01 Sep Johanna Arias, M.Ed., Joins UCLA as Executive MPH Student Affairs Officer
We are thrilled to announce that Johanna Arias, M.Ed., has officially joined the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Executive Programs Office in Health Policy and Management (ExecHPM) as the new Student Affairs Officer for the Executive MPH Program (EMPH), effective September 2025. This appointment significantly bolsters the support structure for our executive students and applicants.
Johanna recently graduated from the prestigious USC Rossier School of Education with a Master of Education in Educational Counseling, completing a rigorous program focused on student development and support strategies. For her exceptional academic excellence and profound commitment to community leadership, she was recognized with the university’s prestigious Order of Arête distinction. She also holds a foundational Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy from the University of California, Riverside, which informs her comprehensive understanding of systemic issues in health and education.
In previous critical roles within higher education, Johanna has demonstrated a strong commitment to student success and institutional equity. As the Sr. Student Affairs Coordinator at Chapman University School of Pharmacy, she led essential programs supporting student well-being and academic progress. Furthermore, her experience in General Counseling at Los Angeles Trade Technical College involved managing complex public engagement efforts and contributing directly to equity-focused research and strategy implementation.
During her tenure as a Research Assistant at the USC Pullias Center for Higher Education, her work made a national impact. She contributed to influential national publications focusing on the profound effect of men of color programs, diligently utilizing data and robust empirical research to inform evidence-based, equity-focused practices and policy recommendations for colleges and universities across the country.
With her robust background encompassing community outreach, policy communications, and deep expertise in student support systems, Johanna is genuinely passionate about building sustainable systems of opportunity and driving lasting, positive change within the healthcare education landscape.
Passionate about empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals and public health leaders, Johanna provides invaluable guidance to applicants of the Executive MPH Program and offers continuous support to current students, dedicated faculty, and our accomplished alumni network. She serves as the first and primary point of contact for anyone with detailed inquiries about the program structure, curriculum, or the entire admissions process. She welcomes prospective applicants and is happy to meet with them one-on-one to discuss their goals. She can be reached directly via email at joarias@ph.ucla.edu and by phone at 310-206-6834.