West LA Times

UCLA School of Law has received a $1 million donation from Alicia Miñana de Lovelace, chair of The UCLA Foundation board, to enhance its Critical Race Studies program, marking the largest-ever single contribution to the initiative. The program, founded in 2000, is the sole law school-based program in the nation devoted to Critical Race Theory and related scholarship.

Alicia Miñana de Lovelace's generous gift aims to advance Latino legal scholarship at UCLA Law by establishing the Laura E. Gómez Teaching Fellowship on Latinx People and the Law in honor of retiring UCLA Law professor Laura Gómez. Miñana de Lovelace, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico with Cuban ancestry, expressed her admiration for Gómez's work, stating, "So much of Laura’s scholarship reflects my own life and journey."

Laura Gómez, an esteemed legal academic focusing on law, politics, and inequality, has been a driving force in advancing scholarship in Latino studies and history. Through the fellowship, future legal scholars are encouraged to follow in Gómez's footsteps and contribute to the field of Latinx legal studies at UCLA Law.

The fellowship will support emerging scholars working at the intersection of Latino studies, race, and the law. Gómez highlighted the importance of this gift, mentioning that UCLA Law is moving towards becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution, emphasizing the benefits students will gain from courses on Latinx people and the law covering various topics such as voting rights, immigration law, and racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

Alicia Miñana de Lovelace's history of philanthropic engagement with UCLA Law demonstrates her commitment to supporting initiatives in the legal field. UCLA Law Dean Michael Waterstone expressed gratitude for her dedication, stating, "Her insightful dedication to legal scholarship, thoughtful advocacy, and the raising of future voices has already made an indelible impact on the law school and our neighbors across California and the nation."

The recent $1 million gift from Alicia Miñana de Lovelace not only honors the legacy of retiring professor Laura Gómez but also paves the way for the growth of Latinx legal studies and scholars at UCLA School of Law, ensuring a lasting impact on the field.