Natalia Mochernak

UCLA Student, Daily Bruin enterprise editor, CalMatters fellow, Matcha latte maniac

[Hear in LA @hearinladotcom]

The campus paper reports:

“The ongoing misconduct and mismanagement by Vice Chancellor Mary Osako of Strategic Communications at UCLA has persisted unchecked for far too long,” said Amanda Savercool, the former executive director of integrated marketing under strategic communications, in a June 2025 whistleblower complaint. “Staff have endured intimidation, retaliation, and unethical conduct, made worse by a leadership style that isolates, silences, and punishes.”

Osako allegedly secured contracts with consulting firms owned by her friends and spent millions of dollars to hire communications consultancies for overlapping work, said Larisa Cuculovic-Janjic, the director of special projects within strategic communications, in an April 2025 whistleblower report.

Cuculovic-Janjic alleged that Osako used university funds to decorate her office and hire Cuore Collective – an external communications consultancy that Cuculovic-Janjic said was owned by two of Osako’s personal friends – to manage her personal brand and LinkedIn strategy.

[The San Diego Union-Tribune @sdut]

Torrey Pines' Natalia Mochernak is a Mandarin-speaking 'A' student who shines on, off tennis court https://t.co/aUS4VANNAz

[Alexandra Crosnoe @AlexCrosnoe]

Breaking: UCLA will shutter its Early Care and Education centers in June as the university navigates a $220 million budget deficit. The closure comes more than two years after an ECE teacher was arrested for child sexual abuse.

@NataliaMochern reports:

https://t.co/08BC5CfB0A

[Alexandra Crosnoe @AlexCrosnoe]

@NataliaMochern reports on missed red flags:

[Alexandra Crosnoe @AlexCrosnoe]

UCLA employees alleged in at least 22 separate whistleblower and retaliatory reports that a top administrator fostered a toxic work environment and mismanaged department funds, according to court documents. https://t.co/HCFZPDukdW @AVelascoDB @NataliaMochern

[Rick Telberg @CPA_Trendlines]

UCLA CFO blows whistle on university finances: Stephen Agostini halted reports, paused a costly ERP project and warned rising compensation, academic and athletics spending is driving a projected $425M deficit. https://t.co/9LjSKhH4Mw

[Daily Bruin @dailybruin]

Stephen Agostini is out as UCLA’s chief financial officer, Chancellor Julio Frenk announced in a campuswide email Tuesday. https://t.co/SY38HYxVsn

[New York Post @nypost]

In a big setback for UCLA athletics, CFO Stephen Agostini is out https://t.co/I8lRmfvVIs

[Hector Becerra @hbecerraLATimes]

UCLA fires top finance officer, saying he made inaccurate claims about campus budget - Los Angeles Times https://t.co/xQKshDcIZO

[Dylan Winward @thedylanwinward]

Great reporting too this week from @dailybruin's Natalia Mochernak on the departure of @UCLA CFO Stephen Agostini. UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk announced Agostini's departure days after the former CFO gave an exclusive interview to Natalia.

https://t.co/8fbKud4qXW

[Daily Bruin @dailybruin]

During the August USAC meeting, student government discussed the USA Judicial Board's reduced budget and urged students to participate in STC's public comment period. https://t.co/cLQFSbASh6

[Daily Bruin @dailybruin]

UCLA’s applied mathematics program is among those hit by federal funding suspensions. Projects on lasers, climate sensing and threat detection are paused, raising fears for graduate students’ futures and national research progress. https://t.co/uXLxpfYpzP

[Daily Bruin @dailybruin]

At its third meeting of the academic year, the ASUCLA Board of Directors reviewed progress on the soon-to-open Bruin Esports & Gaming Lounge, welcomed new board member Beau Jimmerson and heard public comments from student advocates. https://t.co/Oe6IS9bJ9r

[Daily Bruin @dailybruin]

USAC closed out its summer quarter by approving guidelines for nine key funds and grants that support student initiatives. From wellness to community service, these updates will shape how Bruins access funding from 2025-2026. https://t.co/5X4r1On8uv

[Daily Bruin @dailybruin]

The Undergraduate Students Association Council's new $10.9 million budget boosts officer wages but halves stipends for the Judicial Board, sparking concerns about communication and transparency within student government. https://t.co/ruuPnTQJIP

[Daily Bruin @dailybruin]

Hosted by the UCLA Volunteer Center and USAC's CSC, UCLA's 17th annual Volunteer Day saw nearly 1,300 Bruins spread across Los Angeles. The estimated $9.5 million endeavor saw Bruins giving back to their community. https://t.co/cE323dcAXQ

[Daily Bruin @dailybruin]

Transfer students call out obstacles to involvement in USAC, specifying that early application deadlines, underrepresentation and limited outreach are influencing the lower level of transfer student participation. https://t.co/F91NgkKhDc

[Daily Bruin @dailybruin]

At its Oct. 28 meeting, USAC added an organization that helps students from the Central Valley access higher education to the Community Service Commission and allocated over $72,000 in funding to 61 non-USAC entities. https://t.co/a1X2eTtIWs

[Daily Bruin @dailybruin]

A coalition of 25 student organizations filed an amicus brief Thursday in support of a lawsuit against President Donald Trump that alleged research funding suspensions to UCLA and settlement demands violated employees’ free speech. https://t.co/SpLL8Tvo1U

[Daily Bruin @dailybruin]

UCLA has become the first college to introduce an independent department of labor studies. UCLA Labor Studies currently offers major and minor programs for students, but is projected to broaden its opportunities in the future. https://t.co/Wa8Xln1FGE