2026 Eudaimonia
What is Eudaimonia?
Aristotle distinguished hedonia, the brief, fleeting happiness derived from immediate satisfaction of drives, from eudaimonia, the sustained happiness that comes from living a life rich in purpose and meaning.
Core concepts of Eudaimonia include:
Generosity
Resilience and overcoming hardship
Selflessness
Dedication to the common good and society at large
Inspirational
Commitment to long-term goals in the face of obstacles
To learn more: Read Q&A with Dr. Joseph Raho, Clinical Ethicist at UCLA Health.
Featured Speaker
Paco Retana, MSW, LCSW
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On July 1, 2024, Paco Retana ʼ87, M.S.W. ʼ90, began his two-year term as the president of the UCLA Alumni Association. The son of immigrants, his father from Costa Rica and his mother from Mexico, he grew up in Pico Rivera, California, with a profound respect for education. He followed his dream of working with marginalized young people to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in social welfare from the School of Social Welfare, now the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. He is currently chief program officer for Wellnest Emotional Health and Wellness, empowering children and young adults on the road to success. Retana recounts his journey from struggling academically as a student to now representing more than half a million UCLA alumni.
Featured Awardees
Helen Lavretsky, MD, MS
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Naomi Hammonds
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Sonya Brooks, MPH, MS, Regent, UC Board of Regents
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Saheli Datta Shah
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Society Members
Emeran A Mayer, MD
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Neil S. Wenger, MD, MPH
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Colleen Bruton, C-TAGME
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Krystle Cobian, PhD
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Corey Hollis
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Symone Morales
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Sylvia Page
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Nadine Quiñonez
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Erika Guadalupe Rivera
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Markeith Royster, EdD
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Julie Bernardo
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Maia Bowman
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Michelle Yeung
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UCLA Semel HCI Center to Honor Robert M. Bilder
Robert (“Bob”) M. Bilder, Ph.D.—cherished scholar, mentor, musician, and family man—lived with a rare zest for life grounded in a deeply eudaimonic spirit: the pursuit of meaning, creativity, and human flourishing. A Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA and the Michael E. Tennenbaum Distinguished Family Chair in Creativity Research, Bob was a visionary co‑founder of the UCLA Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center, where he championed whole‑person well‑being by integrating science, creativity, and community into campus life. A pioneering neuropsychologist for over four decades, his groundbreaking work in schizophrenia, cognition, phenomics, and the biology of creativity reshaped multiple fields and inspired more than a generation of scientists and clinicians. Yet Bob’s legacy extends far beyond his scholarship—he radiated warmth, humor, generosity, and curiosity, whether mentoring students, collaborating across disciplines, sharing music and meals, or celebrating his beloved family. His life embodied the very values he advanced: joy, purpose, connection, and the enduring belief that science, creativity, and kindness together can make people—and communities—truly thrive.
The Semel Healthy Campus Initiative (HCI) Center is proud to announce that the annual Eudaimonia Award will now be named posthumously in honor of Dr. Bob Bilder, recognizing his extraordinary dedication to the HCI mission and his lifelong commitment to advancing Eudaimonia at UCLA and beyond.
Award Description
The Eudaimonia Award recognizes members of the UCLA community who embody a life of purpose, meaning, and service to others. Honorees exemplify the core qualities of Eudaimonia, including: Generosity, Resilience, Selflessness, Dedication to the common good, Inspiration and leadership, and Commitment to long-term goals despite obstacles.
Each year, we invite the community to nominate UCLA faculty, staff, and students whose work or actions bring good to society through direct care, service, or advocacy.
Eligibility
All members of the UCLA community- including students, staff, and faculty- are eligible for nomination. You may not nominate yourself for the Eudaimonia Award.
Nomination Process – Now Closed
- Nominations Open: Thursday, February 12, 5:00 pm
- Nominations Close: Monday, March 2, 5:00 pm
- Committee Meeting #1: Tuesday, March 3, 1:00 pm (Zoom)
- Committee Meeting #2: Tuesday, March 10, 1:00 pm (Zoom)
- Eudaimonia Award Ceremony: Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 4:30–6:00 pm (Pauley Pavilion Club)
Nominations for the 2026 Eudaimonia Award are NOW CLOSED.
Award Selection Committee Sign Ups – Now Closed
We choose 3–4 committee members to help select this year’s Featured Keynote and the Faculty, Staff, and Student Eudaimonia Award recipients. Participation required attending two meetings:
- Committee Meeting #1: Tuesday, March 3, 1:00 pm (Zoom)
- Committee Meeting #2: Tuesday, March 10, 1:00 pm (Zoom)
As a land grant institution, the Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center at UCLA acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, So. Channel Islands).