Paul Abramson was recently honored with the 2024 Administrative Management Group Distinguished Career Award. Abramson started working for the UCLA Central Ticket Office (CTO) as an undergraduate economics student and recently retired as the department’s associate director following a successful 35-year career. The award recognizes an individual who has had a significant and lasting impact on the surrounding community, exemplifies leadership, has invaluable institutional knowledge and has made broad contributions to the UCLA campus.
Abramson served the UCLA community with distinction as a dedicated, fiscally responsible and innovative leader. In addition, he was a strong advocate for staff, demonstrated a servant leadership style and consistently led his organization to be more efficient and customer-centered, said Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck, one of the nominators.
“In the eight years I worked with Paul, he was a trusted partner in enhancing the customer experience for the entire UCLA community and developed new and innovative ways to better support the core departments served by CTO,” said Beck.
In addition to being highly respected by the career and student staff within CTO, Abramson was deeply revered by numerous client partners, including the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Rose Bowl, UCLA Athletics, UCLA Center for the Art of Performance, student organizations and academic departments.
“I am especially proud of the individual impacts that Paul has made on the lives of countless UCLA students and staff who have worked as members of the CTO team. Paul has never forgotten what it means to be a student or how a great job experience can turn into a lifelong career,” said Beck, adding that Abramson coached and supported countless student employees and took great pride when they graduated and pursued their own careers, especially when those careers were within CTO.
Among his many accomplishments, Abramson, who was an early proponent of the Administration Equity Council, led CTO’s transition to a new ticketing platform that saves more than $150,000 per year. He also accepted the coordination role for UCLA’s involvement in the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games, where UCLA will host the Athletes Village.
“CTO and the Olympic and Paralympic games will succeed because of his conscientious and thoughtful efforts in establishing the structure and engaging those responsible for leading the multitude of efforts.”
