The photoshoot above, called PortraYt Project, was part of the 2018 UCLA Alumnae Conference on March 11. In the age of “selfies,” the project invited women to take an honest and intentional portrait that answered the question, “what makes you boundless?”
The “unconference conference”, developed by Affinity Programs and Diversity Programs in Alumni Affairs, traded panels and podiums for conversations and interactive workshops. This alumna-inspired, alumna-led conference received more than 300 participant applications and sixty proposals.
Twenty selected alumna were present at eight sessions over the course of the day. Sarah Salam ’10 and Penelope Delgadillo Valencia ’99 held an intergenerational conversation on navigating the workplace at different life stages. Yasmeen Muqtasid ’98 moderated a session with Maisie Chin ’93, M.A. ’97, Michelle K. Sugihara, Angela Mooney D’Arcy, J.D. ’04 and the UCLA Alumni Association’s president-elect, Cheryl Lott ’01, J.D. ’04, on the duality of personal and professional passion within activism.
Nako Nakatsuka, M.S. ’14, Ph.D. ’17, Basak Kilic ’10 and Audrey Pool O’Neal, M.S. ’99, Ph.D ’14 all engineers, shared how they “engineer” spaces for other women to succeed in the field. Kausar Mohammed ’14, Veline Mojarro ’12 and UC San Diego alumna Natalie Bui facilitated an arts-based approach to addressing sexual harassment. Cinthia Flores ’10, Stephanie Castellanos ’10, and UCLA’s Advocate of the Year, Juana Hernandez ’09, inspired women to reclaim their time as they push for social change in their communities. Karolynne Gee ’56 led all attendees through a reflective session on how listening, inclusivity and self-expression are powerful tools reinforcing our one’s world outlook and realizing boundless potential as change agents.
Before the conference came to an end, a closing activity invited alumnae to continue the conversations beyond the day, because their voices will be heard as long as the community is connected. Attendees left feeling empowered by their limitless potential to become uplifting forces in their communities.
Feeling inspired? Any alumna is invited to help organize the 2019 Alumnae conference. We are also looking for sponsors to help us expand the conference. Please contact Patricia Nguyen, Senior Director of Diversity Programs, if you are interested.