I loved UCLA so much, I decided to come back.
I grew up in San Diego, CA. I wanted to be a filmmaker. So, I moved to LA. And there (here) my UCLA journey only just began.
While an undergraduate student UCLA, I did everything to get my feet wet in the entertainment industry. But amidst my personal and intellectual growth, I also discovered movies as a tool beyond storytelling; media could be used to change the world.
First, I needed to change the world.
I left college with a BA in American Literature & Culture and moved to Africa, where I worked with an NGO in rural Tanzania. When I returned, a changed man, and finally (finally!) ready to embark on my Hollywood journey, I discovered that Hollywood had gone on strike. (Remember that?). Broke, and without a job, I turned to my alma mater (and another passion: education).
I began working at UCLA in development and transitioned through three roles in three years, up to the assistant director of a new department focused on community engagement. I loved working for UCLA. Every day. Yet, the creative inside me yearned for more.
I left UCLA again to pursue a Masters in Technology, Innovation and Education from Harvard University, where I focused on leveraging media and technology for social change. While there, an internship with PBS affiliate WGBH in Boston led me to a small social impact consulting firm back in LA.
Since then – after a summer working for Harvard in New York City – I’ve worked for social impact consultancy ProSocial. There, I partner with nonprofits, philanthropists, filmmakers and corporations as a social impact researcher and strategist – a serendipitous blend of my passions for media, education and social change.
Business school, for me, is the next step on my journey to change the world. There is so much potential for good in the corporate world. At UCLA Anderson, I hope to gain skills that complement my eclectic background and empower me to transition into a traditional corporate role to gain valuable experience that I can leverage for social good. And I can’t wait.
Ten years ago, I started my first year as a Bruin. Since then, UCLA has defined the past decade of my life. My years here were transformational. And phenomenal. In Africa, I was a Bruin. While at Harvard, I was a Bruin. I am a hyper-involved alum, and will be a hyper-involved student once again. I’m a Bruin for life. But excited to make it even more official. #doubleBruin
- Devon Dickau, MBA '15
Follow me @devonianperiod and UCLA Anderson @UCLAMBA
