On May 14, 2026, the Office of Inclusive Excellence (IE) continued its special topic series: Tea with IE.
Fueled by a spirit of dialogue and engagement (as well as an assorted tea potluck), Tea with IE presents the UCLA community an opportunity to learn firsthand with UCLA’s top experts on a host of topics.
This Tea session was hosted by Ms. Rejeana Mathis (Director, Learning & Organizational Development, UCLA Human Resources), Dr. Emily Rose (Assistant Provost and Chief of Staff to the UCLA Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost) and Dr. Margaret Shih (Interim Dean and Neil Jacoby Chair in Management, UCLA Anderson School of Management), and explored the lessons learned from UCLA’s True Bruin Values Refresh Process — a crucial element of the mission of One UCLA.
Overview
Ms. Mathis, Dr. Rose, and Dr. Shih led a spirited presentation, walking participants through the careful process of refreshing the True Bruin Values — making sure to both honor what came before and reflect the current needs of the UCLA community.
Participants
As the Office of Inclusive Excellence’s fourth official session of Tea with IE, this event drew a robust 40+ registrants (split between in-person attendees and Zoom). Featuring a mix of faculty, staff, and students, the audience was drawn to the fascinating behind-the-scenes stories of shaping the refreshed True Bruin Values, welcoming the participation of diverse campus constituents, and delivering an end-product that best serves the mission of One UCLA.
Takeaways
In the very spirit of the “Tea with IE” series, participants were able to learn, discuss, and engage with fascinating and challenging new perspectives in a friendly, inclusive space. Guided by Ms. Mathis, Dr. Rose’s, and Dr. Shih’s wealth of expertise, the group explored the necessary challenges of including the campus’ vital array of voices, meeting the moment to understand the campus’ historical and current needs, and perfecting the art of nuanced and respectful dialogue and disagreement.
The session further highlighted the effectiveness of the Refresh process and deliberations, specifically ensuring that all of the data and feedback was collected, delivered and analyzed by committed UCLA participants — keeping the endeavor community-focused throughout. In the end, the goal for the True Bruin Values is a north star — for how we behave and treat one another. They are a blueprint for how we live and will move forward together as Bruins, something both this Tea session and the Values themselves beautifully displayed.