UCLA Extension on Aug. 15 welcomed former students to its first ever alumni networking happy hour, held at Perch bar in downtown Los Angeles. 

Nisha Chauhan-McGrath, who joined UCLA Extension as its inaugural director of alumni relations in 2023, said the event gave attendees the chance to meet, reconnect and engage with a diverse community of lifelong learners from Los Angeles and beyond.

"UCLA Extension offers such a valuable personal and professional network because our students come from all different backgrounds and work in all different fields," said Chauhan-McGrath. "Our goal is to keep people connected."

More than 60 former students and their friends and family attended the event. Matthew McKay Winnie, a screenwriter who earned his UCLA Extension certificate this year, said he valued the opportunity to connect with fellow alumni.

"In my field networking is a huge part of success, but I think in any business it's vital," said McKay Winnie. "Especially when it's with a community like this."

Akio Yamada said he hoped to share stories and touch base with former classmates from the project management certificate program he completed in 2012.

"Being away from UCLA Extension for over 12 years, it's just good to reconnect," Yamada said. "Coming here is also kind of a way of saying thank you for that experience."

The gathering near LA's historic Pershing Square came as UCLA Extension expands its footprint in the heart of downtown. As an anchor tenant of UCLA Downtown, the institution continues to explore ways of connecting students across every corner of the city, while also serving as a hub for international students from around the world.

Natalie Ng, who moved to Los Angeles from Hong Kong and landed her first job in the U.S. after earning a digital marketing certificate from UCLA Extension in 2020, said she was looking forward to connecting with alumni and finding opportunities to support other international students.

"It's about giving back to the community," Ng said.

Rana Gulec, who moved to the U.S. from Turkey and graduated with a certificate in business management, trade and economics in 2010, echoed the sentiment.

"It's been a while, so I'm definitely feeling a sense of nostalgia," Gulec said. "I had some very special days at UCLA Extension."

As the evening wound down, new connections and old friends promised to stay in touch. For Chauhan-McGrath, the event represented just a small part of plans to bring the UCLA Extension community closer together.

"We're always looking for new ways to support our alumni," Chauhan-McGrath said. "There's much more to come."