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Leadership
The Dean and Vice Provost along with the Associate Deans provide academic leadership for program development, planning, and decision making in the Division of Graduate Education. Graduate Deans work directly with Division of Graduate Education Leadership Team (Assistant Deans and Directors) within UCLA’s Division of Graduate Education to oversee admissions, academic services, financial support, external relations, budgets, and information technology. The Graduate Deans are available for assistance if students cannot solve problems within their departments.
Dean and Vice Provost, UCLA Division of Graduate Education
Brian Kite
Brian Kite is an award-winning theater director, Professor of Directing, and Dean and Vice Provost of Graduate Education at UCLA. Before moving into his current position, he served as Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and Chair of the Department of Theater.
As Dean of the School of Theater, Film and Television, he advanced student support initiatives, expanded interdisciplinary and global collaborations, and led strategic efforts to enhance graduate education. He guided the school through the COVID-19 pandemic, spearheaded a strategic planning process, modernized administrative systems, and secured funding for infrastructure and student success programs. He has been a champion for curricular innovation, industry partnerships, and strengthening the arts across campus.
Prior to UCLA, he was Producing Artistic Director of La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, where he directed numerous acclaimed productions. His directing work has earned the Joel Hirschhorn Award from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and an Ovation Award for Best Direction. His international credits include directing the first American play staged at China’s National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.
He is Chair Emeritus of the LA Stage Alliance Board of Governors, a Visiting Professor at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, and previously served on the UCLA Academic Senate’s Graduate Council.
Associate Dean
Onyebuchi (Onyi) Arah
Associate Dean Arah works with the Graduate and Postdoctoral Success (GPS) unit, focusing on professional development, mentorship initiatives and retention programming for students from underrepresented groups, including Grad STRIVE 2.0 and Bouchet Scholars. He consults on academic policy and serves as the Division of Graduate Education’s liaison for the Graduate Council’s Committee on Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Scholar Well-Being. Associate Dean Arah also assists with fellowship reviews and is assigned as the Division of Graduate Education liaison to certain Schools/Divisions (see the Associate Dean School/Division liaison chart), providing guidance to departments and students on student cases and reviewing academic and ASE exceptions, Dean’s Special Actions, and Departmental Scholars nominations.
Associate Dean
Marissa López
Associate Dean López works with the Diversity, Inclusion and Admissions (DIA) unit, focusing on recruitment and outreach, holistic admissions initiatives, pathway programs and other initiatives to support students from underrepresented groups, including the UC-HBCU and UC-HSI initiatives and Competitive Edge. She consults on admissions policy and serves as the Division of Graduate Education’s Equity Advisor and as the liaison to the Graduate Council’s Fellowships and Assistantships Committee. Associate Dean López also assists with fellowship reviews and is assigned as the Division of Graduate Education liaison to certain Schools/Divisions (see the Associate Dean School/Division liaison chart), providing guidance to departments and students on student cases and reviewing academic and ASE exceptions, Dean’s Special Actions, and Departmental Scholars nominations.
Associate Dean
Renate Lux
Associate Dean Lux works with the Academic and Postdoctoral Services (APS) unit, focusing on postdoctoral scholars, visiting graduate researchers, and international agreements. She is the Principal Investigator on the NSF Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) grant, consults on ASE and fellowships policy and serves as the Division of Graduate Education’s liaison to the Graduate Council’s Committee on Degree Programs. Associate Dean Lux also assists with fellowship reviews and is assigned as the Division of Graduate Education liaison to certain Schools/Divisions (see the Associate Dean School/Division liaison chart), providing guidance to departments and students on student cases and reviewing academic and ASE exceptions, Dean’s Special Actions, and Departmental Scholars nominations.