UCLA Fielding staff join colleagues across the University of California for 2023 UC Black Administrators’ Council Conference
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health staff members joined Black colleagues from schools across the University of California (UC) system for the 2023 UC Black Administrators' Council (UCBAC) Conference in February. The conference offered an opportunity for attendees to engage with one another, network, and explore the challenges and possibilities of leadership roles across UC.
UCLA Fielding attendees included Porchia Toussaint, assistant director for the MPH for Health Professionals program; Brittney Hawkins, project specialist for MPH for Health Professionals and Public Health Scholars Training programs; and Kaelyn Duke, student services advisor for the Office of Student Services; and me, in my role as director of academic services for the Office of Student Services.
Organized by the University of California Office of the President (UCOP), the UCBAC represents UC's systemwide effort to increase and support the presence of Black staff, students, and faculty on UC campuses and to improve diversity in student recruitment, faculty retention, curriculum development, and administration at the universities. The effort supports the university in the development and retention of a highly skilled, diverse, and motivated professional staff.
The UCBAC Conference is an annual two-day gathering of Black leaders from across UC campuses and career levels. The 2023 conference featured a keynote address delivered by Dr. Michael V. Drake, UC president, who spoke about his roots growing up in New York, his love of jazz music, and his career journey. In addition to plenty of opportunities for attendees to engage and connect, the conference offered a variety of concurrent sessions. One session focused on the experiences of Black women in higher education and featured four panelists who talked about their career paths, from a lawyer who worked in student advocacy to a mental health professional who talked about the importance of being mentally sound in order to be there for students.
2023 marked my third consecutive year attending the UCBAC Conference and my biggest takeaway by far is that it’s not just me and it’s not just UCLA — we are all part of a collective UC-wide network of resources and support. It’s important to have your group or “family” — and knowing you are part of something bigger makes all the difference.
UCBAC programs, such as the conference, have a demonstrated record of enhancing skills, strengthening institutional loyalty, and broadening participants' knowledge of university affairs. UCLA Fielding staff and faculty who are interested in attending the conference with colleagues from UCLA Fielding next year can contact me via email at aphalley@ph.ucla.edu.
By Arlecia Powell-Halley
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