Office of External Affairs

Represent nearly 14,000 UCLA graduate and professional students to external stakeholders and organizations, government officials, alumni networks, philanthropists, coalition and community partners

Advance UCLA graduate and professional student priorities and interests through strategic collaboration, targeted advocacy, and sustained engagement with UCLA Office of the Chancellor and campus leadership, the UC Board of Regents, the UC Office of the President, and all levels of government

Help oversee and allocate an $845K annual GSA budget as a member of the Executive Committee, ensuring responsible funding for graduate student programs, advocacy initiatives, and campus organizations

Act as an ex-officio fiduciary voting board member on the UC Graduate & Professional Council (UCGPC), representing and serving over 63,000 graduate and professional students across ten UC campuses

Architect and lead targeted GSA government relations advocacy strategies and programming across local, regional, state and federal levels to influence policy and legislation and secure funding for initiatives that advance UCLA students’ interests and needs and expand access to opportunity particularly for marginalized students

Serve as principal liaison to the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students, the United States, Student Association, and the UCLA Alumni Association, advancing collaborative and coalition-building initiatives that support student advocacy, leadership development, policy engagement, and career success for UCLA students

Influence university and systemwide undergraduate and graduate student governance through active participation and collaboration through the biweekly GSA Forum meetings and monthly UCGPC Board and Committee meetings, as well as periodic coordination with the UC Student Regent, UC Student Regent Designate, UC Student Association representatives and UCLA Undergraduate Student Association Council leadership

Build coalitions across diverse UCLA and UC-systemwide graduate and professional student organizations to ensure inclusive representation and amplify historically underrepresented student voices in decision-making

Lead and co-lead the development of GSA/UCGPC advocacy letters, resolutions, speeches, public comments and statements on key policy issues and projects, submitted to senior stakeholders, such as UCLA Chancellor’s Office, UC Office of the President, federal cabinet officials, Members of Congress, Governor of California, California State Legislature, and Los Angeles County and City agencies

Manage a rigorous 40-hour weekly commitment balancing regular consultation with various student groups, campus, systemwide and governmental stakeholder engagement, strategic advocacy planning, community organizing, public education and mobilization, including monthly travels