UC Chicanx/Latinx Alumni Association updates Regents; students press for mentorship and data
January 17, 2026 | University of California, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California
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Alfonso Salazar, a past alumni regent, and Tati Aguilera, co‑chair of the UC Chicanx/Latinx Alumni Association (CLAW), told the University of California committee that the volunteer‑led group is building alumni leadership across all 10 campuses and supporting students through outreach, summits and advocacy.
"Our mission is to support the overall advancement of the University of California so it can better serve the needs of its on campus and off campus Chicano Latino community," Salazar said, outlining CLAW’s three pillars of connection, engagement and advocacy.
Aguilera described summits and campus visits as opportunities to welcome students and families who have not previously stepped onto UC campuses. She said the association works to connect alumni and students through mentorship, events and shared resources and that CLAW prioritizes sustainability by raising funds and sharing best practices across campuses.
Salazar invited the Regents to participate in an advocacy day in Sacramento on April 8 and a CLAW summit at UC San Francisco on April 25 focused on health communities.
Student observer Sean Barnes Johnson, a UC Berkeley sophomore, told the committee that a systemwide alumni association should prioritize three things: a mentorship program pairing alumni with first‑generation and underrepresented students; accessible, well‑publicized alumni networks; and post‑graduation support programs.
"It's really imperative that they have more support and pairing with some of these alumni so that they can be able to strive and thrive in the UC system," Sean said, urging targeted efforts for first‑generation, low‑income, Black, Native American and Latino students.
Sean also recommended forming a Native American alumni association if one does not exist and urged the university to publish alumni earnings data disaggregated by demographic groups to reveal disparities and guide program expansion. Regents and staff said some demographic breakdowns are available through accountability dashboards and the UC Info Center and invited follow‑up to ensure the requested data are accessible.
Regents warmly received the update and offered to help with outreach, recruitment and mentorship; no formal action was taken during the meeting.
"Our mission is to support the overall advancement of the University of California so it can better serve the needs of its on campus and off campus Chicano Latino community," Salazar said, outlining CLAW’s three pillars of connection, engagement and advocacy.
Aguilera described summits and campus visits as opportunities to welcome students and families who have not previously stepped onto UC campuses. She said the association works to connect alumni and students through mentorship, events and shared resources and that CLAW prioritizes sustainability by raising funds and sharing best practices across campuses.
Salazar invited the Regents to participate in an advocacy day in Sacramento on April 8 and a CLAW summit at UC San Francisco on April 25 focused on health communities.
Student observer Sean Barnes Johnson, a UC Berkeley sophomore, told the committee that a systemwide alumni association should prioritize three things: a mentorship program pairing alumni with first‑generation and underrepresented students; accessible, well‑publicized alumni networks; and post‑graduation support programs.
"It's really imperative that they have more support and pairing with some of these alumni so that they can be able to strive and thrive in the UC system," Sean said, urging targeted efforts for first‑generation, low‑income, Black, Native American and Latino students.
Sean also recommended forming a Native American alumni association if one does not exist and urged the university to publish alumni earnings data disaggregated by demographic groups to reveal disparities and guide program expansion. Regents and staff said some demographic breakdowns are available through accountability dashboards and the UC Info Center and invited follow‑up to ensure the requested data are accessible.
Regents warmly received the update and offered to help with outreach, recruitment and mentorship; no formal action was taken during the meeting.
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