News — Irvine, Calif., Jan. 13, 2025 — A significant donation from philanthropist and businessman Alec Glasser will allow the School of Social Ecology at the University of California, Irvine to fully endow the Center for the Power of Music and Social Change, ensuring that it will continue to positively impact lives for generations to come.
“This gift, the largest ever to the school, is truly transformative, building on the science of music to establish a platform at UC Irvine that will inspire people locally and globally,” said Chancellor Howard Gillman. “Mr. Glasser’s bold generosity will create a significant and lasting legacy.”
In the center, Glasser’s passion for music and improving the lives of individuals and communities dovetails perfectly with UC Irvine’s mission.
“I believe music has the power to drive social change by bringing people together and breaking down barriers like culture, language and socioeconomic differences. It’s a unifying force that can inspire real change – empowering communities, raising awareness, healing wounds and advancing education,” Glasser said.
(“Power of Music” feature story: )
“Mr. Glasser’s donation, which follows previous gifts that awarded student scholarships and allowed our school to establish the center, is going to support groundbreaking innovation,” said Jon Gould, dean of UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology. “We are aligned in our pursuit of solutions for the world’s most pressing problems.”
The Glasser scholarship program was created in partnership with the School of Social Ecology to support 10 UC Irvine students annually who want to incorporate music into their future professional paths.
Richard Matthew, professor of urban planning and public policy, will lead the center.
“Music is an important art form that benefits our world in many ways,” he said. “Science is clearly demonstrating that engagement with music has tremendous value for health, neurological development, complex problem solving, innovation, bringing people together around causes like social justice, peace building, transcultural communication and more.”
The center aims to harness music’s power for individual flourishing and social well-being through collaborative research, education and community engagement. Faculty members from various disciplines throughout the university are studying and teaching what they learn relating to music. An innovative new course is being offered for the winter quarter on how to use music as a tool for personal development and meaningful change in the world.
“Research is evolving quickly, and we are excited about leveraging the power of music in our turbulent society and finding ways of improving mental and physical health, mobilizing people around social change and justice, promoting a sustainable world, and addressing the challenges of climate change and pollution,” Matthew explained.
About Alec Glasser
Glasser, who learned to play the saxophone in a public school when he was 12, owns The Drake, an upscale restaurant in Laguna Beach. Before becoming a restaurateur, he practiced law, specializing in real estate and securities, then served as a faculty member at USC’s law school. Later, Glasser was a commercial real estate investor and developer. In 2021, he founded , a nonprofit organization that connects and inspires underserved youth by providing them with the music education, materials and instruments they need and deserve to fuel their passions and experience the power of music.
About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. 麻豆传媒 & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit .
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