Adewunmi Adelaja
Adewunmi Adelaja is an MD/PhD dual degree candidate in the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSoM) and Molecular Biology Interdepartmental program at UCLA. His research focuses on the specificity of inflammatory response by innate immune cells. Ade has previously served as the director of communication for UCLA’s Graduate Students Association, a student advisor for the re-applicant program at DGSoM, vice-chair for technology of the American Physician-Scientist Association, and chapter vice-president of the Student National Medical Association. Furthermore, he is a co-founder of New Beginning Healthcare Services, LLC., which is a home health agency that provides home nursing services to residents of Central Ohio.
Ade earned his bachelor’s degree at the Ohio State University (OSU) with a major in Biology and minors in Computer Science and Neuroscience. He earned his degree with Honors in Arts and Sciences and Honors Research Distinction in Biology. Further, he was a recipient of the prestigious Morrill Excellence Scholarship and OSU College of Arts and Sciences Rising Star Award and was a Health Sciences Scholar.
Avi Oved
Avi Oved is currently pursuing his J.D. at UCLA School of Law and serves on the board of UC’s National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement. Prior to graduating in 2016 from UCLA with a B.A. in Economics, Oved served a two-year term on the UC Board of Regents as the Student Regent, the sole representative of 250,000 students across the 10-campus system. As Regent, Oved established an additional student seat on the board, co-authored the UC Statement of Principles Against Intolerance, an anti-discrimination policy, and advocated for UC’s disinvestment of $200M from coal and tar sand companies, as well as $30M from private prisons. Prior to this, Oved served as USAC’s Internal Vice President, where he institutionalized UCLA Circle of 6, a mobile safety app that centralizes emergency communication efforts.
In between graduating UCLA and starting law school, Oved worked for the Hillary For America campaign, SKDKnickerbocker, a democratic political consulting firm, and Sunshine Sachs, a communications and public relations firm.
Noreen Ahmed
Noreen Ahmed is a Master of Public Policy student at UCLA and an Economic Policy intern at Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office working primarily on an initiative to build workforce and mentorship opportunities for young women interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)-driven programs. She was a two-time AmeriCorps VISTA member and then a case manager/college counselor at Mile High Youth Corps in Denver, Colorado helping low-income young adults in need of a high school diploma. She has also served in the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa and earned her bachelor’s in public relations at Boston University. Noreen hopes to pursue a political career in greater Los Angeles that allows her to find innovative ways to improve workforce development and policies impacting the most vulnerable. This summer, she will work with the office of Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson and local governmental firm, Cerrell on community and workforce development.
Adewunmi Adelaja
Adewunmi Adelaja is an MD/PhD dual degree candidate in the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSoM) and Molecular Biology Interdepartmental program at UCLA. His research focuses on the specificity of inflammatory response by innate immune cells. Ade has previously served as the director of communication for UCLA’s Graduate Students Association, a student advisor for the re-applicant program at DGSoM, vice-chair for technology of the American Physician-Scientist Association, and chapter vice-president of the Student National Medical Association. Furthermore, he is a co-founder of New Beginning Healthcare Services, LLC., which is a home health agency that provides home nursing services to residents of Central Ohio.
Ade earned his bachelor’s degree at the Ohio State University (OSU) with a major in Biology and minors in Computer Science and Neuroscience. He earned his degree with Honors in Arts and Sciences and Honors Research Distinction in Biology. Further, he was a recipient of the prestigious Morrill Excellence Scholarship and OSU College of Arts and Sciences Rising Star Award and was a Health Sciences Scholar.
Avi Oved
Avi Oved is currently pursuing his J.D. at UCLA School of Law and serves on the board of UC’s National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement. Prior to graduating in 2016 from UCLA with a B.A. in Economics, Oved served a two-year term on the UC Board of Regents as the Student Regent, the sole representative of 250,000 students across the 10-campus system. As Regent, Oved established an additional student seat on the board, co-authored the UC Statement of Principles Against Intolerance, an anti-discrimination policy, and advocated for UC’s disinvestment of $200M from coal and tar sand companies, as well as $30M from private prisons. Prior to this, Oved served as USAC’s Internal Vice President, where he institutionalized UCLA Circle of 6, a mobile safety app that centralizes emergency communication efforts.
In between graduating UCLA and starting law school, Oved worked for the Hillary For America campaign, SKDKnickerbocker, a democratic political consulting firm, and Sunshine Sachs, a communications and public relations firm.
Noreen Ahmed
Noreen Ahmed is a Master of Public Policy student at UCLA and an Economic Policy intern at Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office working primarily on an initiative to build workforce and mentorship opportunities for young women interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)-driven programs. She was a two-time AmeriCorps VISTA member and then a case manager/college counselor at Mile High Youth Corps in Denver, Colorado helping low-income young adults in need of a high school diploma. She has also served in the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa and earned her bachelor’s in public relations at Boston University. Noreen hopes to pursue a political career in greater Los Angeles that allows her to find innovative ways to improve workforce development and policies impacting the most vulnerable. This summer, she will work with the office of Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson and local governmental firm, Cerrell on community and workforce development.
Ernesto Arciniega
Ernesto Arciniega graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Peninsular and Latin American Literatures, Summa cum laude, from UC Berkeley in 2016, earned his Master’s degree in Hispanic Literatures from UCLA in 2018 and is currently in the second phase of the doctoral program in Hispanic Literatures at UCLA. A three-times recipient of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Ernesto’s primary research interests are Contemporary Spanish Peninsular, Mexican and Chicanx literatures and cultures, specifically how immigrants are represented in literature, film and cultural production. Among his multiple research interests are border studies, Mexican immigration to the United States, immigration law and protest art.
Ernesto was born and raised in Mexico and moved to San Diego, California in 2007. Ernesto is a strong advocate for social justice and immigrants’ rights and has worked with different Hispanic/Latinx organizations in both UC Berkeley and UCLA. He is the founder and current President of UCLA Hispanic Latinx Graduate Students Association. He has previously served as President of UC Berkeley UARLL, Student Researcher for UC Berkeley Restorative Justice Center (conducting research on undocumented students), Editor of UCLA Párrafo Magazine and Vice President of UCLA Spanish & Portuguese GSA. Ernesto is the inaugural Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement (2018-2019) for the UCLA Graduate Students Association. In this position, he worked alongside GSA, UCLA administrators and student groups and organizations to promote diversity, equity and inclusion across campus. Ernesto also served as Chair of the GSA Student Interest Board and was recently selected as one of the UCLA representatives to the UC National Center for Free Speech & Civic Engagement’s first conference “#SpeechMatters: The Future of Free Expression on Campus” in Washington, DC.
Erika Bricky
Erika Bricky is a rising third-year student pursuing a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in African American Studies.
Erika first began working for ASUCLA in the summer of 2017 for the Marketing Department. She was an integral part of transitioning ASUCLA’s social media presence to be focused on highlighting the Core Values and increasing student engagement. Erika has worked in various marketing and branding capacities for UCLA Athletics, Tinder, and Match.com. She looks forward to continue the work of the current board’s efforts to reinvent ASUCLA’s brand.
Erika firmly believes in ASUCLA’s mission and in her first year on the board she hopes to use her new position as an opportunity to ensure that we our achieving our goals.
Aidan Arasasingham
Aidan Arasasingham is a rising first-year pursuing a B.A. in Global Studies and Economics with a minor in Art History specializing in architecture. During his time at UCLA, he has worked in the Office of the External Vice President on local, state, and federal government advocacy in support of student needs and will be leading the office’s legislative strategy this year. He has also held postings on the UCLA Division Academic Senate related to undergraduate admissions and financial planning as well as on the Arts Restoring Community Fund.
Aidan is particularly interested in issues relating to the intersections of politics, economics, and design on a global scale and looks forward to interrogating these intersections further during his academic and professional career. Aidan is proud of the independence and student-focus that ASUCLA has brought to the campus and community for almost a century and is excited to help move the organization toward even greater success in the future on behalf of UCLA students and stakeholders.
Ernesto Arciniega
Ernesto Arciniega graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Peninsular and Latin American Literatures, Summa cum laude, from UC Berkeley in 2016, earned his Master’s degree in Hispanic Literatures from UCLA in 2018 and is currently in the second phase of the doctoral program in Hispanic Literatures at UCLA. A three-times recipient of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Ernesto’s primary research interests are Contemporary Spanish Peninsular, Mexican and Chicanx literatures and cultures, specifically how immigrants are represented in literature, film and cultural production. Among his multiple research interests are border studies, Mexican immigration to the United States, immigration law and protest art.
Ernesto was born and raised in Mexico and moved to San Diego, California in 2007. Ernesto is a strong advocate for social justice and immigrants’ rights and has worked with different Hispanic/Latinx organizations in both UC Berkeley and UCLA. He is the founder and current President of UCLA Hispanic Latinx Graduate Students Association. He has previously served as President of UC Berkeley UARLL, Student Researcher for UC Berkeley Restorative Justice Center (conducting research on undocumented students), Editor of UCLA Párrafo Magazine and Vice President of UCLA Spanish & Portuguese GSA. Ernesto is the inaugural Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement (2018-2019) for the UCLA Graduate Students Association. In this position, he worked alongside GSA, UCLA administrators and student groups and organizations to promote diversity, equity and inclusion across campus. Ernesto also served as Chair of the GSA Student Interest Board and was recently selected as one of the UCLA representatives to the UC National Center for Free Speech & Civic Engagement’s first conference “#SpeechMatters: The Future of Free Expression on Campus” in Washington, DC.
Erika Bricky
Erika Bricky is a rising third-year student pursuing a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in African American Studies.
Erika first began working for ASUCLA in the summer of 2017 for the Marketing Department. She was an integral part of transitioning ASUCLA’s social media presence to be focused on highlighting the Core Values and increasing student engagement. Erika has worked in various marketing and branding capacities for UCLA Athletics, Tinder, and Match.com. She looks forward to continue the work of the current board’s efforts to reinvent ASUCLA’s brand.
Erika firmly believes in ASUCLA’s mission and in her first year on the board she hopes to use her new position as an opportunity to ensure that we our achieving our goals.
Aidan Arasasingham
Aidan Arasasingham is a rising first-year pursuing a B.A. in Global Studies and Economics with a minor in Art History specializing in architecture. During his time at UCLA, he has worked in the Office of the External Vice President on local, state, and federal government advocacy in support of student needs and will be leading the office’s legislative strategy this year. He has also held postings on the UCLA Division Academic Senate related to undergraduate admissions and financial planning as well as on the Arts Restoring Community Fund.
Aidan is particularly interested in issues relating to the intersections of politics, economics, and design on a global scale and looks forward to interrogating these intersections further during his academic and professional career. Aidan is proud of the independence and student-focus that ASUCLA has brought to the campus and community for almost a century and is excited to help move the organization toward even greater success in the future on behalf of UCLA students and stakeholders.
Siena Villegas
Siena Villegas is a rising third-year student studying Business Economics with a Minor in Accounting. Before coming to UCLA, Siena grew up in East Bay Area, where she had the opportunity to interact with people of diverse backgrounds and identities.
In her second year at UCLA, Siena served as Financial Coordinator for Samahang Pilipino at UCLA and as a Resident Assistant in Hedrick Summit. Through these roles, Siena was able to see firsthand the financial hardship that students on this campus face, and how that affects their retention at UCLA. She is passionate about understanding the ways in which identity intersects with and affects finances and access to resources. Siena is honored to have the opportunity to uplift student voices, empower communities, and advocate for students’ needs through her position on the ASUCLA Board of Directors.
Alexis Wells
Alexis Wells is a rising third-year student pursuing a B.A. in Political Science and African American Studies.
Alexis has proudly taken part in spaces such as the African Student Union, serving as the Marketing and Publicity Chair for Admit Weekend Committee, worked for the Central Ticket office and UCLA’s Annual Fund, the Call Center. She is excited and determined to highlight the core values that ASUCLA upholds.
Alexis is passionate about highlighting student experiences through ASUCLA and providing spaces that will allow for the overall success of students both here at UCLA and their everlasting impacts after UCLA. As a first year on the Board of Directors, she hopes to ensure the amazing true values of ASUCLA such as high quality and low cost are continuously being upheld and felt throughout the campus.
Frank Wada
Frank Wada entered the student affairs professional over 20 years ago for one purpose: to help students successfully achieve their personal and professional higher education goals. He arrived at UCLA in 2011 to serve as the University Registrar and added Executive Director Responsibilities in 2014. Previously, Frank has held campus leadership roles at UC Davis, San José State University, and Menlo College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and sociology from San José State University, a master’s degree in education from UCLA, and is in progress to finish a doctorate degree in education from UC Davis.
Siena Villegas
Siena Villegas is a rising third-year student studying Business Economics with a Minor in Accounting. Before coming to UCLA, Siena grew up in East Bay Area, where she had the opportunity to interact with people of diverse backgrounds and identities.
In her second year at UCLA, Siena served as Financial Coordinator for Samahang Pilipino at UCLA and as a Resident Assistant in Hedrick Summit. Through these roles, Siena was able to see firsthand the financial hardship that students on this campus face, and how that affects their retention at UCLA. She is passionate about understanding the ways in which identity intersects with and affects finances and access to resources. Siena is honored to have the opportunity to uplift student voices, empower communities, and advocate for students’ needs through her position on the ASUCLA Board of Directors.
Alexis Wells
Alexis Wells is a rising third-year student pursuing a B.A. in Political Science and African American Studies.
Alexis has proudly taken part in spaces such as the African Student Union, serving as the Marketing and Publicity Chair for Admit Weekend Committee, worked for the Central Ticket office and UCLA’s Annual Fund, the Call Center. She is excited and determined to highlight the core values that ASUCLA upholds.
Alexis is passionate about highlighting student experiences through ASUCLA and providing spaces that will allow for the overall success of students both here at UCLA and their everlasting impacts after UCLA. As a first year on the Board of Directors, she hopes to ensure the amazing true values of ASUCLA such as high quality and low cost are continuously being upheld and felt throughout the campus.
Frank Wada
Frank Wada entered the student affairs professional over 20 years ago for one purpose: to help students successfully achieve their personal and professional higher education goals. He arrived at UCLA in 2011 to serve as the University Registrar and added Executive Director Responsibilities in 2014. Previously, Frank has held campus leadership roles at UC Davis, San José State University, and Menlo College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and sociology from San José State University, a master’s degree in education from UCLA, and is in progress to finish a doctorate degree in education from UC Davis.
Steve Yu
Steve Yu is a double Bruin with a bachelors in Econ and MBA from UCLA. He is the CFO and Assistant Dean at the UCLA Law School overseeing a $100 million budget. Steve served three terms as president of the UCLA Alumni Association Westside Bruins and was voted the 2017 UCLA Alumni Volunteer of the Year. Steve is a paid public speaker and has been president of two UCLA Toastmasters clubs (Bruin Toastmasters, True Blue Toastmasters), and is a presenter at the UCLA Anderson Riordan Program and the UCLA Bruin Leaders Project.
Steve is the alumni representative and hopes to utilize his 25+ years of business and finance experience to the ASUCLA Board of Directors.
Jesse Torres
Jesse Torres has served as California’s state small business advocate and deputy director of small business in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development since April 2015. Previously, Jesse had served as regional director of the Los Angeles Small Business Development Center Network from 2011 to 2015. Prior to his work with SBDC, Jesse served in advancement positions in higher education and the arts, most notably for Pepperdine University where he served as director of Alumni Relations for the Graziadio School of Business and Management from 2005 to 2011. Jesse earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University and Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA. He lives with his wife Jennifer and his two children, Alex and Ava, in South Pasadena, CA.
Paul Abramson
Paul Abramson currently serves as Director of the Central Ticket Office for UCLA. He reports directly to the Administrative Vice Chancellor and is responsible, on behalf of our campus partners, for overseeing the servicing, processing and sale of tickets for UCLA events held on and off campus.
While a student at UCLA in the early 80’s, Paul was an employee of the Central Ticket Office and was heavily involved in organizing the annual Mardi Gras event, serving as Chair of the 1985 event. He came back to UCLA in 1990 when he joined the Central Ticket Office as Assistant Director overseeing customer and client service. He has been with the ticket office since and was promoted to Director in July of 2011.
Paul received a B.A. degree in Economics from UCLA in 1986. His wife is also a graduate of UCLA and received her degree in 1989.
Steve Yu
Steve Yu is a double Bruin with a bachelors in Econ and MBA from UCLA. He is the CFO and Assistant Dean at the UCLA Law School overseeing a $100 million budget. Steve served three terms as president of the UCLA Alumni Association Westside Bruins and was voted the 2017 UCLA Alumni Volunteer of the Year. Steve is a paid public speaker and has been president of two UCLA Toastmasters clubs (Bruin Toastmasters, True Blue Toastmasters), and is a presenter at the UCLA Anderson Riordan Program and the UCLA Bruin Leaders Project.
Steve is the alumni representative and hopes to utilize his 25+ years of business and finance experience to the ASUCLA Board of Directors.
Jesse Torres
Jesse Torres has served as California’s state small business advocate and deputy director of small business in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development since April 2015. Previously, Jesse had served as regional director of the Los Angeles Small Business Development Center Network from 2011 to 2015. Prior to his work with SBDC, Jesse served in advancement positions in higher education and the arts, most notably for Pepperdine University where he served as director of Alumni Relations for the Graziadio School of Business and Management from 2005 to 2011. Jesse earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University and Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA. He lives with his wife Jennifer and his two children, Alex and Ava, in South Pasadena, CA.
Paul Abramson
Paul Abramson currently serves as Director of the Central Ticket Office for UCLA. He reports directly to the Administrative Vice Chancellor and is responsible, on behalf of our campus partners, for overseeing the servicing, processing and sale of tickets for UCLA events held on and off campus.
While a student at UCLA in the early 80’s, Paul was an employee of the Central Ticket Office and was heavily involved in organizing the annual Mardi Gras event, serving as Chair of the 1985 event. He came back to UCLA in 1990 when he joined the Central Ticket Office as Assistant Director overseeing customer and client service. He has been with the ticket office since and was promoted to Director in July of 2011.
Paul received a B.A. degree in Economics from UCLA in 1986. His wife is also a graduate of UCLA and received her degree in 1989.
Kevin Eagan
Kevin Eagan is Assistant Professor in Residence and Director of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP), the longest-running and largest empirical study of higher education in the country. He is also the Managing Director of the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA (HERI), where the CIRP surveys are administered. Dr. Eagan’s research interests include issues related to undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, contingent faculty, student retention, institutional contexts and structures of opportunity, survey validity and reliability, and advanced quantitative methods. He obtained his Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA, his M.S. in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University, and his B.S. in Mathematics from Greensboro College.
Pouria Abbassi, P.E.
Pouria Abbassi rejoined his Alma Mater as the CEO and Executive Director of the Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA), the largest organization of its kind in the world, in February, 2018. In this leadership role, Pouria leverages his over two decades of executive experience in multiple industries—and his passion for “all things Bruin”—to work with the ASUCLA Board of Directors, the incredible ASUCLA family of employees, campus partners and other stakeholders, moving the organization forward to its next opportunity phase of success and accomplishments in serving the Bruin student body and extending the UCLA brand globally.
Prior to joining ASUCLA, Pouria was the President and CEO of the Golbanoo Group, a specialty business management & consulting firm supporting large scale real estate developments, asset utilization practices through public private partnerships, conference and convention programming and digital health and wellness platforms and technologies.
Pouria previously led Phoenix Houses of California, Inc. (PHC), one of the largest mental health and behavioral health organizations nationally, as its President overseeing the significant service growth of the entire California operations through four companies, across 17 facilities, over 30 programs and a versatile array of services available to Californians.
Prior to Phoenix House, Pouria was the CEO of the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC). Under his leadership , LACC became among the very few convention centers nationwide to attain fiscal solvency, after over three decades of operational fiscal deficit, had the highest occupancy and customer satisfaction rating within its competitive set and was the first convention center of its size and age to achieve LEED-EB Gold certification. During his tenure, he was also involved with all aspects of the multi-billion dollar LA Live development and later collaborations including the 1,000 room convention center headquarter hotel and other venues on the campus to leverage the said assets in promoting Los Angeles. During this time, LACC also became a model of corporate social responsibility through its services, reach and engagement with various communities groups and educational institutions. Pouria was one of the key executives leading the various components of master planning of the $1.5 billion LACC modernization. Prior to joining the LACC, Pouria led teams in project engineering, debt financing, financial modeling, environmental analysis and information technology implementation.
A registered mechanical engineer in the State of California and a graduate of UCLA School of Engineering and UCLA Anderson School of Management/Executive Management Program, Pouria has published several scientific papers in cryogenics and superconductivity and is a recipient of over 30 business and performance awards. He sits on various boards including the Los Angeles Business Council, Providence Hospital Foundation Board of Governors, Beyond Vision Music Foundation, Woodbury University, PAAIA, IA 100, Norooz Celebration Foundation, and works with various other community organizations including PARS Equality Center, KCIS, and Farhang Foundation. Pouria is also an active member of the Pacific Council on International Policy and is engaged with various policy and think tank groups at the local and national levels. Pouria frequently gives presentations on leadership and visioning to student groups and mentors young professionals in their careers. Pouria lives in Los Angeles with his wife, whom he met when they were both studying at UCLA, and their two children.
Kevin Eagan
Kevin Eagan is Assistant Professor in Residence and Director of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP), the longest-running and largest empirical study of higher education in the country. He is also the Managing Director of the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA (HERI), where the CIRP surveys are administered. Dr. Eagan’s research interests include issues related to undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, contingent faculty, student retention, institutional contexts and structures of opportunity, survey validity and reliability, and advanced quantitative methods. He obtained his Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA, his M.S. in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University, and his B.S. in Mathematics from Greensboro College.
Pouria Abbassi, P.E.
Pouria Abbassi rejoined his Alma Mater as the CEO and Executive Director of the Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA), the largest organization of its kind in the world, in February, 2018. In this leadership role, Pouria leverages his over two decades of executive experience in multiple industries—and his passion for “all things Bruin”—to work with the ASUCLA Board of Directors, the incredible ASUCLA family of employees, campus partners and other stakeholders, moving the organization forward to its next opportunity phase of success and accomplishments in serving the Bruin student body and extending the UCLA brand globally.
Prior to joining ASUCLA, Pouria was the President and CEO of the Golbanoo Group, a specialty business management & consulting firm supporting large scale real estate developments, asset utilization practices through public private partnerships, conference and convention programming and digital health and wellness platforms and technologies.
Pouria previously led Phoenix Houses of California, Inc. (PHC), one of the largest mental health and behavioral health organizations nationally, as its President overseeing the significant service growth of the entire California operations through four companies, across 17 facilities, over 30 programs and a versatile array of services available to Californians.
Prior to Phoenix House, Pouria was the CEO of the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC). Under his leadership , LACC became among the very few convention centers nationwide to attain fiscal solvency, after over three decades of operational fiscal deficit, had the highest occupancy and customer satisfaction rating within its competitive set and was the first convention center of its size and age to achieve LEED-EB Gold certification. During his tenure, he was also involved with all aspects of the multi-billion dollar LA Live development and later collaborations including the 1,000 room convention center headquarter hotel and other venues on the campus to leverage the said assets in promoting Los Angeles. During this time, LACC also became a model of corporate social responsibility through its services, reach and engagement with various communities groups and educational institutions. Pouria was one of the key executives leading the various components of master planning of the $1.5 billion LACC modernization. Prior to joining the LACC, Pouria led teams in project engineering, debt financing, financial modeling, environmental analysis and information technology implementation.
A registered mechanical engineer in the State of California and a graduate of UCLA School of Engineering and UCLA Anderson School of Management/Executive Management Program, Pouria has published several scientific papers in cryogenics and superconductivity and is a recipient of over 30 business and performance awards. He sits on various boards including the Los Angeles Business Council, Providence Hospital Foundation Board of Governors, Beyond Vision Music Foundation, Woodbury University, PAAIA, IA 100, Norooz Celebration Foundation, and works with various other community organizations including PARS Equality Center, KCIS, and Farhang Foundation. Pouria is also an active member of the Pacific Council on International Policy and is engaged with various policy and think tank groups at the local and national levels. Pouria frequently gives presentations on leadership and visioning to student groups and mentors young professionals in their careers. Pouria lives in Los Angeles with his wife, whom he met when they were both studying at UCLA, and their two children.