2019-2020 jane b semel Award Recipients

Ana Laura Paiva

Ana Laura Paiva is an undergraduate student and an active member of the jane b semel HCI Community Garden staff. Ana Laura has transformed her passion for gardening to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and well-being. Through her dedication, Ana Laura has fostered an environment of growth and kindness both in and out of the garden. She is an example of how one person can touch the lives of many with compassion and understanding.

Meagan Wang

Meagan Wang is a Graduate Student Researcher for Semel HCI. Meagan promotes health and wellbeing through her research and advocacy working with UCLA plumbers to increase water refilling stations in “thirsty” buildings on-campus and helping to reduce sugar sweetened beverage sales on campus. Meagan is also the founder and producer of the Semel HCI LiveWell podcast.

Jeremy Barrett

Jeremy Barrett is an Alumni and previous Semel HCI staff member, who has used his passion for music to improve the health and well-being of the UCLA community. Through the UCLA Piano Project, he has left a lasting positive impact on past, current, and future bruins to enjoy. Jeremy exemplifies of how one person can make a difference in the lives of many both on- and off-campus.

Jennifer Jay

Jennifer Jay is a UCLA Professor from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Whether it be her dedication in mentoring students of the Global Food Initiative Fellowship Program, or the innovation of new learning tools like her Carbon Foodprint calculator, Jenny has affected the lives of students, staff and faculty at UCLA and across the nation and she is giving all of us the tools we need to strive for a healthier planet.

Michael Beck

Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck is one of UCLA’s strongest leaders, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. His dedication and support have led to sweeping changes on campus, resulting in improving the health and well-being of the entire UCLA campus community. These actions include serving a meal to over 1,000 essential workers on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic; his healthy example of “biking the talk” every day to work; and his tireless, calming leadership guiding us through the COVID-19 pandemic crisis (including sharing information with other UC campuses and USC to support their decision making). He exemplifies how one person can make an extraordinary difference in the lives of many.