Faculty

The formal ceremony installing Gene D. Block as Chancellor of UCLA is a community celebration involving students, staff, faculty and friends of the University of California.  Continue »
May 6, 2008

Saul Friedlander and Daniel Walker Howe are both members of the UCLA history faculty. And on the same day, their books were awarded Pulitzer Prizes.   Continue »
Apr 7, 2008

With help from Edgar Allan Poe, English professor Christopher Looby has resurrected a long-forgotten 1836 novel.   Continue »
Apr 6, 2008

The Distinguished Teaching Awards honor a select group of UCLA's finest teachers. Our 2008 winners talk about their philosophies of teaching.   Continue »
Mar 17, 2008

As an expert on presidential campaigns and elections, political scientist Lynn Vavreck finds 2008 a very busy year.  Continue »
Mar 10, 2008

Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape architecture, lives again in a one-man show by UCLA Extension instructor Don Marquardt  Continue »
Feb 11, 2008

Dr. Wayne Grody knows many people learn their science from entertainment and media. That's why this expert in genetic testing works on movies and tv shows.  Continue »
Jan 22, 2008

Have the CIA and FBI learned the lessons of 9/11? UCLA's Amy Zegart doesn't think so. But she doesn't agree with all the conclusions of the 9/11 Commission, either. Watch the sparks fly as ex-CIA agent Larry Johnson questions Zegart about her research.   Continue »
Jan 14, 2008

This anthropologist studies Tibet . . . not to mention local crime. He's joined forces with mathematicians and local police to bring innovative techniques to the study of crime.   Continue »
Dec 3, 2007

For the first time in 22 years, the Marching Band has a new uniform, with new UCLA blue coats. Band director Gordon Henderson is enthusiastic about the change.   Continue »
Nov 26, 2007

Marie Cowan, the dean of UCLA's School of Nursing, has been named a 'living legend' by the American Academy of Nursing. She has changed the profession in California and the nation.   Continue »
Nov 13, 2007

UCLA research Patricia Ganz is the top national expert on quality of life after breast cancer  Continue »
Oct 26, 2007

Eleanor Ochs studies the everyday lives of families. Some of her findings may surprise you.   Continue »
Oct 15, 2007

Christopher T. Russell, professor of geophysics and space physics, has spent 15 years working on NASA's Dawn mission to send a spacecraft to the doughnut-shaped asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.  Continue »
Sep 27, 2007

Meet UCLA's new chief executive: Gene Block is a scientist, a scholar, a car lover and a leader.  Continue »
Aug 1, 2007

When Norman Abrams agreed to be UCLA's acting chancellor, he didn't know that he would be plunged almost immediately into a yearlong series of challenges and crises.  Continue »
Jul 25, 2007

Danish folklore and ancient Rome are only two of the topics UCLA faculty are exploring via digital technology.   Continue »
May 7, 2007

As an international expert in crisis intervention and trauma response, Jorja Leap has dug into some of the world's toughest spots, from Kosovo to Ground Zero. Now she's working with L.A. gangs.   Continue »
Apr 1, 2007

Better known as a punk rock singer, Greg Graffin has a Ph.D. and teaches Life Science 1 at UCLA. The syllabus includes evolution.   Continue »
Mar 19, 2007

Norton Wise, co-director of the Center for Society and Genetics, is uniquely qualified to consider the future of science.   Continue »
Jan 15, 2007

Terence Tao, UCLA's first Fields Medal winner, lectures about prime numbers.  Continue »
Jan 8, 2007

Gene Block, former vice-president and provost of the University of Virginia, was confirmed December 21, 2006 as the ninth chancellor of UCLA. Block, who was chosen from a pool of about 100 candidates, plans to continue developing the University as a world-class institution, tackling such issues as diversity and cuts in government spending.   Continue »
Dec 21, 2006

Political science professor Matthew Baum has conducted a study that suggests that politically inattentive people who watch daytime television are 25% more likely to vote according to their values than those who don't.   Continue »
Nov 6, 2006

UCLA English Professor Henry Kelly is not a Devil worshiper, but he sure knows his Satanical facts. In this interview he describes the evolution of modern conceptions of Satan, a process that may surprise those who think they know the devil.  Continue »
Oct 30, 2006

In 1977 Richard Walter was a successful screen-writer in Hollywood when a friend suggested that he apply for a teaching position at UCLA. Walter thought he would give it a shot. Now he is a widely popular professor who is driven by his passion for teaching. He is also the proud parent of a UCLA student and speaker at the 2006 Parents' Weekend.  Continue »
Oct 23, 2006

Terence Tao was a seven year-old high school student when he began taking calculus classes. By 20 he had received a Ph.D. from Princeton and joined the UCLA faculty. This month he was awarded the Fields medal in Madrid, Spain. The details here.  Continue »
Aug 22, 2006

UCLA professor of psychology Vickie Mays understands the difficulties facing New Orleans children returning to school for the first time in a year. That is why she is spearheading an effort to provide the children with special care packages to ease their return.   Continue »
Aug 1, 2006

This year's Gold Shield Faculty Prize winner is English professor Robert Watson. Watson is known for his enthusiastic teaching style and dedication to spreading Shakespearian knowledge. He travels across the country to teach high school teachers Shakespeare.  Continue »
Jul 17, 2006

For UCLA law professor Khaled Abou El Fadl, the message and meaning of Islam is being misinterpreted by many of its followers.   Continue »
Jul 10, 2006

After nine years as UCLA's Chancellor, Albert Carnesale will step down. But his legacy remains.   Continue »
Jun 26, 2006

Professor of Education Mike Rose would like us to re-evaluate the way we define intelligence in our society. He feels that commonly held definitions of intelligence often prejudice the working-class, beginning at a young age. This UCLA Magazine article offers a fascinating interview with professor Rose.  Continue »
Apr 24, 2006

Anthropologist Elinor Ochs has been videotaping 32 middle-class American families seven days a week and has drawn some pretty interesting conclusions. For one, she feels that American families have gone from kid-centered to kid-dominated. Find out more about Ochs and her work in this month's faculty spotlight.   Continue »
Jan 17, 2006

Anyone who drives has had to sit through traffic due to road repairs. It may not be enjoyable, but most accept it as a fact of life. Eric Bescher is one who doesn't. Bescher, along with his research team of engineers, thinks he may be able to reduce road repair times by 20%.  Continue »
Jul 1, 2005

Eco-Geeks? This is what Deborah Estrin calls her team of researchers. Why? They are developing a system of eco-sensors that can detect the tiniest levels of pollution in a given environment. How does it work and what does it do? Watch this short spotlight video on Estrin and her work.  Continue »
Apr 1, 2005

Luigi Ballerini, accomplished poet and professor of Italian, is entering a completely new field: food history. He has recently edited and re-published a 500 year-old cookbook. Ballerini feels that one can view cultural change through the recipes of history.  Continue »
Mar 1, 2005

UCLA Professor Jared Diamond, author of "Guns, Germs and Steel", has written a new book: "Collapse". In these clips Diamond talks about his new book and outlines different geographical and societal elements that can doom a civilization.   Continue »
Mar 1, 2005

Navy pilot Paul Santos was facing a dilemma: a brain cyst was going to cause him to be grounded and the only operation that could treat the cyst would put a metal plate in his head, also grounding him. But UCLA Neurosurgeon John Frazee had an operation that would solve this dilemma.   Continue »
Jan 1, 2005

A botánica is a small store anywhere in the United States where herbs, candles, potions, altar statues, books, incense sticks and numerous other folkloric sundries are sold. Why has visiting professor Patrick Polk been studying them for two decades? Read on to find out why.  Continue »
Nov 1, 2004

At 5,343 pages, professor of history Geoffrey Symcox's biography of Columbus is rather thorough. The Repertorium Columbianum is now considered the essential work on Columbus and his voyages. Learn more about Symcox and his project.  Continue »
Oct 10, 2004

Kenneth N. Klee is not only considered one of the top 100 lawyers in California, he is also a full-time professor at UCLA's School of Law. While balancing his teaching with his legal career is not easy and requires a lot of hard work, it allows him the best of both worlds.   Continue »
Oct 1, 2004

Eli Yablonovitch is known as the father of photonic crystals. What exactly are photonic crystals? Read this spotlight and find out.  Continue »
Aug 1, 2004

Professor emeritus of Spanish and Portuguese, Claude Hulet, retired in 1991. But since then he has taken up another passion. Now, using his antique navigating tools, this experienced sailor is proving that the exploratory feats of Portuguese sailors rounding Africa were more impressive than Columbus's trip to the America's.   Continue »
Aug 1, 2004

Gerald Wilson not only teaches at UCLA's department of ethnomusicology, he is also a celebrated Jazz musician and composer. How did this musician make his way from Mississippi to LA? Take a look.  Continue »
Aug 1, 2004

Faculty member Patricia O'Brien has been selected as the new executive dean of UCLA's College of Letters and Science. Take a look at why she is considered perfect for the job.  Continue »
Jul 1, 2004

Margaret Jacob was studying to become a nun when she realized her passion for history. Now, with her help, UCLA has one of the top history of science programs in the nation. This month she has been selected to give the 96th Faculty Research lecture on cosmopolitanism, the subject of her upcoming book.   Continue »
May 1, 2004

Patricia Ganz, professor at UCLA's Johnsson Cancer Center, doesn't see cancer and cancer patients the same way as others do. This accomplished and awarded faculty member focuses on quality of life for cancer survivors, quality of care for cancer patients, and cancer prevention.  Continue »
Apr 1, 2004

Scot Brown, associate professor of history and African-American studies, got interested in his field when he met a former US Organization member in a Rochester book store. The US Organization is a California-based black-nationalist group that has played a significant role in African-American history. See what else this resident faculty member is up to.  Continue »
Feb 1, 2004

Peter Ladefoged, a professor emeritus in the linguistics department remembers Audrey Hepburn as a homebody that passed cookies around in-between takes. Ladefoged was the technical advisor on the set of My Fair Lady in 1960. Of course that's not all he did during his long stay at UCLA, take a look.  Continue »
Feb 1, 2004

Amy Zegart is considered one of the top experts on intelligence reform in the nation. Her interest in the field began at the age of 13, when Zegart began taking Mandarin lessons and has continued to grow since then. Find out more about Zegart's accomplishments and undertakings here.  Continue »
Jan 1, 2004

Buswell is not only a 17-year UCLA veteran and founder of the biggest center of Korean and Buddhist studies in the nation, he is also a fully ordained Buddhist monk himself.  Continue »
Dec 1, 2003

Virginia Li was born in China, but left at a very young age. After bearing three children, she returned to University to finish her education. Now this accomplished public health professor works on projects that help those in need in her native country.  Continue »
Nov 1, 2003

Given current budget cuts, 36-year UCLA veteran and Academic Senate chair Clifford Brunk feels that this year will be an "interesting one". Brunk, a molecular biologist, talks about his impressions and predictions of the year.  Continue »
Nov 1, 2003

Professor emeritus Jack Rothman has been teaching for 40 years, published 25 books, and has had a successful run as an academic. But now, at the age of 75, he is setting out on an entirely different career as a comedian. Don't believe it? Take a look.  Continue »
Sep 1, 2003

Carol Archie specializes in at-risk pregnancies at UCLA Medical Center. Given that many at-risk births don't have specific guidelines to follow, Archie must constantly take risks in the ways she tries to deliver healthy babies. But her biggest risk yet is acting as chair of the board of the Venice Family Clinic, the largest free clinic in the nation. The details here.   Continue »
Aug 1, 2003

John Mazziota, chair of Neurology at David Geffen School of Medicine, directs UCLA's Brain Mapping Program. The program, which is the best of its kind in the nation, looks to create a three dimensional atlas of the human brain.   Continue »
Jul 1, 2003

At the White House ceremony to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, alphabetical order determined that James Q. Wilson and John Wooden would be seated together. But the two men have a stronger link than last names beginning with “W”: Both Wilson and Wooden played important roles at UCLA.  Continue »
Jul 1, 2003

Growing up in a meat and potatoes family in Detroit, UCLA geography professor Judith Carney didn't eat any rice. Now, she has published more than 64 articles on rice and rice production. Find out why her work in rice is so highly acclaimed.  Continue »
May 1, 2003

The journey of Vitaly Margulis has been a long an interesting one. Born in Ukraine in 1928, this world famous pianist didn't make it to UCLA until 1994. Now, at the age of 75, he is still touring around the world and lecturing at UCLA.   Continue »
Apr 1, 2003

Students describe musicology professor Mitchell Morris as almost magical, attributing him with raising their confidence and making any class interesting. For this reason and others, Michell has been awarded one four distinguished teaching awards given out this year.   Continue »
Apr 1, 2003

Before Kevin Terraciano, the only indigenous written records documenting the European arrival in the Americas were in Mayan and Aztec. But recently this UCLA associate professor of history has discovered a new set of records written by the Mixtec indigenous people of Oaxaca that could offer a whole new perspective on the European arrival.  Continue »
Mar 1, 2003

As a young man in Taiwan, Chih-Ming Ho, fascinated with space travel and exploration, longed to become a pilot. Unfortunately, he was too nearsighted and was not allowed to. However, it was almost a blessing in disguise because now Ho is on the forefront of micro-fluidic systems, a field that seeks to aid in space travel and studies cell behavior to research making technology very small.   Continue »
Feb 1, 2003

One morning when poet and UCLA professor Harryette Mullen awoke, she found herself uncomfortably lying on top of a dictionary. Scanning her mind, she suddenly realized she had fallen asleep with it in bed. This event is what sparked the title poem, "Sleeping with the Dictionary", of her latest work. Find out what inspires her and what her work is all about.  Continue »
Feb 1, 2003

Do fruit flies and human beings have a lot in common? According to Lawrence Zipursky, UCLA professor of biological chemistry, they do. Find out why.  Continue »
Feb 1, 2003

UCLA professor and independent filmmaker Becky Smith recently shot 2,000 hours of film about four gay couples preparing for marriage. The footage was distilled into eight thirty-minute sections and broadcast as a show on Bravo. Take a look at this month's faculty spotlight and learn more about Becky Smith's journey into film-making and her other projects.  Continue »
Jan 1, 2003

How will the study of genetics affect society, the individual, and the medical world on the whole? Professor Ed McCabe plans to look into some of these issues using the newly founded UCLA Center for Society and Genetics.   Continue »
Jan 1, 2003

Dorothy Arzner was a film director in an era that thought women incapable of such jobs. While at work, she cast the likes of Lucille Ball, Katherine Hepburn, andRosalind Russell in their breakout roles, and is said to have invented the boom microphone. This fantastic film virtuoso taught at UCLA from 1959 - 1963, and is honored on campus by a bronze statue.   Continue »
Jan 1, 2003

Assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences Mark Barad acknowledges that fear is a very important part of the human psyche: it enables us to respond to danger. However, when fear is felt in the wrong place and the wrong time, it can be very troubling for the afflicted. Barad studies and researches new methods to help people with their phobias, and his findings have been quite interesting.  Continue »
Dec 1, 2002

In 1987, UCLA professor Timothy Tangherlini was living in South Korea when Democratic uprisings surged across the nation. Although he was studying Korean shamans at the time, the real question on his mind was, "Why aren't there any punk bands here?"   Continue »
Nov 1, 2002

One night while on leave from the navy, Stephen Yenser and his friends were on their way to have a drunken confrontation with a bouncer at a nightclub they had been to earlier. They had gone home to retrieve a gun, and were en-route when the driver crashed the car. Two of the young men were killed instantly and Yenser was put into a body-cast. Now Stephen Yenser is a decorated poet and director of the undergraduate Creative Writing Program at UCLA. Here's how:   Continue »
Nov 1, 2002

Duncan Lindsey grew up in the fifties the son of a single woman struggling to provide for her two children. It is the memory of his impoverished childhood that motivates this UCLA professor. In Lindsey's life there is no line between his professional and personal life, Child Welfare occupies both.   Continue »
Nov 1, 2002

When the Guatemalan conjoined twins were separated, UCLA anesthesiologist Barbara Van de Wiele got some public attention for her role in the operation. But Van de Wiele insists that that operation was much like many others that she performed, in that both doctor and patient depend on her.   Continue »
Oct 1, 2002

At 86, UCLA professor of Public Health Ruth Roemer is still typing letters of recommendation for students and traveling the world for public health conferences. But activity is nothing new for this veteran activist who has spent most of her long life fighting for public health causes. Take a glance into the incredible life of Ruth Roemer.   Continue »
Sep 1, 2002

It is chemistry professor Richard Kraner's memory of his boring undergraduate chemistry classes that inspires him to make his classes interesting. He succeeds by illustrating the relevance of his materials to everyday life and introducing new research into his curriculum as soon as it is published. Read more about why this professor was awarded UCLA's Gold Shield Award for faculty excellence in June.  Continue »
Jul 1, 2002

In the Science and Technology Research Building, physicists are using an 80 ton machine to study Plasma: the mysterious substance that is not quite solid, liquid, or gaseous. Walter Gekelman is the UCLA faculty member leading up this research. Read what he has to say about his fascinating work.   Continue »
Jun 1, 2002

When Susan McClary hears music, she doesn't just hear a tune or a melody, she hears a reflection of societal views on gender and sexuality. This very accomplished UCLA professor has authored and edited more than 25 books and given lectures across the nation. Take a look at this month's faculty spotlight to learn more.  Continue »
May 1, 2002

Professor Francoise Lionnet is changing the way UCLA students view the world of French literature by giving due credit to the literary accomplishments of authors from ex-French colonies. Growing up on the French colonial island of Mauritius, she felt cheated by her French teachers that only taught books from Europe. Read on to learn about this revolutionary new program that is on the forefront of Franco-studies.  Continue »
May 1, 2002

Can Green Tea prevent stomach cancer and chronic gastritis? In a study recently conducted by UCLA Public Health faculty member Zuo-Feng Zheng, Green Tea was shown to reduce the chance of stomach cancer by 48% and the reduce the chance of chronic gastritis by 51%. How did Zheng go from being a "barefoot doctor" on one of Mao's re-education farms to working for UCLA's School of Public health? Find out.  Continue »
Mar 1, 2002

In 1957 an Indian graduate came to the United States to pursue his career in engineering. 44 years later that Indian graduate student, Chand Viswanathan, is the chair of the UC Academic Senate. Find out more about the interesting journey and impressive accomplishments od Viswanathan.  Continue »
Dec 1, 2001

Katherine Hayles was a chemist for many years until she turned to her second love: literature. Now she is combining her two passions to create her own avant-garde breed of narrative known as computer-based literature. This impressive impresario of next generation books has even persuaded the premier institution in her field to operate out of UCLA. What exactly is she doing?  Continue »
Nov 1, 2001

Dr. Hillel Laks is more than just your ordinary heart doctor; he is considered to be on the forefront of heart treatment innovation. November's faculty spotlight takes a look at this incredible doctor who is changing the world one heart at a a time.   Continue »
Nov 1, 2001

UCLA's Judy Mitoma fears the loss of traditional art at the hands of modern cultural practices and realities. How does she use her position in the Department of World Arts and Culture to preserve traditional art? Take a look.  Continue »
Aug 1, 2001

Lillian Gelberg, UCLA associate professor of family medicine, can feel the need for systemic change in today's medical field. Her vast experience working with the poor and the homeless has taught her that current solutions are only short-term.   Continue »
Jul 1, 2001

Fabian Wigmaster was originally just a "filmmaker", but recently he has been applying his knowledge of computer science and egineering to create new mediums of digital art. This native Argentine is now an associate professor at UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television, innovating and creating some very interesting stuff.  Continue »
Jul 1, 2001

UCLA associate professor of photography James Welling made his mark when he approached photography as more than a form of documentation. This artist, whose photographic career began taking Polaroids of sinks in the restaurant he worked in during the 70's, lends us some insight into his motivations and photography as a whole.  Continue »
May 1, 2001

Patty Wickman, associate professor at UCLA's School of the Arts and Architecture, has been passionate about art and teaching. She feels that a combination of the two brings the lonely artist out of isolation and into an arena where the artist can help others and help his or herself. Take a look at some of the exciting new projects she is working on.  Continue »
Apr 1, 2001

Over the past 35 years, UCLA professor of Anthropology Christopher Donnan has spent nights sleeping inside the 600 year-old tombs of the Moche, an ancient people who occupied the modern day area of Northern Peru. The reason for this is simple: grave-robbers.  Continue »
Apr 1, 2001

When Saul Friedlander found out his parents had been killed during the Holocaust, he was 13 years old and living on a French Monastery. But the knowledge of his origins inspired Friedlander for a lifetime. Read about this highly influential scholar of Holocaust Studies.   Continue »
Apr 1, 2001

In the 1980's, most graduate students studying biotechnology at the University of Copenhagen were going on to biotech companies. Not Brigitte Ahring, UCLA professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering: she wanted to save the world. Now this native Dane uses her know-how to search for bacteria that can ease and speed up the biodegradation of certain wastes. Take a look at this article to find out more.  Continue »
Mar 1, 2001

Gil Cates, founding dean of UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television, produces his tenth Oscar telecast in 2001. Not only has Cates produced more Oscar telecasts than anyone else in the 73 years of the Oscars, he has done so while balancing teaching posts at UCLA. Will this be his last year producing?   Continue »
Mar 1, 2001

February 14th marks the day that most Americans celebrate the holiday of love and romance: St. Valentine's Day. However, the director of UCLA's Center for Medieval and Renaissance studies, Henry Ansgar Kelly, says the original date of this beloved celebration was actually May 3rd. What would posses this scholar to make such claims?  Continue »
Feb 1, 2001

UCLA policy studies and history professor Eric Monkkonen has spent most of his academic life studying murder statistics. Monkkonen feels that murder statistics allow academics to compare societal patterns over time and across different cultures. He recently published the most comprehensive study of murder statistics to date. One can't help but wonder about the contents and findings of that study; take a look.  Continue »
Jan 22, 2001

UCLA faculty physician Richard Usatine is only the second recipient of the Humanism in Medical Education Award presented by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The reason why is clear. Usatine has spent much of his career reaching out to those in need of medical attention the most. Find out more about this incredible man and some of his accomplishments in this installment of spotlight.   Continue »
Jan 1, 2001

UCLA Art History professor Deborah Silverman is looking deep into Van Gogh's paintings to determine what sorts of influences affected the painter. She has discovered new aspects and potential imagery in some Van Gogh's work. Read on to find out more about her recently published book and findings.  Continue »
Dec 18, 2000

This month's Faculty Spotlight takes a look at Harvey Herschman, an expert in cellular biology and biochemistry who has taught and researched at UCLA for the past 31 years. But here's something you may not know about Herschman: he was a Los Angeles County firefighter from 1980-1992. What else don't you know about this accomplished professor?  Continue »
Dec 4, 2000

Given the youth of the world's newest form of communication, the internet, researchers can enjoy a unique perspective on a medium that is still evolving. Professor Jeffrey Cole is studying the internet and patterns of communication within it. Working with thousands of users and many online companies, Cole is researching and creating a "moving-picture" of internet users and non-users. More about this innovative research inside.  Continue »
Oct 23, 2000

Terence Tao began taking high school classes at the age of 8. At 21 he had received a Ph.D. from Princeton. Now this 24 year old whiz kid is a full time professor at UCLA; check out this spotlight for a glance at Terence and his world of numbers.  Continue »
Sep 4, 2000

A molecular computer? UCLA chemists Stoddart and Heath are hard at work creating a computer that is cheaper, smaller, and more efficient than today's silicon-based computers. Take a look at what these two innovators have to say about their work and the progress they’ve made.   Continue »
Aug 28, 2000

Law professor Cruz Reynoso is more than just a popular instructor at UCLA; he is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and is also the first Hispanic associate justice to serve the California Supreme Court. How is it than Reynoso went from a poor farm working family in Orange County to being appointed vice-chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights? Find out here.  Continue »
Aug 14, 2000

Winner of the 2000 Gold Shield Prize for Faculty Excellence, New Delhi native Utpal Banerjee feels that the ability to make science interesting to undergraduates lies in bringing out its natural beauty. Read on to find out about his research and why he is so crazy about Fruit Flies.  Continue »
Jul 24, 2000

Positron Emission Tomography, or PET, is a method of detecting levels of disease in a patient. Dr. Michael Phelps, who is one of the technology's originator's, established and heads up the PET program at UCLA.   Continue »
Jul 10, 2000

At 33 she found evidence supporting the existence of a supermassive black hole at the center of our universe, now this UCLA Astronomer continues to impress as she searches the universe for more black holes.  Continue »
Jun 26, 2000