IN FOCUS: Hispanic Heritage Month

Watch: Why aren't life-changing medicines more affordable?

Alumnus Osvaldo Gutierrez grew up on a goat-herding ranch in rural Mexico before immigrating to the U.S. and juggling odd jobs while navigating school as a first-generation high school and college student. After losing his mother to cancer and seeing drug prices soar, he set out to develop more affordable treatments. As a UCLA professor of chemistry and biochemistry, Gutierrez leads research aimed at lowering the cost of important medicines.

Learn more about Gutierrez's journey to UCLA and his mission-driven research from UCLA Newsroom.

Engineering student Citlali Rodriguez hopes to bring cleaner water to low-income communities

Growing up along the Port of Los Angeles, refineries and industrial operations shaped the landscape in which Citlali Rodriguez spent her childhood. The grass in her family's front yard struggled to take root. Her brother had asthma. Once, she watched an oil well catch fire. Her journey to UCLA began when she was introduced to the Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists, which helped lead her to environmental engineering, where she focuses on clean water solutions for communities facing systemic challenges.

Learn more about how Rodriguez uses hands-on experience to learn and help others, from UCLA Newsroom.

Watch: One year of the UCLA Latinx Success Center

Celebrating its first year and diving into its second, the UCLA Latinx Success has served more than 6,200 students thus far, offering a supportive hub conducive to building strong connections between friends and even mentors.

Watch the celebratory video about how the center empowers student success through community, inclusivity and cultural affirmation, from the UCLA College.

Preserving Maya memory and history across borders

Floridalma Boj Lopez used her college graduation to honor her elders and her journey to self-understanding as a young Maya K'iche woman from Guatemala living in the U.S. After asking her uncle to weave her first po't, relatives spent months weaving and transporting the garment and showing Lopez how to wear it for her big day. Now an assistant professor of Chicana/o and Central American studies at UCLA, Lopez examines how Maya migrants - especially second-generation youth in Los Angeles - craft and circulate cultural narratives through photography, traditional clothing and children's literature to preserve memory, history and their experiences across borders.

Read a Q&A with Boj Lopez about her research and personal journey, from UCLA Newsroom.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor speaks at UCLA Law

Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice, visited the UCLA School of Law on Feb. 6, 2026, where she shared insights on law, public service and leadership. During her visit, Justice Sotomayor urged students not to be bystanders in civic engagement, encouraging them to get involved in causes like voting rights, writing to elected officials, or supporting public interest groups.

Read more about Sotomayor's visit and her advice to students, from UCLA Newsroom.

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show: "It's not just about music"

UCLA alumna Joanna Love examines Super Bowl halftime shows as part of a symbolic expression of American identity. The scholar is currently completing a book on how these performances provide a powerful stage for this convergence of music, culture and politics. She spoke following the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance, headlined by global superstar Bad Bunny, which has sparked debate about language, identity and the definition of "mainstream" American music.

Learn more about the symbolic weight of Bad Bunny's performance and how halftime shows help shape American culture, from UCLA Newsroom.

Building belonging: UCLA's Excelencia Scholars and the future of Hispanic-Serving Institutions

A self-described bookworm who loves to draw and who survived a school shooting. A pre-health student who juggled a full-time job at Disneyland while attending Cypress College. These are among the Bruins who make up the Excelencia Scholars Program, a UCLA Hispanic-Serving Institution initiative that provides financial, academic and personal support to low-income, academically talented students. Despite the shifting federal landscape, UCLA has continued its commitment to scaling up its student support infrastructure. But much work remains.

Read more about the scholars selected and what's at stake amid federal funding uncertainties, from UCLA Newsroom.

UCLA, American Mexican Leadership Council convene leaders from both nations to explore their shared future

In the weeks leading up to the U.S.'s 250th birthday, 140 leaders from across business, government, and academia in both the U.S. and Mexico gathered in downtown Los Angeles to address timely questions about the two nations' relationship. Co-hosted by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, the event focused on expanding opportunities for Latino communities and strengthening the economic, cultural, and civic ties between Mexico and the U.S.

Read more about the conversation and the speakers in attendance from UCLA Newsroom.

Watch: How education can lead to greater economic opportunity for Latinos in California

Latinos in California have made gains in educational attainment, but those gains don't always translate into equitable economic opportunity. Drawing on findings from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute's State of Latinos in California, 2026 report, researchers and panelists examine the barriers that continue to shape Latino experiences in higher education and the workforce - and what changes could strengthen the pathway from education to economic mobility.

Watch the webinar on higher education, career access and wage equity for Latinos in California.

Chancellor Julio Frenk honored with Hispanic Health Leadership Award

Chancellor Julio Frenk, the first Hispanic chancellor at UCLA, was honored by the National Hispanic Health Foundation in recognition of his work to improve health care systems through leadership, research and education. The award ceremony, held in November 2025, also celebrated the academic achievements and aspirations of student scholars, including Giuliana Perini Villanueva, a medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Read more about Chancellor Frenk's work as a global health leader, from UCLA Newsroom.