Alumni and Student Honors

UCLA students and alumni earn a wide range of honors and awards, including the highest achievements in the sciences, arts, social sciences and leadership. On this page we list some of their especially noteworthy accomplishments.

Ardem Patapoutian

Physiology or Medicine, 2021

B.S. ’90 molecular, cellular and developmental biology

Randy W. Schekman

Physiology or Medicine, 2013

B.A. ’71 individual field of concentration in molecular biology

Elinor Ostrom

Economic Sciences, 2009

B.A. ’54, M.A. ’62, Ph.D. ’65 political science

William Sharpe

Economic Sciences, 1990

B.A. ’55, M.A. ’56, Ph.D. ’61 economics

Uta Barth

Conceptual Photographer, 2012

M.F.A. ’85 art

Photo Credit: John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Lee Breuer

Playwright and Theater Director, 2012

B.A. ’58 English

Sarkis Mazmanian

Medical Microbiologist, 2012

B.S. ’95 microbiology/molecular genetics, Ph.D. ’02 microbiology-immunology

Photo Credit: John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Kay Ryan

Poet, 2011

B.A. ’67, M.A. ’68 English

Todd Martínez

Theoretical Chemist, 2005

Ph.D. ’94 chemistry

Photo Credit: John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Kevin Murphy

Economist, 2005

B.A. ’81 economics

Photo Credit: John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Toba Khedoori

Painter, 2002

M.F.A. ’94 art

Photo Credit: John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Shawn Carlson

Science Educator, 1999

M.S. ’83, Ph.D. ’89 physics

Stewart Kwoh

Human Rights Leader, 1998

B.A. ’70 psychology, J.D. ’74 law

Patricia Locke

Tribal Rights Leader and Educator, 1991

B.A. ’51 education

Peter H. Raven

Botanist and Conservationist, 1985

Ph.D. ’60 botany

Richard Tapia

Mathematics, 2011

B.A. ’61, M.A. ’66, Ph.D. ’67 mathematics

Photo Credit: Courtesy of The National Science & Technology Medals Foundation

Kay Ryan

Poetry, 2011

B.A. ’67, M.A. ’68 English

Tony Auth

Editorial Cartooning, 1976

B.A. ’65 individual field of concentration in biological illustration

Vinton Cerf

2007

M.S. ’70, Ph.D. ’72 computer science

Kay Ryan

2008

B.A. ’67, M.A. ’68 English

Elizaveta Fouksman

2010

B.A. ’08 history

Chris Joseph

NCAA athlete, football, 2009

B.A. ’08 geography

Scott Hugo

2009

B.A. ’09 history, political science

Annette Salmeen

NCAA athlete, swimming, 1997

B.S. ’97 chemistry

Spencer Eth

1973

M.D. ’76 medicine

George Rosa

1971

B.A. ’71 English, French

Harold Griffin

NCAA athlete, football, 1969

B.A. ’69 political science

William Zeltonoga

NCAA athlete, wrestling, 1962

Philosophy major, wrestling team

David Maxwell

Anatomy, 1955

Ph.D. ’60 anatomy

Steven Muller

1948

B.A. ’48 political science

Thomas Lambert

1936

Graduated from Oxford University 1939

Matthew Clawson

2010

B.A. ’10 economics, political science

William “Thomas” Clarke

2007

B.A. ’07 molecular, cell and developmental biology

Devon Graves

2018–19

M.A. ’16 education

Abraham “Avi” Oved

2015–16

B.A. ’16 economics

D’Artagnan Scorza

2008–09

B.A. ’07 study of religion, Ph.D. ’13 education

Maria Ledesma

2006–07

Ph.D. ’07 education

Jodi Lynette Anderson

2004–05

M.A. ’02, Ph.D. ’06 education

Tracy Davis

2001–02

B.A. ’95 anthropology, M.A. ’00, Ph.D. ’08 education

Justin Fong

2000–01

M.P.P. ’04 public policy

Max R. Espinoza

1998–99

B.A. ’99 history, Chicana/o studies

David B. Hoffman

1986–87

B.A. ’88 economics

Fred N. Gaines

1984–85

B.A. ’81 economics, political science

Richard Anderson

1983–84

M.S. ’79, Ph.D. ’93 psychology

David A. Neuman

1981–82

B.A. ’83 communication studies

Leslie K. Lurie

1980–81

B.A. ’81 communication studies, political science; J.D. ’84 law

Renee Turkell

1978–79

B.A. ’79 English, J.D. ’83 law

This listing includes UCLA alumni and students. We make every effort to keep these listings current and accurate. Last updated August 2021.