A Message from the Dean

Welcome to this special UCLA Nursing magazine celebrating a defining moment in the life of our school. As you turn these pages, you will see stories that reflect not only where we are today, but how far we have come together over the past several years, and the bold future we are building.

Our school has experienced remarkable growth and momentum. Guided by a shared commitment to excellence, our community has expanded its impact across education, research, clinical practice, and service. We have strengthened academic programs, deepened interdisciplinary collaboration, and elevated our contributions to advancing health and improving outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. None of this progress would have been possible without the dedication of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners, whose collective energy continues to shape who we are.

One of the most transformational milestones in our 77-year history is featured prominently in this issue: the extraordinary $30 million philanthropic commitment that established the UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing. This historic investment represents a powerful vote of confidence in our mission and our future. It will allow us to accelerate innovation, expand opportunities for students, support cutting-edge research, and further strengthen our role as a leader in nursing education. More than the naming, this gift affirms a vision of what nursing can accomplish when innovation, leadership, and excellence come together.

As you will see throughout this issue, our accomplishments extend well beyond any single initiative. From new programs and partnerships to impactful research and community engagement, the last five years have been a period of purposeful expansion grounded in nursing’s core values of humanity, integrity, and compassion. Our students, faculty, and alumni continue to inspire us through their leadership and service across healthcare settings, locally and globally.

This moment is both a celebration and an inflection point. What we have accomplished here reflects a school that is confident in its foundation, energized by opportunity, and united by a shared belief in the power of nursing to change lives.

Thank you for being part of our story – and for helping to shape the future of the UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing.

With appreciation and Bruin pride,

Lin Zhan, PhD, RN, FAAN 
Dean & Professor