CaLI Program Partners With UCLA Anderson on Undergraduate Leadership Experience

Both CaLI and C2C focus on supporting first-generation and underserved students as they navigate the transition to career or graduate school. Organizers said the partnership expanded opportunities for students while allowing the programs to share resources and expertise across institutions.

Wendy Hunter Barker, assistant dean at the Rady School and one of the program’s lead organizers, reflects 

Collaboration is easy to claim but often falls short of true unity. Yet when the future of bright, high-achieving first-generation students is the goal, the motivation to succeed is high. 

What set the CaLI/C2C experience apart wasn’t just the curriculum — it was the community.

Some of the most meaningful moments came from hearing how students experienced the program personally. 

“As a community college student, it may be difficult to find groups or high-achieving students, but this program has allowed me to meet just the right students to expand and grow,” one participant shared.

Throughout the weekend, students spoke repeatedly about the collaborative atmosphere and the support they felt from both peers and program leaders.

“My favorite part of the program has to be the group project,” another participant said. “I had the chance to meet so many amazing people, and collaboration with such a supportive group made it even more meaningful. The program leaders were also incredible and they genuinely cared about helping us grow and succeed.”

Another student reflected on the sense of belonging fostered throughout the experience.

“My favorite part overall would be the genuine support and care each speaker and facilitator had for me and the other students,” the student said. “It was a great environment that emphasized how everyone belonged and allowed individuals to ask questions ranging from professional to personal ordeals.”

That sense of belonging is at the heart of CaLI’s mission. By connecting students with mentors, peers and role models, programs like this send a clear message: the path to leadership — and to graduate education — is not only possible, but within reach.

“My favorite part of the program was all the motivation and enthusiasm I received,” another participant shared. “At the end I felt very confident and proud of myself.”