Announcement: Dean Rich Lyons

July 14, 2017

Dear campus community,

It is with decidedly mixed emotions that I write to share the news that Rich Lyons will be stepping down as dean of UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, just under a year from now, in June 2018. The search for his successor has been initiated and further information can be found here.  

For the last eleven years, over the course of two extraordinarily successful terms in office, Rich has poured heart, mind, and soul into his leadership of Berkeley’s business school. Leading by example and constant, consistent engagement he has helped to build a unique community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have rallied around four key principles that define Haas and set it apart from the crowd: Question the status quo. Confidence without attitude. Students always. Beyond yourself.

Thanks to Rich’s stewardship, Haas occupies a special place among the very best business schools, with elite academic and professional offerings that support and complement the school’s focus on leading through innovation and serving the greater good.

During his tenure, Rich led a redesign of Haas’ MBA curriculum, launched new executive education and interdisciplinary degree programs, and oversaw the fundraising for and development of a crucial Haas expansion – the Connie & Kevin Chou Hall – which began hosting classes for the first time just this week. Through all of this, Rich elevated Haas’ reputation as one of the world’s top business schools; today, each of Haas’ degree programs is ranked as high or higher than it has ever been. For more information about Rich's accomplishments as dean, see this story on the Haas web site.

Beyond his administrative record, Rich’s warm personality and outgoing nature – not to mention his impressive guitar-playing skills – have made him a beloved figure on the Haas campus. As a professor of international finance at Haas prior to his deanship, he was awarded the 1998 UC Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Award, the campus’ highest teaching honor, as well as several other awards for teaching excellence.

Rich has been a champion of UC Berkeley since receiving his bachelor’s degree in finance in 1982, and when he returns to his faculty role next July, I know that he will remain a passionate and vocal supporter of both Haas and of the broader university. Please join Chancellor Christ and me in thanking Rich for his service, and in wishing him well during his final year as dean.

Sincerely,

A. Paul Alivisatos
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost