UCLA Social Sciences
Wendy Fujinami, department manager in UCLA’s Department of Asian American Studies (AASD) has received the 2026 Chancellor’s Excellence in Service Award. Presented by UCLA’s Staff Assembly, the annual awards are designed to shine a spotlight on the exceptional talent that makes UCLA a place of innovation, inspiration and impact.
Fujinami, who will retire this year after working for more than 38 years at UCLA, was recognized for demonstrating service to support the University’s mission and achieving institutional goals. Her inclusive and responsible leadership style as a manager and her equally important expertise as a former student affairs officer have greatly strengthened the academic mission of AASD.
“This is such an unexpected honor and an incredible way to cap off my career at UCLA,” said Fujinami. “I am so grateful for this recognition and hope that I have made a difference in the lives of our students, staff and faculty.”
The UCLA Staff Assembly Scholarships & Awards Recognition Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 29, 2026. In addition to the award noted above, the 2026-2027 UCLA Staff Assembly Scholarship recipients will be formally recognized. A full list of scholarship recipients will be available on the Staff Assembly website prior to the event.
A full list of all the 2026 Staff Assembly Awards recipients is available: https://staffassembly.ucla.edu/past-recipients/2026-recipients/.