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June 28, 2017
Gratefulness and Giving are Key Themes at 2017 Commencement

On June 16, UCLA Anderson celebrated the commencement of the Class of 2017. This marks the first commencement where the Executive MBA program students joined their full-time and Fully Employed MBA program peers in a joint ceremony. Following a tribute to the school’s late benefactor, Marion Anderson, Dean Judy Olian reminded the graduates “Yes, you have wonderful talents and skills, and you have worked hard, but let us not forget: you — all of us — are very lucky.  Never forget that, never take that luck for granted. Let’s remember to be eternally grateful for it and, ultimately, to share our good fortune.”

One of the highlights of the ceremony was a commencement address delivered by Amgen Chairman and CEO Bob Bradway who imparted three lessons to the graduates:

  1. Find a company — or create one — that is looking to do big thing, things that excite you and give you a chance to do work that matters.
  2. Develop yourself so that you can reach your full career potential as quickly as possible.
  3. Bring others along, help them experience the same kind of commitment you feel to the mission of your company. Give people the chance to achieve their full potential through their own contributions.

Student speakers chosen by their respective programs also offered advice to their peers. Lauren Yang ’17 of the full-time program urged her classmates “Not to forget how for two years we cherished, encouraged and selflessly gave to one another. Not to forget how in two years we have become part of the Anderson family that includes everyone before us and everyone after.” Read more.

Faculty Spotlight | UCLA Anderson Recognizes Faculty Excellence

Every year, UCLA Anderson recognizes faculty for their accomplishments in mentoring, research and teaching with faculty awards. Congratulations to the 2017 faculty awards winners!

Hal Hershfield | Dean George W. Robbins Assistant Professor Teaching Award
Recognizes teaching excellence within the ranks of the school’s assistant professors.

Lori Santikian | Citibank Teaching Award
Given to the school’s most outstanding MBA teacher, based on criteria outlined by Citibank.

Guillaume Roels and Margaret Shih | Neidorf “Decade” Teaching Award
Recognizes faculty members’ exemplary teaching contributions, as demonstrated over a period of seven to 10 years.

Hal Hershfield | Eric and “E” Juline Faculty Excellence in Research Award
Given annually to recognize excellence in research among the school’s assistant professors.

Margaret Shih | La Force Award
Recognizes and honors an individual Anderson faculty member who has demonstrated his or her leadership in making UCLA Anderson a better place.

Miguel Unzueta | Faculty Community Engagement Award
Honors a UCLA Anderson faculty member who exemplifies service to the school through his or her engagement and support of students, alumni and/or prospective students outside of the classroom.

Suzanne Shu | Dean’s Prize
Given for outstanding faculty mentorship of Ph.D. students.

Marissa Sharif | Xavier Drèze Prize
Given for the best Ph.D. student research paper.

Impact | Every Alum. Every Year. Every Gift Counts!

Your support empowers UCLA Anderson to think in the next—to invest in cutting-edge faculty research, new initiatives like the social impact initiative Impact@Anderson, hybrid-learning programs and much more.

Give by this Friday, June 30, and help UCLA Anderson start the new academic year strong. If you celebrated your reunion this past year, June 30 is the last day for your gift to count toward your class reunion totals.

Please make your gift today. If you have made your gift already, THANK YOU!

Faculty Insights | Terry Kramer Wants to Preserve Net Neutrality

Before joining as a Decisions, Operations and Technology Management faculty member at UCLA Anderson, Terry Kramer spent years at multinational telecommunications companies, including British telecom giant Vodaphone. Kramer understands the needs of broadband providers and believes that those networks should receive sufficient revenues to ensure adequate return on their capital investments. However, Kramer also did a stint for the U.S. State department where he served as U.S. ambassador to negotiate the 2012 telecom and internet treaty called the World Conference on International Telecommunications, which sought to prevent nations from monitoring and censoring internet traffic.

Having seen the consequences of restrictive internet philosophies and policies, Kramer believes that the system in America where “individual rights and varying perspectives are not just tolerated, but encouraged in the quest for getting the ‘right answer’ and stimulating engagement” explains why America has led in technological advances. “Future innovation and economic growth comes from the individual rights we enjoy. Net neutrality helps protect those rights on the internet, and with good reason. Technology and ubiquitous high-speed networks can have such an impact on citizens, consumers, enterprises, and, more broadly, society that they must be defended,” says Kramer. Read more.

Lifelong Learning | Using Brain Science to Make Your Presentations Unforgettable

Communicating in a compelling and effective way is a vital tool—no matter what career stage you are in. Join Alumni Career Services on Thursday, July 20 at 1 p.m. PST for a webinar with Alegre Ramos ’01, award winning speaker and entrepreneur, to get tips on how to make your presentations unforgettable using tactics based on brain science. Register Now.

Access | Students and Alumni Connect at Summer Series

Join your local UCLA Anderson Alumni Network chapter to meet current students interning in your city this summer for an evening of networking at an upcoming Summer Series event. Selected events will feature faculty or alumni speaking on topics ranging from real estate to technology.

July 11 | Palo Alto
UCLA Anderson Easton Technology Center's John Blevins '11

July 13 | San Francisco
Pinterest’s Gene Alston '97

July 27 | Santa Monica
Summer Series in L.A.

August 3 | New York City
Professor Eric Sussman

August 12 | Mexico City
Summer Series in Mexico City