Though she is not a legacy, Emily Spitz is legacy-adjacent, given that both her mother and older brother attended UC Santa Cruz. A veteran of the UC system, Spitz, the program manager and advisor for Creative Technologies, started working at UCLA almost a decade ago. She worked a variety of administrative positions across her former university post, including as assistant to the chair of the Musicology Department, student advisor, and admissions director.
A Bay Area native, Spitz has lived around the world. She moved to New York, then the United Kingdom, before settling in Los Angeles when she got her position at UCLA. “I feel like a fake West Coast person,” she laughs. “People here are so chill; I’m too intense.” She will, however, admit to loving the California lifestyle and the benefits it provides.
Spitz was thrilled when she found her position at UC Santa Cruz given that it combined aspects of the jobs she had before, and it centered on the arts, a major passion for her. “I never would have thought that I could be in a role like this,” says Spitz. “It really aligns with my values, and so I’m dedicated to making sure it’s successful.”
Creative Technologies is a one of a kind program and the first in the UC system to be fully online. It launched in the fall of 2024 as a cross-disciplinary program that incorporates technology into the changing future of the art world. Spitz came on before the launch of the program to help coordinate and get incoming students excited about it.
Spitz’s interest in the arts comes from her background as a trained flautist. She studied Music Education at NYU as an undergraduate, and then went on to complete a master’s in Music Studies at the University of Cambridge. Originally, she desired to become a high school band teacher, but found higher education administration combined her love for the arts with her dedication to helping students navigate college.
However, Spitz still plays for fun as part of a wind ensemble in Santa Monica and various chamber groups. She’s built a community for herself in L.A. that she can play with and share her passions with. When she’s not performing, Spitz loves to bake, try new restaurants, play pickleball and video games.
Thanks to Spitz, Creative Technologies has had a successful launch and students have created a close-knit community despite physical distance. “UC Santa Cruz has such a devotion to progressive thought and sustainability,” she says. “I’ve seen that reflected in the community.”