Michelle Park ‘05 and Allen Shim pledge $250,000 to the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture
The gift will support graduate student scholarships in the Departments of Art and Design Media Arts
What do Rebeca Méndez, Casey Reas, and Vasa Mihich have in common? All are world-class artists, current or retired professors in the UCLA Department of Design Media Arts…and fondly remembered by alumna Michelle Park ‘05.
“Rebeca Méndez was amazing,” said Park, a leadership coach and UX mentor. “I learned tremendously in her class.” Professor Emeritus Mihich’s color theory course deeply influenced her understanding of design principles, which she carried into her work for years. It was here, at the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, or UCLA Arts, where she discovered her love for art and technology.
Since its formation in 2000, the Department of Design Media Arts has cultivated a multidisciplinary approach to artistic practice that focuses on experimentation and innovative thinking. Park was drawn to the department for these reasons. "It opened up opportunities for boundless artistic discovery,” she said.
Since graduating from UCLA in 2005, Park has been a UX designer for companies such as Walmart Labs, Zillow, and Stitch Fix. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Park and her family relocated to Singapore, where they currently reside.
Park, however, didn't initially set out to be a UX designer — she wanted to be a fine artist like her grandfather, an oil painter in South Korea. He taught Park and her brother how to draw. This experience ignited Park’s passion for the arts.
Mentorship, like the kind she received from Méndez, Reas, Mihich, and her grandfather, is now a primary mission for Park. “The life of an artist is a passion,” said Park, “and I want to support people with that passion and creativity when and where I can.” She is now a leadership coach and ceramic artist, and she intends to mentor and inspire emerging artists and designers while creating a community around it.
Park and her husband, Allen Shim, have pledged $250,000 to UCLA Arts in the hopes that future students can receive similar mentorship without the burden of debt. This gift will support scholarships for graduate students in the Departments of Art and Design Media Arts.
“Every scholarship brings us closer to our goal of providing debt-free education and making arts education more accessible to students from all walks of life,” said Lionel Popkin, UCLA Arts’ interim dean. “Each award is a testament to our commitment to fostering creativity without the burden of financial constraints. It also sets a powerful example for our alumni, showcasing the impact of paying it forward to support the next generation of artists. We are grateful for the continued support of our donors and community, whose generosity makes these scholarships possible.”
During a recent campus visit with her two children, Park connected with faculty, students, and explored the ceramics studio, where she enjoyed seeing the creativity in action. As a student at UCLA, she set out on her for the first time and made lasting friendships. For her, it feels like home. “I wanted my children to see the campus and feel that same sense of community and artistic energy that drives us forward,” said Park.
With this gift, Park hopes others will have a similar life-changing experience.
You, too, can make a difference by giving a gift to UCLA Arts' Fund for Excellence.
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