Michelle Popowitz, JD, MPH, has been with the Depression Grand Challenge since its very inception. In April 2012, she co-founded the pilot program that blossomed into the UCLA Grand Challenges initiative, bearing the two independent Grand Challenges that exist today: the Depression Grand Challenge and the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge.
A pioneer and thought leader in the university-led, goal-oriented grand challenge space, Popowitz has engaged in more than 40 speaking engagements and consultations with universities regarding grand challenges and public impact-focused research.
In her role as the Executive Director, Popowitz serves as the administrative lead of the DGC and is involved with all strategic and operational matters related to the Depression Grand Challenge including strategic planning, budget, fund management, various operations, fundraising, governance, intellectual property, partnerships and communications.
Popowitz began working at UCLA in 2001 in the School of Dentistry administration. She was recruited to work for the Vice Chancellor for Research & Creative Activities (ORCA) in 2011. While in ORCA, she started the UCLA Grand Challenges initiative in 2012, and, after serving as the Executive Director of UCLA Grand Challenges for a number of years, she transitioned to support the DGC full-time in 2020. Prior to joining UCLA in 2001, Popowitz worked as a transactional attorney and in hospital administration.
