents met and fell in love as students on campus in the late ’60s and early ’70s. 

IN MEMORIAM

We all have that co-worker who, when things are harried and hard and hectic, you turn to and say, “I’m sorry to ask, I know you’re swamped, but can you possibly help with this?” And they always say yes. HEATHER CISNEROS, our incredibly talented Senior Production Designer, was that person for all of us at UCLA Magazine. A convivial and supportive colleague, she never lost her cool, never turned down a task or request or a chance to be helpful. For 12 years, her stellar, inventive design work was a key reason why UCLA Magazine became one of the most awarded college publications in the country.

Heather passed away suddenly in early February, after several years of challenging health issues. She was 54. 

Heather never complained, and her genial warmth and beatific smile made her a steady and reassuring presence on our team. I cannot recall a single instance where she was ever unkind, impatient or testy. We will miss her dearly, and we will strive to live the example she set. And we wish you all the chance to work with someone as supportive, nurturing and loving as she was.                                                                   

—Michael Callahan, Editorial Director