Board acts as ‘link’ to community
By Laryssa Kreiselmeyer
Lotfi Mansouri, general director of the San Francisco Opera and
former artistic adviser to the Minister of Culture in Iran,
originally came to UCLA to study medicine.
Instead his tenor voice got him recruited for a musical
production opposite Carol Burnett.
As well as holding a UCLA cum laude degree in mathematics and
computer science, Paul Bent is a musical arranger, violinist and
singer.
Officials from the School of the Arts and Architecture worked
last quarter to bring the talents of these and 11 other artists to
UCLA to serve on the school’s newly formed Board of Visitors.
"The board is our link to the external community and to the
campus as a whole," said Robert Blocker, the school’s dean, who
worked in conjunction with Laura Lavado Parker, the school’s
director of development.
The board’s first meeting was held on April 13. Parker said that
she expects the efforts of future quarterly meetings to increase
the number of members from 13 to 25.
"We’re just starting to put it together now," said Parker.
She explained that the board’s biggest job is to serve as
spokespersons and a "link" to the community for the school. It
would also provide advice to the dean as well as participating in
events and fundraising.
"We feel this is really starting to put our school on the map.
Most of the people on the board serve on boards of other
institutions," Parker said, adding that this bonus would increase
communication between the neighbor institutions.
Blocker anticipated the board taking an active role in upcoming
campus events.
"They (the board) will assist us as we plan for the forthcoming
capital campaign and provide expert advice (for) extracurricular
programs," he said.
Other board members include Roy Doumani, chairman of World Trade
Bank and a 1957 UCLA graduate, Ginny Mancini, president of the
Royce Center Circle at the UCLA Center for Performing Arts, and
Harold Williams, former professor and dean at the Anderson
School.
"They’re all very interesting and dynamic people," and will form
an "A-list board," said Parker.
Blocker agreed that the members reflect the area’s
diversity.
"These individuals represent some of the most outstanding
leaders of Los Angeles’ business and cultural community," Blocker
said.
Plans are also underway for the formation of an Artistic Council
for the school. This council will be composed of internationally
known artists and architects to work in cooperation with the Board
of Visitors in order to improve recruitment of visiting professors
and musicians.