UCLA School of Education & Information Studies

"Playing With Blackness" and the Limits of Generative A.I.
2026-05-14 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | UCLA Moore Hall, Reading Room, 3340, 457 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
The UCLA Department of Information Studies invites faculty, staff, and students to its Information Studies Colloquia.

Presented, Researched, and Written by Dr. Kishonna Gray, University of Michigan.

Use of generative A.I. is often reference in terms of “Play” to offset the harms that these machines could do. When Black Media and Games Scholar Kishonna Gray noticed her likeness was taken by Midjourney and severely misrepresented, she innocently suggested “no harm, no foul.” It wasn’t until her mentees, including Drs. Kevin Winstead and William Frey suggested this distortion is actually erasure and this represents a particular kind of harm to Black women in the academy.

No RSVP is needed to attend.

Cancelled: Breslauer Lecture: Indigenous Knowledge and the Limits of Translation: Mexican Manuscripts in Early Modern Collections
2026-05-14 16:00 - 18:00 | UCLA Luskin Conference Center, Illumination Room, 425 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, California, 90024
This event has been cancelled. We are working to reschedule the lecture for the fall and will share updated details as soon as they are confirmed.

Join the UCLA Department of Information Studies for its Breslauer Lecture: Indigenous Knowledge and the Limits of Translation: Mexican Manuscripts in Early Modern Collections

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026

Time: 4:00 – 6:00 PM

The lecture will begin at 4:00 pm and will be followed by a reception at 5:00 pm. Please join us and stay for beverages and hors d’oeuvres!

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OJEDI End-of-Year Luncheon
2026-05-15 13:00 - 14:30 | James West Alumni Center, Founders Room, 325 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, California, 90095
Join us to celebrate the end of the academic year! OJEDI appreciates the Ed&IS community for participating in our programs and workshops this year. Enjoy some small bites and desserts with us!

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GSAE Graduate and Faculty Bowling Social
2026-05-16 12:00 - 14:00 | Lucky Strike Mar Vista, 12125 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, 90066
We’re excited to get together with you all to celebrate the Spring Quarter! Education graduate students and Faculty, join GSAE for a Bowling Social on Saturday, May 16th at 12:00 pm.

This is a family-friendly gathering, so feel free to bring your kids and partners!

Come take a break, have some fun, and connect with our community—we’d love to see you there!

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Civic Leadership Series: Students Shaping California's Future
2026-05-20 17:00 - 18:00 | California
From students to changemakers!

As California marks 175 years of statehood and the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this three-part series is designed for high school and college students across the state who are ready to turn awareness and passion into action.

Through sessions focused on California’s legislative, executive, and judicial branches. You’ll learn how the government actually works and how students can engage with each branch during a critical election cycle.

The series highlights TK–16 education as a powerful entry point for civic action, illustrating how policy decisions impact learners, educators, and communities—and how your voice can help advance a more inclusive, accessible education system for all.

Hosted by the UC|CSU Collaborative, this series connects research, policy, and practice, demonstrating how civic engagement strengthens communities, supports student well-being, and expands opportunity. You won’t just learn about civic engagement, you’ll practice it!

Designed for students approximately ages 16–25, this series explores how to engage with California’s legislative, executive, and judicial branches to create meaningful change. Opening remarks will be provided by Dr. Alison Yoshimoto-Towery, member of the California State Board of Education and liaison for Civic Learning.

This webinar features Brooks Allen, who serves as the Governor’s Education Policy Advisor and Executive Director of the State Board of Education. He previously worked as the Director of Education Advocacy for the ACLU of Southern California and as a Skadden Fellow and staff attorney with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area. He also served as a Deputy City Attorney in his hometown of Santa Cruz, California. Before attending law school, Brooks was an Upward Bound program coordinator, an admissions officer with Stanford University, and a policy analyst with the U.S. Department of Education. He has a B.A. in Political Science with distinction from Stanford University and his J.D. from Yale Law School.

Register Now!

LISAA Spring Dinner 2026
2026-05-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Pez Cantina, 401 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, California, 90071
Join us for the UCLA LISAA Spring Dinner! We will gather to celebrate our community and honor the next generation of library and information professionals.

This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, May 20th, at 6 p.m. at Pez Cantina, 401 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

We have a wonderful program planned for the evening:

Keynote Speaker: Kelvin Watson, Executive Director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.

Distinguished Alumni Honoree: Skye Patrick, PhD ’26, Library Director of the Los Angeles County Library.

Celebrating the Graduating Class of 2026!

It will be an inspiring evening filled with camaraderie and celebration!

Please RSVP by May 13th, 2026, so we can finalize our headcount.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Office of External Relations at (310) 206-0375 or via e-mail at ksantiagosnyder@support.ucla.edu.

Register Now

Building an Equitable Community-Engaged Research Agenda in IS
2026-05-21 14:00 - 16:00 | UCLA Moore Hall, Reading Room, 3340, 457 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
The UCLA Department of Information Studies invites faculty, staff, and students to its Information Studies Colloquia.

Presented, Researched, and Written by Dr. Michelle Caswell, UCLA

This workshop draws from the emerging area of community archives to present principles and protocols for ethically conducting community-engaged IS research with (rather than just about) minoritized communities. Based on a white paper collaboratively authored between community archivists and archival studies scholars, the first half of the workshop will address the current state of academic research on community archives, its impact on communities represented and served by such organizations, and ways to envision and enact more equitable relationships moving forward. The second half of the workshop will give participants a chance to apply the principles and protocols to their own research projects in IS, and brainstorm about designing more equitable community-engaged research projects in IS moving forward.

Professional Leadership and Coaching Academy
2026-05-25 00:00 - 23:59 | Zoom
Join us for a diverse hybrid academy designed to explore personal and social identities, equity, trust, conflict and trauma sensitivity through individual and systems work.

Participants will complete the Professional Leadership and Coaching Academy with:

A refined coaching identity with developed consciousness in becoming a more effective leader to provide equitable and relationship-centered support based in systems thinking principles.

A generative coaching plan based on the participant’s development in a coaching continuum that reflects each participant’s unique strengths and systems.

A resource toolkit for personal and professional growth.

Knowledge of and application for different adult learning theories, the neuroscience of coaching, and socio-cultural theories.

Registration Deadline – May 25, 2026

Register Now

Civic Leadership Series: Students Shaping California’s Future
2026-05-27 17:00 - 18:00 | California
From students to changemakers!

As California marks 175 years of statehood and the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this three-part series is designed for high school and college students across the state who are ready to turn awareness and passion into action.

Through sessions focused on California’s legislative, executive, and judicial branches. You’ll learn how the government actually works and how students can engage with each branch during a critical election cycle.

The series highlights TK–16 education as a powerful entry point for civic action, illustrating how policy decisions impact learners, educators, and communities—and how your voice can help advance a more inclusive, accessible education system for all.

Hosted by the UC|CSU Collaborative, this series connects research, policy, and practice, demonstrating how civic engagement strengthens communities, supports student well-being, and expands opportunity. You won’t just learn about civic engagement, you’ll practice it!

Designed for students approximately ages 16–25, this series explores how to engage with California’s legislative, executive, and judicial branches to create meaningful change. Opening remarks will be provided by Dr. Alison Yoshimoto-Towery, member of the California State Board of Education and liaison for Civic Learning.

This webinar features Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who has joined ADR Services, Inc. following a trailblazing career as the first Asian-Filipina American Chief Justice of California. During her 12-year tenure, she successfully guided the state’s judicial branch through the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic while championing court funding reforms, civic education, and public transparency. Currently serving as the President and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), she is available through ADR Services, Inc. for mediations, consultations, and mock trials.

Register Now!

Civic Leadership Series: Students Shaping California's Future
2026-06-03 17:00 - 18:00 | California
From students to changemakers!

As California marks 175 years of statehood and the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this three-part series is designed for high school and college students across the state who are ready to turn awareness and passion into action.

Through sessions focused on California’s legislative, executive, and judicial branches. You’ll learn how the government actually works and how students can engage with each branch during a critical election cycle.

The series highlights TK–16 education as a powerful entry point for civic action, illustrating how policy decisions impact learners, educators, and communities—and how your voice can help advance a more inclusive, accessible education system for all.

Hosted by the UC|CSU Collaborative, this series connects research, policy, and practice, demonstrating how civic engagement strengthens communities, supports student well-being, and expands opportunity. You won’t just learn about civic engagement, you’ll practice it!

Designed for students approximately ages 16–25, this series explores how to engage with California’s legislative, executive, and judicial branches to create meaningful change. Opening remarks will be provided by Dr. Alison Yoshimoto-Towery, member of the California State Board of Education and liaison for Civic Learning.

This webinar features Assemblymember Dr. Darshana R. Patel, who was elected in 2024 to represent California’s 76th Assembly District in northern San Diego County, including Escondido, San Marcos, parts of San Diego, and surrounding unincorporated communities. A research scientist, former school board president, and community leader, she earned a B.A. in Biochemistry from Occidental College and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of California, Irvine, before working in biotechnology research.

Register Now!

Knowing as Moving vs. Moving as Knowing
2026-06-04 14:00 - 15:50 | UCLA Moore Hall, Reading Room, 3340, 457 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
The UCLA Department of Information Studies invites faculty, staff, and students to its Information Studies Colloquia.

Presented, Researched, and Written by Dr. Susan Leigh Foster, UCLA

This presentation builds off Dr. Susan Leigh Foster’s recent book, Knowing as Moving, by assessing the difference between claims that moving is a form of knowing as distinct from the hypothesis articulated in my book that it is necessary to move in order to know. She will endeavor to review some of the literatures she used to build this theory as well as consider how such a thesis upends the colonial duality of “mind” and “body.”

No RSVP is needed to attend.

Professional Leadership and Coaching Academy
2026-06-06 00:00 - 23:59 | California
This program focuses on empowering participants to take ownership of their learning journeys. Instead of a top-down approach that simply identifies problems and prescribes solutions, it emphasizes collaboration, responsive listening, and open dialogue.

Leaders in this program learn to create an inclusive environment where team members feel safe to express ideas, take risks, and reflect on their experiences. By cultivating curiosity and resilience, we explore participants’ strengths and areas for improvement together. Through experiential learning and coaching, leaders will learn how to help their teams to develop skills, think critically, and adapt to changing systems and environments. This approach not only enhances individual performance but also fosters a culture of learning, growth, and innovation within organizations.

Participants will complete the Professional Leadership and Coaching Academy with:

A refined coaching identity with developed consciousness in becoming a more effective leader to provide equitable and relationship-centered support based in systems thinking principles.

A generative coaching plan based on the participant’s development in a coaching continuum that reflects each participant’s unique strengths and systems.

A resource toolkit for personal and professional growth.

Knowledge of and application for different adult learning theories, the neuroscience of coaching, and socio-cultural theories.

Fee

Discounted Registration $2,150

Register Individual

Register Team

Team Discount: A 25% team discount is available for eligible applications registering from the same organization with three or more participants. Discounts cannot be combined.

Learn More

Registration Deadline – May 25, 2026

Partial Scholarships Available: contact coachingpartners@seis.ucla.edu

No refunds 10 business days prior to any event. Please Note: There is a 15% administrative fee on all cancellations. No-shows will be charged the full amount.

Ed&IS Commencement Ceremonies
2026-06-13 12:30 - 18:30 | Wilson Plaza, UCLA Campus, 120 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles CA 90095, Los Angeles, California, 90095
12:30 PM (Undergraduate) & 4:30 PM (Graduate)

Pride Talk-Safe and Supported: Harm Reduction and Pathways Toward Hope Amid Policy Change for LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care
2026-06-23 12:30 - 13:30 | Zoom
In celebration of Pride Month, please join the UCLA Pritzker Center for our annual Pride Talk!

Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Time: 12:30-1:30pm

Where: Zoom

This year’s conversation, Safe and Supported: Harm Reduction and Pathways Toward Hope Amid Policy Change for LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care, will bring together researchers, advocates, practitioners, and community leaders to explore how systems can better support the safety, wellbeing, and belonging of LGBTQ+ youth and families. The discussion will highlight recent policy changes and pathways toward hope, equity, and affirming care.

The Zoom link for this event will be emailed to all registrants 48 hours before the event.

RSVP below by Friday, June 19. For any questions, please email Taylor Dudley at dudley@gseis.ucla.edu.

Register Now

UDL in Action: Bringing Inclusive Design to Life
2026-08-14 12:00 - 13:00 | California
What does accessibility look like in authentic classroom settings? This session showcases examples of UDL, AT and AAC implementation through classroom photos, videos, and stories from Open Access Showcase Sites. Participants will explore how educators are designing learning environments, lessons, and experiences that anticipate learner variability. The session will also highlight the Open Access UDL Unlocked Podcast as an ongoing professional learning resource.

Register Now!

Building Supportive Learning Environments Through Instructional Practice (Webinar)
2026-08-18 15:00 - 16:30 | California
On Tuesday, August 18, from 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET, join the National Academy of Education and the Southern Center for Opportunity and Access (formerly Equity Assistance Center-South) at the Southern Education Foundation to better understand how to use research-informed classroom practices to create learning environments that support belonging and deep learning.Too often, schools and educators are expected to improve student outcomes without a shared understanding of the conditions that shape how students learn. This session brings together leading research and classroom perspectives to explore the instructional practices that foster belonging, engagement, and deeper learning for all students. Featuring Megan Franke and H. Richard Milner IV alongside two educators, this conversation will bridge research and practice by highlighting research-informed instructional practices and the everyday teaching moves that make supportive learning environments visible in classrooms. Panelists will share practical, evidence-based ideas for building meaningful relationships, cultivating inclusive classroom communities, and creating learning experiences that support student engagement.Participants will leave with:

research-informed ideas for fostering belonging, engagement, and deeper learning;

a stronger understanding of how students experience learning environments;

a shared language for discussing belonging, development, motivation, and the conditions that support deeper learning; and

practical strategies for strengthening supportive learning conditions in classrooms and schools.

Continue the Conversation

This is the second webinar in a three-part series on building safe and supportive learning environments for all students. While each webinar stands on its own, if you missed Webinar 1, “Foundations of Safe and Supportive Learning Environments,” you can watch it here.

Mark your calendars for September 17, from 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET, for Webinar 3, featuring Cynthia Coburn and Carla O’Connor, who will explore the policies and systems that foster supportive learning environments.

Register today to join researchers and practitioners in a timely conversation about what it takes to create learning environments where every student can thrive. Speakers include:

Jennifer Banks, Director of Instruction, Washtenaw Intermediate School District, Ann Arbor, MI

Megan Franke, Vice Chair of Professional Programs; Professor, UCLA School of Education & Information Studies, Los Angeles, CA

H. Richard Milner IV, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Education and Sociology; Founding Director, Research in Education Applied to Development of Youth (READY) Lab, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Micah Pate, Principal, Cooper Lane Elementary, Landover, MD; National Academy of Education

Eshé Collins, Director,Southern Center for Opportunity and Access

Book launch: Educating in Dangerous Times: A Call to Reenvision Public Schools in America.
2026-08-25 16:30 - 17:30 | California
Educating in Dangerous Times: A Call to Reenvision Public Schools in America, a new book aiming to spark a new and bold public conversation about K12 schooling will be published Tuesday, August 25, 2026, by Beacon Press. The book will be introduced in a national Zoom book launch.

Tuesday, Aug 25th at 7:30 PM EST/4:30 PM PST.

Register for the launch here.
