Thank You to the 2023-24 Dean’s Student Council
Members of the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture’s Dean’s Student Council represent their major or program cohort as advocates for student experience. Their role is to inform and advise the dean and other directors within the dean’s office on academic affairs; anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion (AEDI); and campus climate, communications, and funding. The Student Council is granted financial support from the dean’s office for student-initiated events and projects that strengthen the school’s community.
Thank you to the 2023-24 Dean’s Student Council for all their efforts.
Asher Charno
Architecture and Urban Design
Asher Charno is a third-year at UCLA, studying Architecture and Urban Design and Regional Studies. He represents undergraduate architecture students on the Dean’s Student Council and the third-year architecture class on the Architecture and Urban Design Student Council. Beyond academics, Asher is a member of UCLA Clean Consulting, BREA, and works as a research intern at the UCLA Art and Global Health Center.
Kay Wright
Architecture and Urban Design
Kay is a second-year M.Arch. student and graduate architecture representative of the Dean’s Student Council. Kay was born in Japan and grew up in Southeast Michigan. She’s interested in projects and initiatives which demonstrate innovative strategies for building technology, building design, social justice, and mentorship. At cityLAB, Kay is the 2023-2024 graduate research fellow, where she supports research projects related to micro-urbanism, urban narratives, and housing. She is a co-managing editor of POOL magazine, the architecture department’s annual student publication, and is a store associate at a porcelain store on Venice Boulevard over the holidays and weekends.
Saumya Agarwal
Architecture and Urban Design
Saumya Agarwal is currently pursuing a Master's in Architecture and Urban Design. Saumya is deeply inspired by cultural regionalism in architecture. She firmly believes that by fostering effective communication and active engagement, we can create a welcoming and inclusive campus atmosphere for all students.
Holly
Art
Holly is a second-year art major at UCLA. Originally from Los Angeles, Holly is passionate about painting as well as visual and digital collage. One of her greatest joys is fostering an artistic haven where her peers can freely express themselves and engage with the vibrant arts community at UCLA.
Luke Godinez
Art
Luke Godinez is a second-year art major and an alumnus of Loyola High School. Growing up in Los Angeles, Luke fostered a love for the creative arts and design. He has tried his best to tackle one of the world's art capitals, and his experiences throughout that journey have been the subjects of his artistic practice — from the people he meets, the memories he makes, and how he lives his life. In his free time, Luke likes visiting new places and restaurants, going for hikes, listening to music, dancing in his room, thrifting, and cracking jokes with friends!
Sydney Richardson
Dance
Sydney Richardson is a third-year dance major and African American studies minor at UCLA who is extremely passionate about arts administration, choreography, her faith, and everything that involves imagination and creativity. She’s been blessed to dance professionally with multiple dance companies, many of which feature UCLA alumni and lecturers, and work internships with various arts organizations. Additionally, through her work study position and student leadership in WAC/D, Sydney has gotten the chance to host many events and be a part of student programming in the department. Her dreams are to bring professional dance experiences and opportunities to low income communities in Los Angeles, like the ones she and her family grew up in as well as pursue careers in choreography, performance, and social artivism.
Abby Tian
Design Media Arts
First-year Abby Tian is driven to explore the intersections of design, social justice, and interaction. As an artist, she is committed to enhancing digital accessibility, focusing on disability inclusion through creative interface design. Beyond her studies, Abby enjoys experimenting with foley artistry, exploring new destinations, and indulging her passion for horror movies by binge-watching every possible film within the genre. She serves as the undergraduate representative for the Department of Design Media Arts on the Dean’s Student Council, where she aims to advocate for inclusivity and community-building within the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture community.
Karine Fleurima
Design Media Arts
Karine Fleurima is a first-generation Haitian-American multidisciplinary artist pursuing her M.F.A. in Design Media Arts. With a profound commitment to exploring Afro-futurist feminist concepts, Karine's artistic journey delves into themes of cultural displacement and social ambiguity. Her creative vision is deeply rooted in crafting immersive, meditative multimedia environments that provoke thought and introspection. At the heart of Karine's artistic ethos are core values inspired by pleasure activism and meditation as forms of resistance. As a passionate sound healing artist and facilitator, she has spearheaded online healing events to foster interconnectedness as a sacred form of activism. Her current artistic practice seamlessly weaves together her experiences of displacement with innovative sound assemblage techniques. Karine's creative process often involves working with discarded or found pieces. She infuses these elements with futuristic touches, incorporating interactive technology to create dynamic and engaging artworks. Central to her narrative focus is the exploration of the intersection between Black Futurity and Queer Utopias, offering a unique perspective on identity and community. Throughout her career, Karine has showcased her work at esteemed venues and events including Black Quantum Futurism, FiveMyles Gallery, The Aurora Festival in Dallas, The Ricardo Montalban Theater, and the Feminist Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles.
Kamaryn Truong
World Arts and Cultures
Kamaryn is an undergraduate student studying World Arts and Cultures at UCLA. She is currently gaining research experience as an intern at the Smithsonian Institution. Prior to joining UCLA, Kamaryn worked in the film industry, where she directed and edited music videos and managed data.
Sonja Cayetano
VAPAE
Sonja Cayetano (she/her) is a fourth-year at UCLA studying World Arts and Cultures and Visual and Performing Arts Education (VAPAE). As an intern at the Skid Row History Museum and Archive, she has organized public events and documented Skid Row’s cultural history and artistic production. This past year, she became an exhibitor at the L.A. Art Show and 2023 My Green Building Conference, speaking about environmental justice in L.A.’s unhoused communities. In addition to curatorial work, Sonja is currently studying art education as a means of self-affirmation and collective empowerment. Through her work as a Teaching Artist in UCLA’s VAPAE program, she developed a culturally-sustaining multimedia arts curriculum at the UCLA Community School. Most recently, Sonja became a Curatorial Intern at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, where she assists in projects on arts education and museum curation. Additionally, Sonja just became a member of Arts for L.A.'s ACTIVATE Delegates Program, where she advocates for the financial resources of Los Angeles-based arts workers. Sonja hopes to apply her passion for arts advocacy to museum sites, transforming them into spaces of artistic healing and community liberation.
Not pictured is Jordan Tran, an undergraduate representative for the Department of Design Media Arts.
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