Remembering June Jaffee (’54)

UCLA’s Department of Political Science commemorates the life and legacy of June Tanner Jaffee ’54, a devoted alumna whose vision, generosity, and lifelong engagement with political life left an enduring mark on the department and the university. June Jaffee passed away on December 19, 2025, at the age of 94. She is remembered as one of the department’s most distinguished and impactful graduates.

After earning her political science degree from UCLA, Jaffee moved to New York City where she built a successful career in public relations, working for several international firms. In 2004, she was appointed executive director of a foundation established by Muriel “Mickie” Siebert, the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.

Her lifelong commitment to women’s leadership and public engagement also found expression in her gracious philanthropy to UCLA Political Science. The establishment of the June and Alexander Jaffee Chair in Women and Politics stands as a capstone to her legacy at UCLA, ensuring sustained research and teaching on the critical role women play in political life.

“Women have been the backbone of political campaigns and activism for generations,” Jaffee said in an interview at the time of her endowment announcement. “It is incredibly gratifying to know that my gift will support new scholarship and education at UCLA on the vital role of women in politics.”

June Jaffee will be remembered as a principled, no-nonsense, and deeply caring woman whose integrity, generosity, and steadfast support profoundly enriched the UCLA Political Science community and all who knew her.