The Department of Political Science at UCLA is proud to announce that one of our graduating seniors, Diego Sarmiento, was awarded a 2024 Truman Scholarship.

Because he came to academia with little knowledge about how it actually worked, Min makes it point to share the knowledge he has acquired with students. (Photo: Peggy McInerny/ UCLA.)

Eight faculty members were elected on April 22nd, 2021, to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s most prestigious honorary societies.

Leonard Freedman, 1924–2020

With profound sorrow, the UCLA Department of Political Science reports the passing of Professor Leonard Freedman, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Dean Emeritus of UCLA Extension and Continuing Education, on September 30, 2020. Len leaves behind his wife Vivian, his children Elizabeth, Ali, Dave, and Steve, and his grandsons, Brian, Scott, and Gabriel. Prof. Freedman’s passing is a tremendous loss to our department, to the university, and to the discipline.

James Tong, 1947–2020

With profound sorrow, the UCLA Department of Political Science reports the passing of Professor James Wai Tong, our colleague of thirty-one years, on October 3, 2020, after a brave battle with cerebral hemorrhage. James leaves behind his companion Marita Kaw, his children Olivia and Brian, his grandchildren Ava and Harrison, siblings Victor, Nancy, and Paul, and many relatives and friends, including generations of colleagues and former students. Our department, university, and discipline has suffered a tremendous loss.

Joseph Asunka (UCLA PhD 2014), currently Program Officer of the Global Development Program of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, will lead the Afrobarometer in early 2021 as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Over the summer, three of our recent PhD graduates received national distinctions awarded by the American Political Science Association.

John Branstetter (UCLA PhD 2017), Lecturer, was recently selected to receive the 2019-2020 UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award. Only three non-Senate faculty in the entire university received this award.

Six exceptional UCLA professors and leaders — Physical Sciences Dean Miguel García-Garibay, School of Law Dean Jennifer Mnookin, Education Professor Pedro Noguera, Political Science Professor Lynn Vavreck, environmental champion Mary Nichols and Hammer Museum Director Ann Philbin — were elected April 23 to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s most prestigious honorary societies.