2025 has been a tumultuous year on many fronts: the fires in Los Angeles; U.S. federal executive orders that negatively affected international students and the immigrant community; deepened instability, conflict and violence internationally; and more. In June, I congratulated the International Institute’s latest graduating class, in Pauley Pavilion and Royce Hall; our students reminded me to remain hopeful and to have joy.

We barely reached the end of July before receiving the notice that the federal government is suspending certain research funding from the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health and other agencies to UCLA. Please see Chancellor Julio Frenk’s response, “The Loss of Federal Funding is a Loss for America.” At Chancellor Frenk’s inauguration in June, he shared a vision for UCLA as a connective, exemplary and impactful university. Despite the uncertainty we face, this vision has not changed, nor has UCLA’s mission of groundbreaking research, innovative education and improving lives of people everywhere and of every background.

At the International Institute, we connect UCLA to the world and to the global city of Los Angeles. Our world-class faculty and brilliant students advance international research and education, and the institute develops partnerships at home and abroad to meet global and local challenges. We strive to be connective, exemplary and impactful, and we remain committed to expanding UCLA’s global reach and educating global citizens.

One spot of bright news in that regard: the UCLA Global Advisors Council will soon announce the recipients of its inaugural Global Research and Global Education Awards, which provide funding for members of the university community to engage in collaborative international research and for our faculty to internationalize the curriculum.