A BIT ABOUT US
The Advancement of Historically Excluded Minorities (AHEM) is a student-lead organization whose mission is to increase the matriculation, retention, and graduation of undergraduate students from historically excluded communities within the UCLA Department of Physics & Astronomy. AHEM is committed to providing, promoting, and fostering a safe space for the aforementioned community by providing equitable resources that acknowledge and address educational barriers; social injustices; and other Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) related issues. The organization will execute this mission by providing marginalized undergraduate students a space to voice their concerns pertaining to the UCLA Department of Physics & Astronomy community, recognizing and discussing prominent social issues within the community, and serving as an active resource where students are informed about departmental activities and organizations; academic, financial, and professional opportunities; and campus-wide initiatives.
BOARD POSITIONS
CO-CHAIRS
The Co-Chairs are responsible for internal and external operations, such as: leading general and board meetings, implementing and executing project timelines, serving as liaisons between undergraduate students and the UCLA Physics & Astronomy Department + DEI Committee, and fostering and promoting an inclusive environment
TREASURER
The Treasurer will be responsible for allocating, administrating, and raising funds that serve the mission of the organization. In addition to these responsibilities, the Treasurer will actively inform undergraduate students about scholarship, work-study, and other financial opportunities offered by the Physics & Astronomy
Department and other UCLA organizations (e.g., UCLA Undergraduate Research Center, AAP, UCLA Career Center, etc.)
ACADEMIC CHAIR
The Academic Chair is concerned with addressing the educational barriers that prevent or affect the matriculation, retention, and graduation of undergraduate student within the department. The Academic Chair’s responsibility is to provide and/or direct undergraduate students to resources that will address educational disparities (e.g., CAE accommodations, AAP PLF sessions, PAB tutoring services, MIPA events, etc.). Additionally, the Academic Chair is responsible for organizing and directing academic and professional workshops. These workshops will help undergraduate students develop and refine skills that will help them succeed in their endeavors
DIVERSITY CHAIR
The Diversity Chair is concerned with fostering and upholding a welcoming and inclusive environment within the organization. In addition, this role seeks to prepare undergraduate students to be educated, understanding, and empathetic professionals. The Diversity Chair will actively participate in DEI activities, facilitate discussions regarding social issues by organizing educational workshops, and will redirect undergraduate concerns and conflicts to the appropriate professional within the UCLA Physics & Astronomy Department
PUBLIC RELATIONS CHAIR
The Public Relations Chair is responsible for creating, maintaining, and updating media outlets (website, email list, social media platforms, etc.) that inform undergraduate students. This information includes, and is not limited to, internal and external events, policy changes from the Academic Senate, and important deadlines (e.g., petition to drop a class, scholarship deadlines, etc.). The Public Relations Chair is also responsible for creating flyers and/or other physical and electronic documents.
INTERNAL CHAIR
The Internal Chair is responsible for organizing and directing internal activities that introduce undergraduate students to faculty, graduate students, and other undergraduate students. These activities are aimed at helping students increase their sense of community and may incorporate other departmental organizations in their events, such as the Society of Physics Students (SPS), Upsilon Lab, and MIPA. The Internal Chair encourages students to step out of their comfort zone, create diverse networks, and increase departmental interactions.