Morgan State University Partners with UCLA to Expand Research and Exchange Opportunities

Morgan State University has joined forces with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in a unique partnership aimed at enhancing research collaboration and student exchange opportunities. This initiative, announced by UCLA’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activities, recognizes Morgan as an ideal partner due to its status as a leading Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and a rising public research institution.

The partnership establishes a bidirectional exchange program, offering students and faculty from both institutions the chance to engage in research, mentorship, and academic development. With Morgan’s robust research enterprise—comprising more than 10 critically relevant public impact research centers and nearly $100 million in federal grant funding—this collaboration is poised to foster innovation and knowledge sharing across disciplines.

A key objective of the initiative is to strengthen pathways for undergraduate and graduate students into advanced research and graduate programs. UCLA has acknowledged the value of engaging with HBCUs like Morgan to enrich faculty collaborations and enhance student research experiences. Through this alliance, students will gain exposure to new learning environments, broadening their academic and professional horizons.

This partnership falls under the broader University of California (UC) HBCU Initiative, a statewide effort to address the underrepresentation of African American students in graduate programs. By investing in relationships between UC institutions and HBCUs, the initiative seeks to improve diversity within graduate education while supporting the research missions of both institutions.

UCLA Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activities, Roger Wakimoto, emphasized the significance of the collaboration, stating, “I’ve always been strongly supportive of UCLA working with minority institutions. It taps into a very diverse workforce or student population that makes us a stronger university. This is going to be a two-way partnership. We hope some of their students and faculty will come here and spend time at UCLA.”

As Morgan continues to expand its national and global research footprint, this initiative serves as another milestone in the University’s commitment to fostering academic excellence, increasing student opportunities, and building strategic and mutually beneficial collaborations that propel its mission forward.

Stay tuned for more updates as this collaboration develops. For students interested in learning more about this initiative or how to participate, please contact Dr. Lisa Brown, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research at Morgan.