2024 ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

April 24, 2024

UCLA Carnesale Commons

Palisades Room

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NOTICE OF AUDIO AND VISUAL RECORDING

During this event, we may take photographs, audio record, and video tape. Most likely, you will be filmed, recorded, or photographed as part of the audience, as an individual, or part of a group. In addition, the visual materials may be accessible for viewing online after the event has concluded. With your attendance, you authorize the Regents of the University of California and their appointed gents to photograph, televise, videotape, film, audio record, stream over the internet, duplicate, and/or transfer to any present or future technology your likeness while participating in the 2024 AMG Leadership Conference on April 24, 2024, and agree that the Regents of University of California, their authorized agents, employees, and assignees may use the videotapes, photographs, film, and/or audio recordings prepared therefrom for UCLA archival and marketing purposes. No commercial use of the recordings is intended or will be authorized. No compensation will be paid for this expressed use. If you have any issues with this permission, please notify AMG immediately. Thank you!

Note: There is no BruinBus route that goes to Carnesale Commons.

Parking

Purchase a parking permit on Bruin ePermit portal . We recommend guests park in the following structures: Structure Sunset Village (SV), PS 7, and PS 4.

Daily parking will be fairly limited in SV. The next available areas will be Structure 7 and Structure 4.

Note: UCLA staff can purchase daily permits or obtain cross parking (if they have MOAR or quarterly permits) in these areas while the daily capacity allows. Please view the parking privileges link below for more specific information on cross-parking for each permit type: https://ucla.app.box.com/v/ucla parking privileges

Driving Directions From the 405 Freeway

1. Exit Sunset Boulevard East.
   
2. Turn right onto Bellagio Drive.
   
3. Turn left at the 2nd stop onto De Neve Drive.
   
4. Drive downhill to Structure Sunset Village (SV) on your right.
   
5. Turn right to enter the parking lot.
   

To PS 7 and PS 4

1. Exit Sunset Boulevard East.
   
2. Turn right onto Bellagio Drive.
   
3. Turn left at the 2nd stop onto De Neve Drive.
   
4. Drive downhill, pass Structure SV, and turn left on Charles Young Drive.
   
5. PS 7 is on the right.
   
6. PS 4 is after PS 7
   

Walking to Carnesale Commons

From PS 4

• Walk out of the garage onto the sidewalk and head north on Westwood Plaza toward Charles E Young Drive.
  
• Turn LEFT on Charles E Young Drive and walk towards the stop sign.
  
• Cross the street on De Neve Drive and turn left (Do not walk straight towards the Structure SV).
  
• Continue forward on the sidewalk PASSING the Covel Commons Building, base of the large staircase, and bike racks, and proceed to Carnesale Commons.
  
• Enter through the Main Lobby of Carnesale Commons and take the stairs or elevator to the 3rd Floor.
  

From PS 7

• Depending on your exit point, walk towards Charles E Young Drive West.
  
• Carnesale Common is located on Charles Young Drive West between Bruin Walk and De Neve Drive.
  
• Enter through the Main Lobby of Carnesale Commons and take the stairs or elevator to the 3rd Floor.
  

From PS SV (Sunset Village)

• Exit the parking structure to the street sidewalk (Level P1).
  
• Turn RIGHT and walk DOWNHILL towards Charles E Young Drive.
  
• Turn RIGHT on Charles E Young Drive and continue forward on the sidewalk PASSING the Covel Commons Building, base of the large staircase, and bike racks, and proceed to Carnesale Commons.
  
• Enter through the Main Lobby of Carnesale Commons and take the stairs or elevator to the 3rd Floor.
  

ADA-friendly Route from Structure Sunset Village to the Carnesale Commons

• Take the elevator or the stairs (located in the southwest corner of the parking garage) to the Lobby Level (L).
  
• Upon exiting the elevator, proceed straight ahead (about 10 feet), turn RIGHT, and walk along the perimeter of the Covel Commons building, turning LEFT at the corner and passing the Covel Commons Lobby doors.
  
• Continue walking and go past the stairway (on the left) and turn LEFT between Bruin Café and the stairway and follow the walkway.
  
• Follow the walkway all the way to the double doors to the rear entrance of the Carnesale Commons- Palisades Room.
  

Fostering a Culture of Support in Changing Times

Speakers: Panel from the Center for Academic Advising in the College

The last three years have been extraordinarily challenging. All of our routines, standards, systems, processes, and expectations were abruptly disrupted and upended. In addition, the COVID pandemic led many people to reconsider their values and priorities in life, resulting in what has been called the Great Resignation. But these crises simultaneously gave us the opportunity to rethink the culture of our unit and to reshape it more intentionally into a culture of support to cultivate a team that is highly engaged, mutually caring, inclusively valued, and deeply grateful to be a part of such a community. Together, these efforts have been highly effective in creating a nurturing environment that has been helpful in recruiting and retaining staff even in a challenging labor market. Ultimately, while the advising profession has always been intrinsically meaningful, it may not always be extrinsically compensated, but we have sought to make our work culture a place where people know they are impactful, deeply valued, and supported. We have been very successful in fostering a culture of support that is consonant with peoples’ values and priorities, in which our team trusts the leadership and feels valued and confident that together, we can face any challenge fully supported and with integrity.

Managing in a Hybrid Work Environment and Supporting Employee Well-being

Speaker: Angela DiBlasi, Counselor, Staff and Faculty Counseling Center

Leaders will gain confidence and feel more empowered to support their teams’ well-being in a hybrid work environment. Objectives: Understand how employees may be impacted in a hybrid work environment. Identify signs and symptoms that suggest an employee is struggling. Enhance effective communication techniques to have meaningful conversations with employees. Gain skills for coping with change and transition. Enhance Emotional Intelligence Skills. Increase self-compassion and self-care coping strategies.

Navigating the AI Landscape: Evaluating and Choosing the Right Tools for You

Speaker: Joy Guey, Emerging Technologies Advocate, Director of the Bridge Innovation Studio

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become both a promising opportunity and a source of ethical concerns. This presentation aims to provide a general overview of existing tools and future trends while offering insight on balancing between the benefits of AI and its potential risks to humanity. Attendees are invited to join in on the conversation about this rapidly changing landscape and should walk away with some guidelines on making informed decisions when evaluating which tools will best align with your objectives.

Wellness in the Workplace

Speaker: Bianca Caulfield, Manager of Payment Solutions and Compliance, Certified Yoga Instructor

The future of work begins with leaders who prioritize the well-being of themselves and their teams. In this session you will learn how to incorporate wellness practices into your workday as a leader and your workplace for your team. We will practice mindfulness and incorporate meditation into our session, as well as motivate and empower each other to be champions of a holistic approach to work-life balance. Join us for a session of inspiration and actionable insights, discovering how a wellness-driven leadership style can redefine success, enhance team dynamics, and pave the way for a better tomorrow.

The Science of Leadership Resilience

Speaker: Darlene Mininni, Consultant, Learning & Organizational Development

During challenging times, our resilience and well-being becomes more important than ever. It’s not easy to feel motivated or effective—in our work and life—when we’re overwhelmed and stressed. Although there are some things in our lives we can’t control, there are small and powerful things that we can. In fact, 40% of our resilience comes from using a set of practical skills that we can learn.

In this workshop, you’ll discover science-based strategies to:

• Rewire your body’s ancient negativity bias
  
• Manage your nervous system to build calm and focus
  
• Practice a brain-training exercise shown to boost resilience up to 25%
  

Bianca Caulfield

Payment Solutions and Compliance Manager

Bianca serves as the Manager of Payment Solutions and Compliance. She has been with UCLA for almost 5 years. In her current role she oversees all incoming payments, ensures departments are in compliance with all cash handling policies and is heavily involved in cashiering changes for the Ascend 2.0 project. She also co-founded a wellness group within Student Finance Solutions. She has completed over 500 hours of yoga teacher training and recently became a certified sound healer. Her first job was working at her family’s deli when she could barely see over the counter. Since those days she has worked numerous jobs with varying titles but she always found a need for more resources for managers and employees to find wellness in the workplace. In her free time, she can be found hiking around the Santa Monica Mountains or at the beach. She is a proud cat Mom of two sweet girls, Phoebe and Bean.

Axel Cortes Espino, M.S.

Academic Advisor

Axel Cortes, M.S., is an Academic Advisor in the Center for Academic Advising in the College at UCLA. In his role as an Academic Advisor, he guides and assist students in their academic journey. Axel is a former DACA recipient and First Generation Transfer student, and received his Master’s in Counseling and College Student Personnel at Cal Lutheran

University. He is passionate in serving the non-traditional student population and connecting students to campus resources. After serving the homeless population as a Mental Health Counselor, he served the Community College student population in the San Fernando Valley and then joined UCLA as an Academic Advisor where he proudly and collaboratively fosters the growth and development of the student population at UCLA.

Angela DiBlasi, MSW, LCSW, PCC

Counselor

Angela DiBlasi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She received her Master's in Social Work in 1990 from the University of Southern California (USC) with an emphasis in working with employees and leaders in the workplace. She started her career journey at UCLA over 30 years ago in the Staff & Faculty Counseling Center (SFCC) where she completed an internship and accrued hours toward her licensure. She then went on to provide Counseling, Coaching and Consultation to Staff, Faculty and Leaders at Caltech, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and at the University of Southern California (USC). At USC, she was a Program Manager and an Executive Coach, helping leaders succeed in their leadership roles. She has come full circle and returned to UCLA SFCC in October 2022 as a Counselor and also provides Leader Coaching, Consultation and Trainings. Her focus and specialty are supporting leaders in employee well-being, managing change and transition, while maintaining their own self-care and self-compassion coping strategies. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends/family, hiking, walking, Pilates and outdoor music concerts.

Marian Gabra, PhD

Director of Advisor Training & Professional Development and University Studies at UCLA

In her role, she works collaboratively across campus to cultivate spaces of learning and growth for students and staff. As the director of Advisor Training & Professional Development, she provides leadership and oversight to the College Advisor Training Program and has created and implemented the Advising Communities of Excellence (ACE) Professional Development Program, offering interactive workshops and initiatives that bring together campus professionals to explore the relationship between advising theory and practice. ACE has collaborated with campus partners, librarians, the research center, and faculty to foster a culture of advising research and assessment at UCLA. Marian and the ACE Committee have been awarded the 2018 NACADA Region 9 Advising Innovation award. As the director of University Studies, she leads an instructional team in curriculum design and innovative pedagogy, and teaches courses under the program, which aim to support students as they transition to, engage with, and navigate UCLA. She is a published author, has been a featured keynote speaker at various programs and conferences, and currently serves on the NACADA Research Committee. Marian also advises students in the Center for Academic Advising in the College. She earned her BA in English from Occidental College in 2002 and her doctorate in Comparative Literature from UCLA in 2010.

Joy Guey

Emerging Technologies Advocate

Joy Guey is an emerging technologies advocate and has recently designed an innovation studio housed in the Social Sciences Division to help people find efficient solutions to their research questions and embrace the exploration of immersive technologies. She credits her collaborative spirit to the talented staff, faculty, and technologists she has worked with at UCLA for over ten years. Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree in psychology from UCLA where she also minored in digital humanities and later obtained a Master of Social Science degree in 2019. Joy currently facilitates a cross-campus working group that discusses applications of XR technologies (VR, AR, MR), serves as a Women in Tech committee member, chairs the API Faculty & Staff Association and participates on the Innovation Advisory Council for Vation Ventures. A foodie at heart, she's always happy to provide recommendations of local eats and strives to balance that with the occasional weekend hike or worship gathering.

Corey Hollis, PhD

Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Academic Support, and Executive Director, Center for Academic Advising in the College

Corey was born and raised in Hawaii, attending the University of Hawaii for a year before dropping out and taking a slight life detour and moving to Vancouver, Canada to open a property management firm that expanded to include 5 offices throughout British Columbia. She eventually returned to school and attended Simon Fraser University for 2 years before returning home to complete her bachelor’s degree in History and English from UH. Corey then moved to Los Angeles to pursue her doctorate in History from UCLA. As a graduate student she worked as a College Academic Mentor (back when they were known as Counseling Assistants) before joining the advising staff professionally in 2004. She subsequently trained academic advisors and other campus partners on degree requirements, rules and regulations, procedures, and campus resources. In 2007 she became the Director of College Academic Counseling before expanding her responsibilities into her current role in 2014. She is responsible for matters related to academic advising, including student transition, retention, persistence, and graduation for UCLA's 32,000 undergraduates. She also works closely with Deans, department chairs and other partners across campus providing consultation on curricular development, requirements, and academic rules and regulations, while also serving as a resource for faculty and administrative committees.

Brian Latham, M.A.

Director of Operations, Center for Academic Advising in the College

Brian Latham, M.A., is passionate about developing authentic and impactful leadership skills in academic advising with undergraduate student, graduate student, and professional staff within the College. He joined the Center for Academic Advising in the College at UCLA over ten years ago where he has worked as an Academic Advisor, Coordinator of ASK Peer Counseling (now CAC Peer Counseling), and Coordinator of the College Academic Mentor program before serving in his current role. Brian was named the 2016-2017 UCLA Academic Senate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Staff Award recipient, accepting on behalf of the College Academic Mentors and College Academic Counseling in their efforts to increase access and advising services to diverse student populations within the College. Brian began working with the University of California in 2006 at UCSD’s International Students and Programs Office. He then fostered his skills in academic advising and student leadership development with John Muir College. He earned his BA in Communication with a minor in Ethnic Studies at UC San Diego and a MA in Postsecondary Educational Leadership with a Specialization in Student Affairs at San Diego State University. He is excited to begin his PhD in Leadership in Academic Advising through Kansas State University and NACADA this summer.

Darlene Mininni, PhD, MPH

Senior Learning and Organizational Development Consultant

Darlene Mininni is a consultant with UCLA Learning & Organizational Development where she teaches, advises and coaches UCLA leaders and staff on research-based strategies to build wellbeing and success at work. Previously, Darlene was Chief Learning Officer at UCLA Extension and focused on designing interventions to enhance staff wellbeing. She started her career as Director of the Applied Psychology Program at the UCLA Arthur Ashe Health & Wellness Center where she created the popular undergraduate course, CHS 179: LifeSkills. Darlene is author of The Emotional Toolkit: 7 Strategies to Nail Your Bad Feelings (St Martin’s Press), and her work on wellbeing has been featured in media outlets including CNN, PBS, and NPR. She is a founding Wellness Advisory Board member for Everyday Health and former host of the SiriusXM radio show, The Emotional Toolkit. Darlene was named the endowed Frank Roehr Memorial Lecture speaker by the UC San Diego Stein Institute for Research on Aging for her topic “The Science of Resilience: How to Thrive in Your Life.” She holds a PhD in clinical psychology and an MPH in behavioral health.

Shahla Moreno, M.Ed

Director of Advising Staff and Administration

In her role, she supports the advising team by fostering collaboration, communication, and community. She has also worked intentionally to streamline processes through technology and ingenuity, and to contribute to a healthy work culture. Her core values of empathy, compassion, vulnerability, transparency, and trust deeply inspire her work of supporting both staff and students. Her goal is to partner with them to help cultivate their personal and professional growth. In her role as an Academic Counselor, Shahla aims to support and empower students as they navigate their undergraduate experience, including the college-to-career transition. Prior to her career at UCLA, Shahla was the Director of Admissions at the USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA), where she created positive relationships with students and parents as they navigated the college search and admissions process. A proud transfer student, Shahla

earned her BA in Communication Studies from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and her M.Ed. in Educational Counseling from the USC Rossier School of Education.

Ayanna McLeod

Operations Manager, UCLA Health

Ayanna McLeod is the Operations Manager for the Office of the Patient Experience at UCLA Health. She is a dedicated professional who has been an essential part of the organization for over two decades. She is skilled at budget management, coordinating schedules, and resolving challenges effectively. Her expertise lies in implementing cost-effective strategies that align with organizational objectives, ensuring careful allocation of funds to meet operational needs without compromising quality or service delivery.

She is dedicated to making a meaningful impact both professionally and personally, striving to always lead with integrity and excellence in everything she does. Ayanna is admired for her compassion and empathy, which shine through in her interactions with others. Ayanna is passionate about making a difference and strives to continuously improve operations to support the success of her team and organization.

Ayanna has participated in the planning of the AMG Leadership Conference since 2019 and served as Co-Chair for 2023 Leadership Conference.

Outside of work, Ayanna enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching sports, live music, and ocean views. She currently volunteers her time at church where she is a member of the Praise Team and helps with the Children’s Ministry. She is married, with one daughter and a fur baby named Teddy.

Yadira Cano

Senior Operations and Administrative Manager

Registrar’s Office

Academic Partnerships

Gina Romero

Training & Organizational Development Manager

Event and Transportation Services

Nancy Velasquez

Chief Administrative Officer

Institute for Research on Labor and Employment

Peyton Reddick, SHRM-CP

Human Resources Generalist

Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research

Chris Cabrera Thompson

IT Manager

UCLA Department of English and Writing Programs

Jenna Bustamante

Assistant Director, Programs

Dashew Center for

International Students & Scholars

Jackie Honda

Program Manager

Teacher Education Program

Angela Cortes

Director of Contracts & Grants

School of Nursing

Kevin Kim

Project Manager

Computational Medicine

Rosa Chung

Management Services Officer

Center for the Study of Women

Streisand Center

Patty Gonzalez Johnson

Senior Manager of Academic Services & Operations

Anderson-MBA Student Affairs

Rashmi Umdekar

Senior HR Generalist

Information Technology Services

Julio Gonzalez

Budget and Personnel Coordinator

Dashew Center for

International Students & Scholars

Hannah Pingelton

Senior Program Manager for Student Life

Anderson - MBA Student Affairs

Carol Huang

Assistant Director of Organizational Performance

Housing Services

Anna J. Guzman

Director of Student Services

School of Theater, Film and Television

Bianca Caulfield

Payment Solutions and Compliance Manager

Business & Finance Solutions

Ayanna McLeod

Operations Manager

UCLA Health

Mark Lucas

Chief Administrative Officer

Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

Carla Gonzalez

OAST Manager & Project Manager

Anesthesiology

Quenesha Caballero

Quality & Safety Programs Administrative Manager

Anesthesiology

Jeffrey Credidio

Admissions Coordinator

Anderson - MFE

Cristina Nissen

Program Coordinator

Master of Financial Engineering

Jane Fransella

Executive Assistant to the Dean

School of Dentistry

Sarena Seals

Practice Manager

UCLA Urology -Westwood

Reimagining leadership today

for a better tomorrow

Special Thanks to Our Past Conference

Chairs and Co/Vice-Chairs.

As we gather once again for another inspiring AMG Leadership Conference, it is with deep gratitude and admiration that we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the extraordinary individuals who have served as Chairs, Co-Chairs, and Vice-Chairs in the past. Your unwavering dedication, innovative vision, and tireless commitment have been instrumental in shaping the success and growth of our organization.

We recognize the countless hours you have dedicated to planning and executing these conferences, ensuring that each event surpasses expectations and leaves a lasting impact on all who attend. Your dedication to excellence has not gone unnoticed, and we are profoundly grateful for the expertise, guidance, and wisdom you have shared with us over the years. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication to the AMG Leadership Conference. Your contributions have made a profound difference, and we are deeply grateful for all that you have done.

2018 Dianne Fuller

General Clinic Patient Services Supervisor

UCLA Dentistry – General Clinic

Paris McDonald

Assistant to the V. Provost/Dean

Graduate Education – Deans Administration

2019 Dianne Fuller

General Clinic Patient Services Supervisor

UCLA Dentistry – General Clinic

Paris McDonald

Assistant to the V. Provost/Dean

Graduate Education – Deans Administration

2021 Britanny Lewis Porchia

Assistant Director

Early Academic Outreach Program

Sim Grewall

Lead Communications Analyst

Business and Finance Solutions (BFS)

2022 Britanny Lewis Porchia

Assistant Director

Early Academic Outreach Program

Sim Grewall

Lead Communications Analyst

Business and Finance Solutions (BFS)

2023 Ayanna McLeod

Operations Manager

Office of the Patience Experience

UCLA Health

Yadira Cano

Senior Operations and Administrative Manager

Academic Partnerships/Registrar’s Office

THANK YOU TO OUR CONFERENCE SPONSORS!

We are grateful to our generous sponsors, whose support allows us to offer this valuable opportunity to staff

across campus and who have demonstrated their commitment to professional development and the growth of

leadership at UCLA.

THANK YOU TO OUR UCLA CONFERENCE SPONSORS!

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS!

Show Appreciation and Boost Morale!

UCLA AMG has partnered with the UCLA Store to offer custom gift bags for all occasions!

Mix and match items to create the perfect gift for:

Visiting faculty and guest speakers

Department retreats

New recruit welcome gifts

Retirement, graduation, and holiday gifts

Departments paying with LVO receive an exclusive 10% discount. Select fast, free delivery to your office, or pick up from the UCLA Bookstore.

Please contact Tony Vallejo to place your order: 310-206-1442 | avallejo@asucla.ucla.edu

UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL

Our professional development workshops transform today's professionals into the leaders of tomorrow

WE ARE YOU

The Administrative Management Group (AMG) is dedicated to the professional development of UCLA's current and aspiring managers. Sponsored by Campus Human Resources, we are the UCLA chapter of the University of California Administrative Management Professionals (AMP).

MEMBERSHIP

AMG Membership includes staff at all levels. Committed to the pursuit of excellence, AMG reaches a community of over 800 professionals across the UCLA campus and medical centers.

AMG PROVIDES

• Career development events, training workshops, and networking activities
• Opportunities to collaborate through committee service
• Mentorship and special support programs

Visit amg.ucla.edu for more information and to subscribe to our listserv.