Dear Colleagues:
I am delighted to announce the appointment of Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris as dean of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs (UCLA Luskin), effective June 1, 2026.
A member of the faculty since 1989, Loukaitou-Sideris brings to the post deep administrative experience and a longstanding commitment to UCLA Luskin and UCLA. A distinguished professor of urban planning and a core faculty member in the Urban Humanities program, she has served as the interim dean of UCLA Luskin since January 2023. Previously, she was associate dean of UCLA Luskin (2010–22), UCLA’s associate provost for academic planning (2016–19) and chair of the Department of Urban Planning (2002–08).
Loukaitou-Sideris has provided strong and principled leadership and oversight for the school during challenging times. During her tenure as interim dean, the school has launched several new curriculum initiatives and degree programs, including a Master’s in Real Estate Development (MRED), a Master’s in Global Public Affairs (MGPA), and an online certificate in AI and Data Analytics for Public Affairs in partnership with UCLA Extension. Making the important work of UCLA Luskin’s 10 research centers more visible to California policymakers, she initiated the annual Luskin California Briefing in Sacramento. She has also appointed new department chairs and research center directors; enhanced and diversified the school’s board of advisors; led the development and adoption of the school’s 2024 strategic plan; significantly enhanced student fellowships; and secured more than $46M in philanthropic gifts and pledges, including a $13.5M gift from the Balmer Foundation, a $2.25M naming gift for the school’s Affordable Housing Program and a $2.25M endowment gift for the Luskin Quality of Life Index, among others.
An internationally recognized public space scholar and author or editor of 14 books and numerous articles, Loukaitou-Sideris is known for her research integrating social and physical issues in urban planning and design. Emphasizing the need to understand the perspectives of those who live and work in a community when designing its built environment — and listening to the voices of underrepresented, vulnerable groups — her work has informed urban form and policy changes, including the development of the Golden Age Park in Westlake neighborhood, the first age-friendly park in the United States, and the passage of CA State Bill 1161, which requires that large transit operators conduct annual passenger surveys inquiring about riders’ harassment and victimization experiences. Her research has been supported by the U.S. and California Departments of Transportation, National Science Foundation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Endowment for the Arts, Mineta Transportation Institute, Haynes Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Poverty and Race Research Action Council, Gilbert Foundation, Archstone Foundation and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), among others. She has served as a consultant to the California Air Resources Board, Southern California Association of Governments, Project for Public Spaces, Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative, Los Angeles Metro, L.A. Department of Transportation, the government of Greece, and other municipal and state governments on issues of transportation and urban design. She received her B.A. in architecture from the National Technical University of Athens, and M.Arch., M.Pl and Ph.D. in urban planning from the University of Southern California.
I want to thank the search/advisory committee members for assembling an outstanding pool of candidates for this position:
- Alexandra Minna Stern (chair) – dean of the Division of Humanities and professor of English and history
- Laura S. Abrams – professor of social welfare
- Arleen F. Brown – professor of medicine
- Veronica Herrera – associate professor of urban planning and political science
- Mark A. Peterson – professor of public policy, political science, health policy and management and law
- Michael A. Stoll – professor of public policy and urban planning
- Chris Tilly – professor of urban planning and sociology
- Edward T. Walker – professor and chair of the Department of Sociology
- Laura Wray-Lake – professor of social welfare and education
Anastasia’s academic and administrative experience and achievements, coupled with her longstanding and deep commitment to the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, position her well to lead the school at this critical juncture. Chancellor Frenk and I are confident that UCLA Luskin will continue to fulfill its vital role on and beyond campus, and that Anastasia will continue to help the school enhance its reach and impact. Please join us in congratulating and partnering with her as she takes on the role of permanent dean.
Sincerely,
Darnell Hunt
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost