Bruin Highlight: Past, Present & Future This August 2024 we are highlighting Native Bruin Eva Thomas from the Walpole Island First Nation, a MA graduate of 2009 in American Indians Studies. Eva Thomas is an accomplished director, writer, and producer, with a strong commitment to bringing diverse Indigenous stories to the forefront of film and … Read more
Bruin Highlight: Past, Present & Future This July 2024 we are highlighting Native Bruin Patricia Bengochia (also known as Petey) from the Bishop Paiute Tribal nation, a graduate of 1976. Patricia Bengochia, is one of the first group of Native students that was recruited to UCLA. Pat majored in History with a focus on American … Read more
The UCLA Native community is deeply saddened by the loss of Philip Hale, a beloved member of both the Native Bruin family and the larger Native American community in Los Angeles. We affectionately called him “Phil” within our community, and his presence will be greatly missed. Phil, who was from the Navajo tribe and belonged … Read more
Bruin Highlight: Past, Present & Future This June 2024 we are highlighting Native Bruin, Lydia Yellow Hawk (Sicangu Lakota) class of 2023, MA in American Indian Studies. Lydia YellowHawk Lydia Yellow Hawk is Sicangu Lakota from the Rosebud Reservation, He Dog community in South Dakota. Lydia is a 2023 UCLA alum and received her M.A. … Read more
Bruin Highlight: Past, Present & Future This May 2024 we are highlighting Native Bruin, Arlene Bowman (Diné), class of 1986, MA in Film & Television. Arlene Bowman discovered her passion for art at a young age, drawing faces and bodies in elementary school before transitioning to still photography at fourteen. She earned her Bachelor of … Read more
Bruin Highlight: Past, Present & Future This April 2024 we are highlighting Native Bruin, Makela Yepez (Pomo), class of 2021 Makela Yepez, a member of the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians located in rural Northern California, aspired of becoming an artist in Los Angeles from a young age. Upon gaining acceptance to the UCLA School … Read more
This December we are highlighting Native Bruin David Montoya (Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo), Class of 2009 – Juris Doctorate, Masters American Indian Studies. David Montoya is an enrolled member of the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo and has been serving Indian Country as an attorney and consultant for over 10 years. David graduated from UCLA School of Law’s … Read more
This November we are highlighting Native Bruin, Angelo Isaac Sandoval (Apache/Dine) Class of 2009. Angelo Isaac Sandoval is a staff attorney and clinical supervisor with the Clean Slate Practice at the East Bay Community Law Center through UC Berkeley’s School of Law. He leads the work to end the criminalization of poverty, advocates for the … Read more
This October we are highlighting Native Bruin Matthew de Lira Class of 2007 and Class of 2011. Matt started college at Chapman University in Orange, California. There he took American Indian history, anthropology, film, and sociology classes under Professor Paul Apodaca (a Native Bruin, UCLA Ph.D.) Matt then transferred to UCLA and graduated with the … Read more
This September we are highlighting Native Bruin Jennifer R. Leal from the Washoe and Paiute tribal community, Class of 2005. Jennifer R. Leal is a descendant of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and Mono Lake Paiute tribal communities. She graduated from UCLA in 2005 with a bachelor of arts degree in American Indian … Read more