Riordan Programs - Diversifying and Impacting Tomorrow's Leaders

In 1987, the Riordan Programs was founded by Richard Riordan, former mayor of Los Angeles, and William Ouchi, UCLA Distinguished Professor and New York Times best-selling author, as a career-based outreach program for high school students in the greater Los Angeles area.

Through our pipeline programs, Riordan Scholars, and now College to Career and Riordan MBA Fellows we educate and expose high school, college and recent graduates from underserved communities to business and leadership experiences that have propelled them to achieve higher education.

With the help of our partnerships and sponsorships, more than 3,500 Riordan Scholars have graduated from the program, many moving on to study at the nation’s top colleges and universities. Alumni have secured positions across a diverse pool of industries and remain leaders in their community and around the world.

The Riordan Program success is owed in no small part to its integral mentorship component. Our mentors are 1st and 2nd year UCLA Anderson MBA students, who possess a strong desire to pay it forward. The cross-cultural element creates meaningful learning experiences, helps cultivate long-lasting relationships and provides valuable opportunities for students to navigate their personal and professional careers.

As a Riordan Programs' supporter, you will be making an important contribution to some of the following initiatives:

• Funding for college scholarships for high school seniors

• Supporting the College to Career Program for undergraduates

• Fellowships for program participants entering graduate school

• Supporting participant activities, such as the Riordan Scholars Program’s Stock Market Analyst Competition, Northern California College Tour, and the Real Estate Competition

• Providing enhanced alumni resources and events

Two out of the three Riordan core programs are offered tuition-free. Our students come from historically low-income communities and are often the first in their families to graduate from high school and go to college. By offering tuition-free college preparatory programs based at UCLA Anderson, the Riordan Programs are leveling the playing field for deserving, high achieving youth, who would not have access to this type of prestigious opportunity otherwise.

Through this crowdfunding campaign, we aim to make the Riordan Scholars Program tuition free for every student. 

Each year the Riordan Programs depend on donations to make our Scholars sessions possible. With your generous donation, you will be helping the Riordan Programs cover expenses for print materials, food, student transportation and other program-related needs. Your donation also will support our annual Northern California College trip, where participating high school seniors visit campuses like UC Berkeley and Stanford, and meet with Riordan Program alumni at their corporate work sites, including companies like Google and Pandora.