The Zone connection with UCLA officially began in 2019 when Mike Varney gave the commencement speech and I met Cathy Clarke, the first woman to Chair the institution’s LifeSciences department in its 100 year history. I attended as Mike’s coach; Cathy vetted me in advance – and decided that whatever I did anywhere else, she needed to recruit me to do it for the women in UCLA LifeSciences. That conversation, and a beautiful friendship, began online as the pandemic raged on. In August 2022, I was able to do an ‘in person’ talk on campus, and continue the ‘what next’ conversation with Dr. Clarke. Very ecstatic to share that an Endowment has been created at UCLA, with my name on it, that will honor and train the UCLA women of science to be themselves, smartly – and confidently. We are looking at a first event in 2023.

Stay tuned.

After serving her country, and most specifically, women, for 40 years, Jackie Speier leaves Congress at the end of this year. A very dear friend who most all of us admire greatly, Jackie and The Zone have been aligned for decades. We passed a law to legalize RU486 testing (the morning after pill) in the 90s and continued to make ‘good trouble’ ever since. She is a front-and-center Congressional sponsor for the ERA Amendment; I serve on the ERA Coalition’s National Board. Here's Jackie at the podium with Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi on the left, and (retired) ERA Coalition president, Carol Jenkins on the right. We WILL get this done!!

Was honored to attend Jackie’s UnRetirement Party at the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame. We can count on more good trouble. Jackie will be going into 2023 with her new Foundation, “The Jackie Speier Foundation for Women and Children” committed to supporting women and children in San Mateo County.