Administration
Margaret Leal-Sotelo
Acting Assistant Provost for Community Engagement
Margaret Leal-Sotelo is the Acting Assistant Provost of the UCLA Center for Community Partnerships. She is responsible for the UCLA in LA program of civic engagement and engaged scholarship. Her background spans over 20 years of effective coalition building and work with communities, stakeholders, and diverse sectors, as well as administration, and research in non-profit organizations, and in higher education. Before joining the Center, she served as the Chief of Staff of the University of California Institute for Labor and Employment. She was the Vice-President of Communications and Development for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) where she directed the largest non-governmental Census 2000 grass-roots education and media campaign for Latinos and served on the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Census National Advisory Committee. For six years, Ms. Leal-Sotelo was the project director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Program on the Care of Critically Ill Hospitalized Adults at UCLA which examined communication and decision making for patients in end stages of life. Margaret has a B.A. in Sociology and an M.S.W. with an emphasis in research and program evaluation. She can be reached at mlealsotelo@conet.ucla.edu.
Teresa Lara
Special Projects Manager
Teresa Lara manages the University's funded partnerships, community forums, publications, Advisory Committee, and other special projects. Prior to joining the Center for Community Partnerships, Teresa worked in UCLA's Local Government and Community Relations and the UCLA Law School. Her background includes extensive experience in the non-profit realm, from running after-school programs for under-privileged youth to teaching citizenship classes to the elderly and homebound residents, to Development and Alumni Relations. Recently, Teresa was the Program Coordinator for the non-partisan Zócalo “Public Square” Lecture Series in Los Angeles. She serves on the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department Grants Program and is a 2008 recipient and member of UCLA’s Professional Development Program (PDP). Teresa holds a B.A. in Behavioral Science and is currently pursuing her Masters in Business Administration. She can be reached at tlara@conet.ucla.edu.
Hien McKnight
Financial Manager
Hien McKnight is the financial manager for the Center. She is an alumna of UCLA, and never really considered working anywhere else but at her alma mater. Hien has worked in several campus departments, as well as two UC system-wide research units which allowed her to work with colleagues from all the UC campuses and laboratories. Prior to coming to CCP, Hien was a Management Services Officer in the Department of Medicine overseeing a research center and a clinic. A former polyglot, Hien spent a large part of her career in the then-Latin American Center where she served as a Public Programs coordinator. When not doing volunteer work, Hien likes to feed her family and friends with wild food she concocts with or without inspiration. She can be reached at hmcknight@conet.ucla.edu.
Michelle Young Pervaiz
Assistant Office Manager
Michelle Pervaiz is the Assistant Office Manager for the Center. She previously worked at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society where she was a Development Manager and responsible for logistics for all Southern California Chapter events. Prior to that, she held positions at community-based organizations, the Venice Family Clinic and the Archer School for Girls. Michelle is a UCLA alumna and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Classical Civilizations. She can be reached at mpervaiz@conet.ucla.edu.
Gwendolyn V. Payne
Site Manager, South L.A. Office
Gwendolyn V. Payne is the Site Manager for The Center for Community Partnerships - South Los Angeles office. Gwen leads the South LA administrative team and is responsible for organizing and coordinating office operations, and procedures to support faculty, students, and staff in their partnership work in South LA. Before joining the Center for Community Partnerships, Gwen was the Administrative Analyst for the UCLA Center for Communications and Community. Her background includes experience providing community service programs focused on youth, and developing mentoring relationships between K-12 youth-in-need and responsible adults. Gwen holds an A.A. degree in Business Administration. She is currently pursuing her B.S. Degree in Business Administration. She can be reached at gpayne@conet.ucla.edu
