News

It’s been a year since I joined the UCLA Student Affairs Media Team, and I vividly remember my onboarding process. My first meeting was at the Tom Bradley building on the west side of campus, known as “The Hill.” When I drove into the parking structure, I parked next to a sleek, all-black sports car. What was most notable, was the trunk logo had been replaced with the Batman symbol.

When one thinks of Los Angeles from an international perspective, images of majestic sunsets and sunrises, Hollywood movies and famous actors, year-long warm weather, and a vibrant mix of diverse cultures come to mind. While these visual icons define Los Angeles, many international students also recognize it as home of the UCLA brand—a beacon of opportunity. UCLA stands on the foundational pillars—that with hard work, and the drive to succeed, possibilities are endless.

In 2007, Jenny Byrd started a job as an Event Manager for UCLA Residential Life. An artist at heart, she was unsure that an administrative career in higher education could ever be a viable path for her. However, during her nearly two decades working at UCLA, Jenny found new creative outlets in research and assessment, student programming and organizational development. What began as just a day job supporting her moonlight career as a theater producer slowly became her calling.