Fred Ali Will Deliver Commencement Address

Fred Ali, the President and CEO of the Weingart Foundation, will be the keynote speaker at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs’ commencement ceremony on Friday, June 14.

Ali, who is also one of UCLA Luskin’s Senior Fellows, heads up the Weingart Foundation, which is a “private, nonprofit grantmaking foundation that seeks to build better communities by providing assistance to people in need, thereby helping them to lead more rewarding and productive lives.”

For details and FAQ’s on UCLA Luskin’s commencement ceremony, which will begin at 9:00 a.m., please visit our commencement page.

The student speakers from UCLA Luskin will be David Cho (Public Policy), Tamkhiet Thanh-Ho Jenkins (Social Welfare) and Rickey Russell (Urban Planning).

Fred Ali has more than 35 years of senior management experience with nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and government. He received his undergraduate degree from Santa Clara University, and his graduate degree in education from the University of Michigan.

Fred began his career in 1972 as a volunteer teacher and counselor in a small western Alaska village. Over the next 19 years, he held a number of key positions in Alaska including Deputy Director of the State Employment and Training Agency; President of Kuskokwim Community College; and Vice Chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage. In 1991, Fred became the Executive Director of Covenant House in Los Angeles. Under his leadership, Covenant House California developed into a large, multi-service program working with homeless and at-risk youth in Los Angeles and Oakland.

Fred was elected President of the Weingart Foundation in June 1999 and named Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation in 2006. He serves on the Board of Advisors for The Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy, University of Southern California (Chairman); Office of Strategic Partnerships Advisory Board, City of Los Angeles, Office of the Mayor (Chairman); and Senior Fellow, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Fred also served as the immediate past chair of Southern California Grantmakers. He speaks regularly on issues pertaining to the nonprofit sector including sustainability, organizational effectiveness, capacity building and the impact of the recent economic downturn.

About the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Founded in 1994 and dedicated in 2011, the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs is a leading institution for research and scholarship in the areas of public policy, social welfare and urban planning. Based in the global metropolis of Los Angeles, UCLA Luskin develops creative solutions and innovative leaders that confront challenges in immigration, drug policy, prison reform, transportation, the environment, and other areas vital to the continued health and well-being of our global society.