The UCLA Athletic Department is an established member of the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program. The Bruin Life Skills Program strives to enhance the student-athlete experience within the University setting by coordinating educational programs that address personal growth, leadership, career planning, and community service. Our goal is to assist student-athletes with their transition to college, provide opportunities to enhance their college experience, support the development of a well-balanced lifestyle, and prepare student-athletes to be champions in life.
Bruin Athletic Council (BAC)
The Bruin Athletic Council (BAC) is a leadership group that is led by representatives from all 22 Bruin teams. This select group provides a voice to the athletic administration. They are responsible for communicating information on upcoming events to their teams and coaches, while working to create unity among all athletic teams. The BAC serves as a forum to offer input regarding the student-athlete experience, life skills programs, community service projects, Pac-10 and NCAA legislation. The BAC meets two times a month throughout the academic year.
Wooden Academy: Teamwork, Leadership and Character
The Wooden Academy is a comprehensive leadership development program designed to educate and support the standards of leadership for Bruin student-athletes. The pillars of the Wooden Academy are teamwork, leadership and character. The program is named after legendary Coach Wooden, and teaches the values and principles that he used to create the "Pyramid of Success". These skills will assist student-athletes in their pursuit to be successful leaders and teammates at UCLA, and as they prepare to be champions in life. Student-athletes will have the opportunity to participate in the Wooden Academy each year by attending seminars and learning practical leadership lessons from coaches, administrators and Bruin alumni.
Team Workshops/Student-Athlete Education
Coaches can work with Ashley Armstrong to coordinate continuing educational workshops for their teams. These workshops will be conducted by Athletic Department Staff, UCLA Staff or Faculty, or community professionals. See the attached Student-Athlete Education handout for more information.
Student-Athlete Ambassadors
The purpose of Student-Athlete Ambassadors is to create a personal link to our donors, alumni and friends of UCLA Athletics. This select group of student-athletes has demonstrated a commitment to academic and athletic success, while possessing leadership qualities and an interest in serving our community. Serving as an Ambassador gives student-athletes the opportunity to share their experiences and voice their appreciation to our Bruin fans and supporters. Student-athletes will have the chance to network with donors and alumni, and include the experience on their resume. For more information, contact Ashley Armstrong, 310-206-7121.
Community Service
Bruin student-athletes, coaches and staff have the opportunity to participate in community service activities on campus and throughout the Los Angeles area. These opportunities include; food and clothing drives, Marathon Kids, Dribble for the Cure, participation in elementary school activities and reading days, and visits to Mattel Children's Hospital. Bruins also have the opportunity to volunteer for individual speaking engagements and events, participate in sports clinics, the *"I'm Going to College" program, and *Adopt-a-Classroom (pen pal program). These service opportunities give student-athletes a chance to mentor youth, give back to the community and serve as ambassadors for UCLA Athletics.
If you are interested in having your athletes participate, or if you would like to discuss other service opportunities, contact Ashley, 310-206-7121. Please note: A Community Service/Promotional Activity Waiver (see attached copy) must be completed by the organization prior to an event, the student-athlete must sign prior to the event, and this form must be approved by Ashley or the Compliance office prior to participation.
* Contact Christi Phillips, Marketing, to coordinate participation in IGTC and Adopt a Classroom, 310-206-8127
Professional Development
UCLA Athletics encourages student-athletes to start their career development once they arrive on campus. Student-athletes are encouraged to visit the career center and take advantage of the many services and resources that are available on campus. Students receive assistance in identifying internship and employment opportunities that meet their career interests and goals. They have opportunities to network with Bruin alumni and meet with companies that are interested in employing student-athletes. The goal is to help students identify their transferable skills and prepare for the transition from their athletic career to corporate America. Career information is also posted in the Kneller Academic Center. For assistance with professional development contact Ashley Armstrong, 310-206-7121.
UCLA Career Center
501 Westwood Plaza (at Strathmore), Floors 2 & 3, 310-206-1915, www.career.ucla.edu
UCLA's Career Center assigns a specific career counselor to each sport to help student-athletes work towards career plans after college. The center's resources include various workshops (writing a resume, interview techniques), career fairs, interviews, internships, and study abroad programs. Students are also encouraged to log on to www.career.ucla.edu and register for Bruin View, which provides exclusive access to hundreds of online job and internship postings, campus interviews, and information sessions at the UCLA Career Center. Student-athletes can use the drop in hours (Monday-Friday 10AM - 4PM), or schedule an appointment with their assigned career counselor to discuss career-related questions or concerns. Call or e-mail your career counselor in advance to schedule an appointment.
| Team | Counselor | Phone # | Email Address |
| W Volleyball Softball | Grace Park | 310-206-1906 | gpark@career.ucla.edu |
| Football M & W Golf Baseball | John Coate | 310-206-1967 | jcoate@career.ucla.edu |
| Gymnastics M Water Polo | Roni Lavi | 310-206-1910 | rlavi@career.ucla.edu |
| M & W Tennis | Markell Steele | 310-825-1624 | msteele@career.ucla.edu |
| W Swimming/Diving W Water Polo | Jordan Maness | 310-206-1920 | jmaness@career.ucla.edu |
| M Track & Field Cross-Country | John Taborn | 310-206-1025 | jtaborn@career.ucla.edu |
| W Track & Field Cross-Country | Karol Johansen | 310-206-1934 | kjohanse@career.ucla.edu |
| M Basketball | Dario Bravo | 310-206-9980 | dbravo@career.ucla.edu |
| W Basketball W Soccer | Cynthia Hall | 310-206-1940 | chall@career.ucla.edu |
| Rowing M Soccer | Sanaz Nabati | 310-206-1936 | snabati@career.ucla.edu |
Bruin View
Bruin View is an online job and internship search system for current UCLA students and alumni. It gives users access to: browse all levels of job and internship postings, including company descriptions, job titles, and qualifications; upload and store resumes and cover letters tailored to specific employers' requirements; respond to listings online; organize and keep track of your job search activities; and set up job search agents that will alert you by email when a job is posted that meets your employment preferences. Bruin View is available through the Career Center at www.career.ucla.edu. Current students are able to access this website free of charge by using their UCLA BOL ID. Students can then fill out an online profile, with their major and GPA, to attract future employers. Alumni can subscribe for access to Bruin View job listings. This is an Alumni Association service exclusively for UCLA Alumni and graduates of other UC campuses.
Athletes to Business
An additional career resource that is in place for Bruin student-athletes is Athletes to Business. This organization provides one-on-one career planning, resume development, and assistance with interviewing skills. A2B can assist student-athletes, who have exhausted their athletic eligibility, in arranging interviews with several Fortune 500 Companies. They are dedicated to coaching, counseling and placing highly talented student-athletes into the corporate world. For more information, contact Ross Lerner, 818-802-1156 or Ashley Armstrong, 310-206-7121.
