Ninah Alves

Ninah Alves

Number of quarters in CCL: 3

Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion? 

As a Latina woman of color, I understand firsthand how powerful it is for underrepresented groups to see themselves in places where they were once nonexistent. At some point in my working career, I was THE minority in a large group of remarkable people at a top four consulting firm and, from that experience, I realized how everyone loses from a lack of diversity. If not for being dismissed, the loss comes later by producing blindsided content. 

 Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA? 

Getting connected to this new universe that is UCLA was scary, to say the least. I am not originally from the USA, plus I live off campus and I transferred from another college during the pandemic. In the first quarter I was completely lost, however, when I found out about the resources offered at the AAP, the Transfer Center, and the Community Programs Office, I finally felt at home.