We Are PoliSci - Alumni - News

(In Memoriam)
Elinor Ostrom, former professor of Political Science at the University of Indiana, Bloomington, made history in 2009 as the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economics. To read more about Ostrom's outstanding contributions to academia as well as to the UCLA Political Science global reputation, click here.

Charles E. Young is the chancellor emeritus of UCLA, a professor at the UCLA School of Public Affairs, former chancellor of UCLA, and currently the chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. He received his masters and doctorate degrees in political science from UCLA in 1957 and 1960, respectively. Recognized around the world for his distinguished leadership in higher education, Chancellor Young is an active contributor to numerous community, statewide, national and international organizations devoted to education and societal issues. To learn more about Young's life and contributions to UCLA, click here.

Todd Abrahmson not only graduated from the Political Science Department but also from the NROTC. Since graduation, Abrahmson has become a Navel pilot and a member of the Blue Angels; an elite stunt pilot squad comprised of the best pilots from the Navy and the Marines. To learn more about Abrahmson and his outstanding accomplishments since graduation, click here.

Liz Aguilar-Tarchi obtained her J.D. from Hastings College of the Law in 1982. For over 17 years, she has served as the assistant district attorney for the San Francisco district attorney's office. To learn more about Aguilar-Tarchi and her outstanding accomplishments since graduation, click here.

(In Memoriam)
Tony Blankley was the “right” of KCRW's Left, Right, and Center and has played a major role in conservative politics for several decades. During his career he served as a policy analyst and speechwriter for Ronald Reagan, right-hand man to Newt Gingrich and editorial page editor for The Washington Times. Before his passing away on January 7, 2012, he worked as a syndicated columnist and authored the New York Times bestseller The West’s Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations?. To learn more about Blankley's life and accomplishments, click here.

After her graduation, Finley held jobs in governmental relations at UCLA and UC San Diego. However, she quickly realized that her true passion lay in cooking entered to be a contestant on Who Will Be the Next Food Network Star?. After winning the competition, she hosted her own cooking show on The Food Network called The Gourmet Next Door. To learn more about Finley's life and culinary experiences, click here.

Wendy Greuel has been the current Los Angeles City Controller since July 1, 2009. After her graduation she worked in former Mayor Tom Bradley's office, served as a field operations officer for the US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under the Clinton administration, and joined the Corporate Affairs Department of DreamWorks SKG. Her career as an elected public official began in 2002 when she was elected to the Los Angeles City Council. Wendy is currently campaigning to be Mayor of Los Angeles in 2013. To learn more about Greuel's impressive accomplishments, click here.

Kameya conducts advocacy workshops with the UCLA Government and Community Relations. The students he works with join advocates from other UC campuses in Sacramento to discuss the state budget’s impact on the university. He has been president of the UCLA Internship Association, served on the boards of Asian Pacific Alumni of UCLA and ASUCLA, and is a graduate of the Alumni Assocation’s Alumni Academy. To learn more about Kameya's accomplishments, click here.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Lewis ’56 represents the 41st Congressional District of California. A member of Congress since 1995, Lewis was named chair of the House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 6, 2005 and from 1999-2005, he was chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Prior to his election to Congress, he served in the California State Legislature To learn more about Lewis' achievements, click here.

Dylan Loewe may have only completed his bachelor's degree eight years ago but he has made impressive strides in that short time. Loewe established Ballotground, a political organization with the goal of placing anti-war measurements on the ballots of 2008 battleground states. To find out more about Loewe's work as well as to learn more information about Ballotground, click here.

A powerful player in politics, Laura Richardson is knows for having served at all three levels of government in a single year. Her first elected office was to the Long Beach City Council, where she served from 2000-2006. In 2007 when moved on to the state-level, representing the 55th district in the California State Assembly before being elected to represent California's 37th district in the US House of Representatives in a special election. To learn more about Richardson's policy accomplishments, click here.

Henry Waxman is the US Representative for California's 30th congressional district. His Congressional service began in 1975, after having spend six years serving in the California State Assembly. He is considered to be one of the most influential liberal members of Congress and has championed public health measures, environmental regulation, women's rights, public health care, and services for the aged, disabled and poor. To learn more about Waxman's contributions to Democratic politics in the US, click here.