West LA Times

The UCLA Alumni Association board of directors has elected eight members and four officers whose terms began on July 1. The volunteer-led board comprises 12 alumni who collaborate with alumni affairs staff to further the association’s mission of enriching the lives of alumni globally and involving them in UCLA’s future.

The board's new president, Paco Retana, has been serving vulnerable youth and marginalized communities in Los Angeles for nearly 35 years. A mental health expert and chief program officer at Wellnest, Retana is responsible for all clinical programs, including strategic planning, program evaluation, and training in support of the organization’s mission through a holistic approach to emotional well-being. He has also served as a consultant for numerous community organizations, educational institutions, and foundations throughout Los Angeles.

Retana, who has served on the board since 2018, earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1987 and a master’s in social work in 2009, both from UCLA. He will serve as president for a two-year term; he succeeds Ann Wang, who will serve as alumni regent-designate on the UC Board of Regents.

The board's new vice president, Cinthia Flores, serves on the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board after being appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2020. She was formerly a staff attorney with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and has a background in labor law, having represented private and public sector unions. Flores earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from UCLA in 2010 and has been an Alumni Association board member since 2020. She will serve as vice president for a one-year term.

The board's new secretary, Cathy Choi, is senior director of programs at the Eisner Foundation, overseeing the planning, strategic development, and distribution of $7 million in annual grants. Choi received a bachelor’s degree in economics from UCLA in 1996 and has more than 20 years of diverse professional experience in philanthropy and the nonprofit and public sectors. Before joining the Eisner Foundation, she was a program officer at the California Community Foundation. A board member since 2018, she will serve as secretary for a two-year term.

The new treasurer is Ed Lew, assistant chief counsel at the Walt Disney Company where he provides legal support for technology-related transactions and initiatives. He also co-chairs the Disney Lawyers of Color affinity group. Lew has volunteered with several nonprofit organizations including serving as president of Asian Pacific Alumni of UCLA, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County, and OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates Greater Los Angeles. Lew earned a juris doctorate degree from UCLA School of Law in 1998 and has served on the board since 2018. He will serve as treasurer for a two-year term.

Three incumbent directors were reelected for another term while five directors were elected to new terms:

- Sonia Das: Principal attorney at the Law Offices of Sonia Das; bachelor's degree in history from UCLA (1990).

- Stephanie Ellis-Smith: Founder and CEO of Phīla Engaged Giving; bachelor's degree in English from UCLA (1993).

- Dean Florez: Former California state senator; founder and CEO of Balance Public Relations; bachelor's degree in political science from UCLA (1987).

- Manaf Mansure: Senior director of strategy and operations at Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health; bachelor's degree in theater from UCLA (2009).

- Joseph Pham: Chairman and CEO of QSC; bachelor's degree (1992), master's degree (1994), doctorate (1999) all in electrical engineering from UCLA.

- Matt Saucedo: Co-founder/head product management/product marketing at Prism AI; bachelor's degree communication studies from UCLA (2011).

- Joseph Vardner: Strategic counsel Office Chief Compliance Officer Meta Platforms Inc.; bachelor's civil engineering from UCLA (2006).

- Jenn Wells: Director equity/inclusion Marlborough School; bachelor's American literature/culture from UCLA (2007).

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