This post was updated July 21 at 8:41 p.m.

The UC Board of Regents appointed Sonya Brooks as its student regent for the 2025-2026 academic year during its July meeting. 

Brooks, who will be the first Black woman to hold the role of student regent, is a graduate student at UCLA pursuing both a master’s degree in public health and a doctorate in education. She previously received a bachelor of arts in history from UCLA in 2019 and a master’s in urban education policy from Brown University in 2021 and was appointed Wednesday at UC San Francisco. 

Following her appointment, Brooks expressed gratitude for the ability to hold the position as a first-generation student and a mother of three children. She added that she will use her tenure to focus on improving student housing, resources for student-parents, research mentorship and health and medical education across the UC.

“I believe our students are among the world’s finest, and I pledge to serve them,” she said during the meeting. “As a strong and passionate advocate, I am dedicated to being a voice for the voiceless.”

Brooks received UCLA’s 2023–2024 academic year student leadership award for equity, diversity and inclusion. As a doctoral candidate in education, her research focuses on improving educational outcomes for Black girls, according to the UCLA Center for Education Innovation website.

Former Board of Regents Chair Richard Leib said Brooks will be an “impressive” addition to the board due to her passion for higher education. 

“As much as the committee was impressed by her resume, we were even more impressed by her passion, enthusiasm and spirit,” he said during the meeting. “She will be a tremendous advocate for students and inclusive access to the University.”

Brooks will succeed Josiah Beharry, the appointed student regent for the 2024-2025 academic year. She will serve as student regent-designate, which allows her to attend the board’s meetings but not vote on its decisions this year.