Kem Saichaie is the inaugural Executive Director of the UCLA Teaching and Learning Center (TLC). He works to advance the TLC’s mission to connect with the campus instructional community, to elevate teaching, provide pedagogical skills and resources, as well as promote student success at UCLA.
Kem is a First-Generation college student in the United States and has dedicated his career to higher education. He has 20+ years of experience working in roles that include academic technology, educational development, admissions, and as a faculty member. Kem also has more than 10 years of experience working in the UC as a founding member and senior leader of the Center for Educational Effectiveness at UC Davis, where he worked with instructors and teaching assistants to investigate evidence-based pedagogical practices and integrate them into face-to-face, hybrid, and online learning spaces.
Nationally, Kem is the co-editor of the Journal for First-Generation Student Success. He was elected to the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Core Committee (2021-2024) and currently serves as the co-chair of the Membership Committee. At the UC-level, he is the co-chair of the 2025 UC Professors of Teaching Conference. Additionally, he was the Chair of the UC Center for Teaching and Learning Consortium from 2022-2023 and has contributed to the UC First-Generation Coalition since 2018.
Kem is an animal lover, avid runner, hiker, cyclist, enjoys salsas of all types (hotter is better), and attempts to keep tabs on sneaker culture.