Have you heard? UCLA's latest faculty and staff news

Welcome to the latest edition of Newsroom's monthly "Have you heard?" roundup, your quick-hit guide to the faculty and staff breakthroughs, honors, milestones and memorable moments shaping our campus and community. Think of it as your regular dose of Bruin brilliance - smart, useful and worth sharing. From research awards and new leadership appointments to heartfelt remembrances, here's what's been happening recently.

Got news to share? Submit a story of kudos to [email protected]. We're all ears!

Awards and honors

Shaping American history

Professor, historian and MacArthur Genius Kelly Lytle Hernández, holder of the Thomas E. Lifka Endowed Chair in History, has been elected vice president of the Society of American Historians, whose mission is to advance and recognize excellence in historical writing. Alexandra Minna Stern, dean of the UCLA College Division of Humanities, was also elected to the society.

Standout Bruin scholars

Four UCLA faculty members have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. Eva Baker, Elizabeth Ligon Bjork, Ursula Heise and Angela Riley are among the 252 leaders in academia, the arts, science, industry, journalism, philanthropy, policy and research chosen for membership this year.

Strengthening Indigenous networks

A new $200,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation will strengthen a burgeoning network of Indigenous communities, nonprofit organizations and universities through Southeast and East Asia, spearheaded by Stephen Acabado, archaeology professor and director of the UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies.

Awards and honors - Sciences

A win for women in chemistry

Ah-Hyung "Alissa" Park, the Ronald and Valerie Sugar Dean of the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, has received the 2026 Francis P. Garvan-John M. Olin Medal from the American Chemical Society, which honors distinguished leadership in chemistry by women chemists and chemical engineers. Congrats, Dean Park!

Down to the smallest details

Professor of physics and astronomy Jianwei (John) Miao has been awarded the American Physical Society's 2026 Joseph F. Keithley Award for Advances in Measurement Science. Miao is being recognized for developing advanced X-ray and electron imaging techniques that allow scientists to measure tiny defects and materials all the way down to the atomic level.

From deep space to democracy

UCLA's Eric Becklin, Martin Gilens and Craig Manning have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their achievements in original research and their impact in advancing knowledge within their fields. The three professors, whose areas of expertise range from astronomy and Earth sciences to politics and public policy, are now members of one of the most prestigious honors a U.S. scholar can receive.

Bruin science leaders shine

Yongkang Xue, Marilyn Raphael, Alexander Spokoyny and Stuart Brown have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, one of the largest general scientific societies in the world. The UCLA faculty members, who are among the 449 new fellows across disciplines in academia, technology and government, will be honored for their contributions to scientific research that benefits society in Washington, D.C., on May 29.

Big ideas, tiny particles

UCLA physicist and associate professor Thomas Dumitrescu has been awarded a 2026 New Horizons in Physics Prize for his research in quantum field theory, particle physics, condensed matter physics, string theory and quantum information theory. The $100,000 prize is awarded to promising early-career researchers who have already produced important work and is part of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation.

Virtual care, real impact

Dr. Jonathan Bergman, professor of urology and family medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has been named a 2026 Young Urologist of the Year by the American Urological Association. Bergman was recognized for his leadership in implementing a virtual call program that allows one resident to serve as a command center for multiple sites, helping ease the burden on trainees.

Exceptional staff, extraordinary impact

Dance the Charleston

Strategic Communications insights manager Ken Yapkowitz is a data cruncher extraordinaire and a whiz with numbers who also happens to be a multitalented artist. Yapkowitz studied computer science at UCLA, but music has always been a huge part of his life. In this video, he performs on a very special instrument at a very special place - the site of his former home in Altadena.

Safety meets storytelling

Get to know Richard Mejia, UCLA's newly minted director of emergency communications and information in the Office of Campus and Community Safety. He studied sports journalism and writing before pivoting into public affairs, where he discovered a passion for strategic communications, community engagement and crisis management.

UCLA's campus caretaker

True Bruin and director of custodial and grounds for UCLA Facilities Management Lizett Martinez has a big job overseeing custodial and grounds crews across our 419-acre campus, making sure services are delivered consistently, safely and in support of UCLA's mission. Read about how Martinez, who received her bachelor's from UCLA in 2009, keeps our campus beautiful.

Around campus

Bruins for a better planet

April is Earth Month, and we're highlighting the many ways UCLA stands at the forefront of environmentalism and sustainability. Visit the Earth Month 2026 microsite and learn how Bruins have been at the vanguard of research and advocacy aimed at protecting the health of the environment and the planet.

What was UCLA like in the '90s?

For those who attended college in the 1990s, it was a more innocent time - especially because social media didn't exist yet. Now that it does, visit the UCLA Instagram for a nostalgic stroll through our campus way back when.

A legend returns

One of UCLA's most iconic alumni is coming home to celebrate the next generation of Bruins. Six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 UCLA College commencement ceremonies on Friday, June 12, in Pauley Pavilion. Welcome back, Jackie!

Advancing - and supporting - women

Felicia Marie Knaul, associate of the chancellor at UCLA, recently spoke at the Giving List Women Doing It Differently Summit, led by UCLA alum and former USAC student body president Gwyn Lurie. The convening brought together leaders to explore how applying a gender lens to philanthropy and investment can reshape and expand support for women, girls and communities worldwide.

Explore more honors, recognitions and grant awards on Newsroom's Faculty Bulletin Board page and faculty and staff page.

Transitions

In the spotlight

Lionel Popkin, who has served as interim dean of the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture since February 2024, has been appointed the school's permanent dean, effective May 1. He provided UCLA Arts with principled leadership during a challenging time, expanding support for student scholarships and faculty research, and moving forward with long-deferred capital planning - without losing sight of the human side of the job.

Championing compassionate care

Barbara M. Bates-Jensen, professor of nursing and medicine and associate dean of academic affairs, has been named interim dean of the UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing, beginning Aug. 1. Dr. BBJ is internationally recognized for her clinical research highlighting wound care best practices and eliminating disparities that exist in the detection of skin and tissue damage among persons of color.

See more on Newsroom's faculty and staff page.

Tags: faculty news | staff news