At UCLA, some of the most important conversations are happening far from the spotlight. In his office in Murphy Hall, at informal student breakfasts and in meetings with student leaders, Chancellor Julio Frenk has made listening to students a defining part of his first 18 months at the university. Students have shared their academic journeys and their aspirations for the future, while the chancellor has used those moments to better understand UCLA through the student experience.

These exchanges take many forms, but they share a common purpose: creating opportunities for students to speak candidly about life at UCLA and ensuring their perspectives shape the university’s future.

Black-and-white photo of Julio Frenk talking with three students seated together in conversation, one holding a plate and another a phone, with decorative yellow and green line graphics overlaid.
David Esquivel/UCLA
Talking with students in small, intimate groups is one of Frenk’s favorite pasttimes. “These conversations inspire me,” he says.

Each month, students come to Murphy Hall for Chancellor’s Office Hours, a chance to speak one-on-one with the chancellor. The topics range widely, from coursework and campus life to professional goals and personal stories. Students offer candid reflections. Frenk takes notes.

The early-morning student breakfasts offer Frenk a window into students’ creativity, curiosity and sense of purpose. Undergraduate research fellows and students from the School of Theater, Film and Television and the Herb Alpert School of Music have already joined him in these small-group settings, sharing what they study and why it matters to them.

“These conversations inspire me,” Frenk says. “Our future is in great hands.”

Black-and-white photo of four people smiling for a selfie in an office, with one person holding a foldable smartphone toward the camera. Decorative blue and pink doodles frame the black-and-white image.
David Esquivel/UCLA
Students never tire of a long Bruin tradition: a selfie with the chancellor (and Dr. Knaul!).

Alongside students’ ambitions and ideas, another theme has emerged consistently: the importance of support, belonging and connection at UCLA. In February, the university launched a new campaign, Hope Connects Us, to strengthen awareness of student mental health and access to support services. Campus leaders, faculty and students came together for a summit to kick off the campaign, where the chancellor outlined four components of UCLA’s strategy in this area: promotion, prevention, protection and preparedness. At the top of his remarks, he reminded everyone, “At UCLA, we put students first.”

Student leadership also plays an essential role in conversations that shape the university’s path forward. The Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC) meets regularly with the chancellor, maintaining a steady channel for communication on issues that are top of mind for students. In May, the president of the Graduate Students Association joined Frenk for the State of the Campus address, sharing an update on student life at center stage.

This approach began early in the chancellor's tenure. Upon his arrival at UCLA, Frenk launched a campuswide Listening Exercise; he committed to showing up with “open ears and an open heart.” He finds students’ stories and experiences illuminating and invaluable. “Your perspectives help shape our university and inform the decisions we make together,” he told students in a BruinPost, “and I am grateful for each opportunity to hear from you.”

Read more from UCLA Magazine’s Summer 2026 issue.