Alumni newsletter updates for ucla alumni in public policy, social welfare and urban planning
SEPTEMBER 2014
events & opportunities in this issue 1 Events
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Alumni Highlights
Zócalo/UCLA: Will Downtown LA Rival the Westside? September 29 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Peterson Automotive Museum Speakers include: Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris RSVP HERE
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Career Corner
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Alumni Corner
Evening with Janette Sadik-Khan October 1 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm UCLA Luskin Commons RSVP HERE UCLA Luskin Open House October 2 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm UCLA Luskin RSVP HERE Martin Wachs Distinguished Lecture in Transportation October 9 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm UCLA Luskin Commons RSVP HERE
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Social Welfare Alumni Reunion 1950’s and 1960’s classes October 14 11:30 am - 1:30 pm UCLA Faculty Center RSVP HERE Zócalo/UCLA: What Could Speed Up LA Traffic? October 14 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm MOCA Speakers include: Brian Taylor, PhD ’92 and professor of urban planning RSVP HERE
Luskin Lecture Series: “American Winter” Film Screening and Discussion October 21 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm UCLA Faculty Center RSVP HERE NASW-California Annual Conference October 24-25 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Burbank, CA UCLA Luskin Honorees: Marilyn Montenegro MSW ‘71; Alex J. Norman PhD ’74 and professor emeritus; Fernando Gil-Torres, professor of social welfare RSVP HERE Global Public Affairs Lecture: Jaime Lerner October 28 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm UCLA Luskin RSVP HERE United Way HomeWalk with UCLA Luskin November 15 8:00 am – 10:30 am LA Coliseum RSVP HERE Transforming Mad Science and Reimagining Mental Health Conference November 13-15 Culver City Doubletree Hotel RSVP HERE Transportation Career Panel October 28 12:15 pm - 1:30 pm UCLA Luskin Panelists include: Trent Lethco MURP ‘98; Allison Yoh MURP ‘08; Katherine Perez-Estolano MURP ‘96; Diego Cardoso MURP ‘89 RSVP HERE
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
-nelson mandela
alumni HIGHLIGHTS career updates: where are they now William “Bill” Fulton MAUP ‘85 Director of Kinder Institute of Urban Research at Rice University
Anubha Prakash Jain MPP ‘10 Corporate Philanthropy Manager at Silicon Valley Community Foundation Andy Hanau MPP ‘10 Senior Performance Auditor at City of San Diego
Herschel Knapp PhD ‘01 Adjunct Faculty teaching Social Science Research Methodology at USC Social Welfare school
Frances Nedjat-Haiem MSW ‘10 Associate Professor at New Mexico State University
Dale Wong MPP ‘04 Financial Analyst at Northern Arizona Healthcare Theresa Hastert MPP ‘05 Postdoctoral Fellow at Karmanos Cancer Institute
Max Messervy MPP ‘11 Manager, Insurance Program at Ceres, Inc.
Logan Elliot MPP ‘09 Litigation Associate at Venable LLP
Brenda Pérez MURP ‘12 Community Planner at Federal Transit Administration
Celina Kamler MPP ‘09 Program Manager at Raising a Reader of San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
Chloe Green MURP ‘13 Program Manager at Health Leads
publicactions & presentations Paul Weiberg MPP ‘98 Article, “13 minutes on June 7” appears in the International City/County Management Association - click here for article
Celeste Drake MPP ‘02 Featured in “The Hill” discussing global trade – click here for article
David Vernon Silva MSW ‘00 Featured in National Association of Social Workers (NASW) – click here for article Jaime Nack MPP ‘02 Presented on women’s leadership at White House Briefing – click here for article
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Have any updates to share? Send your notes to yadi@luskin.ucla.edu.
career Resources 5 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL CAREER TRANSITIONS According to the Wall Street Journal, among the most repeated labor claims is that the average employee will have several careers in their lifetime. Reasons vary from career satisfaction to changes in career goals. Below are some tips to help with a successful career transition. 1. Research and seek help Ask friends and colleagues in the field for advice, mentorship and connections. Additionally, do extensive research on your target industries to identify required skills (O*Net Online is a great resource, visit www.onetonline.org). Once you have identified what industry you want to target, begin immersing yourself in their terminology. Subscribe to industryspecific online newsletters and blogs, join professional groups online and attend networking events or conferences to learn more about the industry and meet new people. This will give you the opportunity to gain valuable insight into the field and expand your network. 2. Know your strengths and acquire new skills Successful career transitions rarely occur without acquiring new skills. Take a skills assessment test to understand your current skills and identify the gaps you need to successfully transition into your new career. Make your professional development a priority and devote time every week to skill-building activities. 3. Maintain current employment If you dislike your current job, think of it as a temporary situation that provides steady income while you are searching for new opportunities. This positive spin will enable you to maintain focus, build momentum and motivate you to actively pursue other positions. 4. Plan on the unexpected A career transition rarely goes to according to plan. Keep an open mind about the new skills you are acquiring because your job search might lead you in an unexpected direction to a job you will love. 5. Have patience and maintain positivity For many, making a career transition is challenging and time-consuming. It could take several months to acquire new skills and job search; many career coaches agree it takes an average of 8 months to find a new job. It may be necessary to compromise on compensation and job title in your next job in order to eventually lead you to your targeted role. Think of this job as a ‘bridge job’ that will connect you to your dream job.
Reference: Careerealism Magazine: http://www.careerealism.com/career-transition-tips/ The Ladders: http://info.theladders.com/blog/bid/153552/Ask-Amanda-5-Tips-onMaking-a-Career-Transition
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alumni corner Alumna Jaime Nack Discusses Female Entrepreneurs at the White House
Jaime Nack (MPP ’02), second from the right, middle row Jaime Nack (MPP ’02) was at the White House on September 24 to join fellow National Women’s Business Council Members for briefings with senior White House staff and representatives from Congress to discuss policies that impact women entrepreneurs and business owners. Nack, who is founder and president of environmental consulting firm Three Squares Inc., participated in the briefings as the youngest member of the Council and represented entrepreneurs under the age of 40. She also contributed her expertise in the arenas of clean technology and environmental consulting. “It is an honor to serve on the Council and work to build out an ecosystem that encourages economic growth for women entrepreneurs,” Nack said in a press release. “The government has the ability to further spur business growth and it is encouraging to see legislature like Senate Bill 2693 - The Women’s Small Business Ownership Act of 2014 – which supports the efforts of the 8.6 million women-owned small businesses across the country by providing women’s small business counseling, small business contracting, and access to capital.” The National Women’s Business Council is charged with serving as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues important to women business owners. Members of the Council are prominent business owners and leaders of women’s business organizations. Nack is a two-time UCLA Bruin. She holds a master’s degree in Public Policy, as well as a bachelor’s degree in International Economics with a minor in Urban Planning. “The network I created at UCLA was instrumental in launching a career that has led me from corporate strategy sessions to White House environmental briefings,” Nack has said. “I’m incredibly thankful.”
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Do you have articles, accomplishments, special projects or announcements to share? Please send ideas and content to yadi@luskin.ucla.edu.