Undergraduate Advisory Board 2025-2026

Hello! My name is Sydney Baek and I am a fourth-year student double majoring in Art and History (not Art History!). It’s been amazing pursuing the interests and passions I’ve had since I was a child at UCLA! Unfolding historical events and learning about how human beings and societies have developed has only become richer and more fulfilling the older I get, so it’s surreal that I can study and get a degree in something so interesting!

I’m honored to be serving the HUAB for a second year and excited to contribute in fostering an inclusive environment for all History students to participate in and flourish within the community. From our annual research conference to initiatives for transfer students, I hope to work closely with the History department to make the best possible experience for undergraduate students.

Outside of the HUAB, I am also involved with clubs such as FAST, Forward, and Student Media. In my free time though, I love to read, paint, and listen to music, and after I graduate I would like to pursue a career in law.

Hello! I am Betty Chang, a second-year student from the Bay Area, and I am a double major in applied mathematics and history. I am particularly fascinated by constitutional law, with a special focus on colonial America and how English common law shaped the foundations of the American legal system. I am honored to serve as a member of HUAB and am excited to contribute to an engaged and supportive history community at UCLA.

Outside of the HUAB, I am involved in student government through USAC and am a member of Chi Omega. I plan to pursue an honors thesis examining the intersection of English common law and the American legal system. In my free time, I enjoy running, baking, reading, and sewing. Looking ahead, I hope to attend law school and ultimately pursue a career in the tech industry, where I can combine my interests in law, history, and mathematics. I am thrilled to serve on the HUAB this year and can’t wait to contribute to the UCLA history department community.

Hello! My name is Gensen DeLeon, and I am a third-year history major from Santa Cruz. I am honored to serve as a member of the HUAB and look forward to cultivating a welcoming and positive environment for the history undergraduate community at UCLA.

While I discovered my passion for history through the Magic Tree House books in elementary school, I developed more particular interests within the field in high school and university. More specifically, I discovered my passion for Regency-Era England, the French Revolution, Jewish history, and Prohibition, and I value any opportunity to learn more about these exciting, though admittedly unrelated, topics of study.

Along with serving on the HUAB, I have the pleasure of working at the UCLA Undergraduate Writing Center and Library Special Collections, volunteering with Project Literacy, and copyediting for the Daily Bruin. Outside of these extracurricular activities, I enjoy reading classic novels and literary fiction, watching TV shows and movies, hiking, and spending time with my younger brothers.

Following my undergraduate studies, I hope to pursue a career in college consulting, helping high school students refine and reach their goals within higher education. Between graduation and working full-time as a consultant, I would love to work in an admissions office or as a student mentor through an AmeriCorps Program.

I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to serve the history undergraduate community, which has provided me so much support and enjoyment throughout my UCLA journey. By collaborating with fellow HUAB members to plan events and initiatives, I look forward to continuing this sense of connection and inclusion that has made this department feel like a second home to me.

 I am a fourth-year student from Koreatown, right here in Los Angeles, and I am proud to be majoring in History. I have been passionate about restoring histories that are traditionally not spoken about since I was a teenager, and I am beyond elated to serve on the History Undergraduate Advisory Board to help empower students from diverse backgrounds in our department.

In addition to working on my departmental thesis, which explores how artwork conveys an idealized perspective of society in colonial-era New Spain, I am also a McNair Scholar researching the construction of racial ideologies in the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution. The journeys I have taken in life have steered me to find a home at UCLA, and I plan to pursue the tools I have gathered during my time here in a graduate program in the future.

Alongside HUAB this upcoming year, I am also a Peer Learning Facilitator, and I am enthusiastic about helping students find their voice. I enjoy working with students and guiding them to understand why history matters on a local, national, and global level.

 Hello, my name is Edgar Herrera, and I am a fourth-year history major from Los Angeles, CA. History holds a deeply personal meaning for me; it was the first subject in which I ever earned an A, sparking my love for learning. That moment completely shaped my educational journey, and today, as a history major, I plan to become a teacher who inspires future students at UCLA to develop the same appreciation for history. It is an honor to serve as a member of HUAB this year.

My primary interest in history lies in researching and analyzing Western colonialism and imperialism, with a particular focus on the Urabi Revolt in Egypt (1879–1882). This nationalist uprising sought to end British and French influence but ultimately failed. What fascinated me most in my research was the use of propaganda, how the British press framed and justified imperial intervention to the public. This intersection of politics, media, and power continues to fuel my passion for historical research.

Looking ahead, I plan to pursue a master’s in special education after graduation. Teaching is a passion of mine, and I am eager to make a difference, especially for students with disabilities.

Hi! I’m Jaidyn McKinnie, and I’m a third-year from Corona, California majoring in political science with minors in history and global studies. Growing up in a town with few people that looked like me, I was drawn to history as an outlet to learn about my identity. It was through this discipline that I found the representation other arenas lacked, and each course I’ve taken at UCLA has augmented my passion for it.

My academic interests are primarily in comparative government, particularly democratic backsliding and African geopolitics. I’m especially drawn to the histories of African nations, exploring how legacies of colonialism continue to shape modern diplomacy and development. These concentrations have deepened my appreciation for history, underscoring how the struggles of historically marginalized groups continue to influence political systems and global power dynamics today. After graduation, I plan to attend graduate school and hope to ultimately serve with the State Department or in an ambassadorship, working at the intersection of history, politics, and diplomacy.

Outside of the HUAB, I’m in Model United Nations and Bruin Democrats, and am part of USAC IVP’s Administrative and Political Committee. I’m also aiding in research with Professor Dan Posner, studying how the introduction of internet infrastructure shapes social and economic life in rural Zambia. I’m honored to serve on this board and help ensure every student feels supported and empowered in their study of history.

Hello! My name is Grace Overman and I’m a third-year student double majoring in History and Disability Studies. I am also pursuing minors in Hebrew and Jewish Studies and Education. I am very thankful to be a part of HUAB and the history undergraduate community in general!

As a Navy Brat who spent my childhood stationed abroad I was given the incredible opportunity to see so many parts of the world and this is where I found my passion for history. Constant moving also left me greatly valuing connection and community, things I hope to help foster and bring to our community here at UCLA.

My specific interests in history largely revolve around those who historically have been underrepresented with their stories being left untold and forgotten, especially the history and stories of the Disabled Community. A particularly scrappy history, the Disabled Community has fought against great powers with little odds of success. Slowly making the progress we need for equality one fight at a time. Doing so while keeping their impeccable humor in tact.

Outside of classes I raise service dogs for Guide Dogs for the Blind! I currently have 1-year-old Winifred! If you ever see a white dog in a green vest come say hi!

After college I plan to attend law school in the future and someday become a disability rights lawyer. Whether I work in the courtroom or in policy advocacy remains to be seen, but I plan to continue the fight towards equality that so many incredible disabled individuals before me have started.

Hello! My name is Anton Stover and I’m a fourth-year student majoring in History and triple minoring in American Indian Studies, Global Studies, and Public Affairs. This is my second year on HUAB, and I’m excited to return this year to continue my involvement with the department and create a great experience for all. I loved working last year on HUAB to link student experiences and knowledge to faculty and the department as a whole, and hope that we are able to do even more of that this year.

As for myself, my main interest in history is the connection between history, law, and policy, especially in the realm of federal Indian law, which I hope to pursue further in law school. To that end, I am currently pursuing a departmental honors thesis supported by UCLA’s Keck Scholars program that explores former Attorney General William Wirt’s role in the field. Outside of my studies, I am the President of Model UN at UCLA, as well as on board for the History Honors Society, the Undergraduate Law Journal, and the Bruin Review. I also love baking and listening to all kinds of music. I’m excited for the year ahead!