Youlonda Copeland-Morgan is associate vice chancellor for enrollment management at UCLA. Before participating in a panel on how to make higher education more inclusive, she revealed her nickname, what she would major in if she were a college student today, and why there’s nothing she likes less than mediocrity in the Zócalo green room.
What do you do to clear your mind?
I garden. I love to garden—and all those beautiful, diverse creatures in my garden.
What would you choose to eat for your last meal?
I’m a New Orleans girl, so I think a nice seafood platter would be great. And let’s just go ahead and fry everything. It’s my last meal!
Did you have any nicknames as a kid?
Yo Yo. Oh my God, if that gets out, I’m in trouble! As I got older it became Yo. What else do you call a girl named Youlonda? When I go back to visit my old churches, the pastor will say, “I see Yo Yo visiting us today.” People turn around and go, “Who’s that?”
If you went back to college today, what would you major in?
I think I would major in one of the sciences—maybe biology. I was always good at math, and I enjoyed my science courses, but I was so focused on business because when I went to school in the 1970s, women weren’t in business, so I was like, “I am woman, I’m in business!”
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Mediocrity. I like for people to give everything their best. I’m not so focused on the outcomes as I am on people’s attitudes, and I like for everybody to give 100 percent. I’m a big believer in high standards. It makes us work harder, reach farther. And if we miss the bar, we’ll still end up better than setting the standards too low.
Who is the one person, living or dead, you’d love to have a beer with?
Let’s see, Jesus wouldn’t have a beer, so that wouldn’t quite work. I think it would be Martin Luther King.
What is the last habit you tried to kick?
Chocolate.
What keeps you up at night?
Trying to figure out how to provide greater access to all students from across California. Trying to connect with their families, their communities. What can I do differently?
What’s the last thing that inspired you?
Just the other day, I had a chance to meet with a group of transfer students who were extremely passionate about telling their stories and using their experiences to reach out to other transfer students and encouraging them. I was just amazed at the amount of energy, time, and sacrifice that these students were putting into serving students in community colleges.
What’s on your nightstand right now?
A bunch of jewelry and my Sunday school book.