News

Today we are announcing the UC Berkeley African American Initiative, a comprehensive effort to address the underrepresentation of African American students, faculty, and staff at our university, and improve the climate for those who are here now and all who will join our community in the future.

We're delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Na’ilah Nasir as Berkeley’s next Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion.  Professor Nasir will begin her term as Vice Chancellor effective November 1, 2015.  Vice Chancellor Gibor Basri has agreed to continue serving until then, for which we are grateful.

We are very pleased to announce the appointment of UC Berkeley’s next University Librarian (UL), Professor Jeffrey MacKie-Mason. Professor MacKie-Mason comes to us from the University of Michigan, where he currently serves as the Dean of the School of Information and holds joint faculty positions as Professor of Information and Computer Science, Professor of Economics, and Professor of Public Policy.

I am delighted to announce that Mike Williams has accepted my offer and will be Berkeley’s next Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Since becoming the Interim Director last June, Mike has, at every turn, demonstrated the full complement of professional skills, personal attributes and deeply held values that are the recipe for success and accomplishment in one of the most challenging positions on this campus. 

At the end of the Spring 2016 Semester, Wheeler Hall will be emptied and closed for a comprehensive building systems renewal project. The building will be closed from mid-May 2016 to mid-June 2017, which includes the entire Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 Semesters. This project, funded by a partnership between campus capital renewal program and the Office of the President general fund financing program, will renew all building systems (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and elevators), as well as the windows and roof systems.

We are thrilled to announce the creation of a new faculty leadership position, the Associate Vice Chancellor of Arts and Design, and equally delighted to inform you that Professor Shannon Jackson has agreed to take on this role.  As the current Director of the Arts Research Center, and the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Professor of Rhetoric and of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies, Shannon is uniquely qualified and positioned to develop and advance our aspirations in the realm of the Arts and Design.

We are delighted to announce that GEORGE BRESLAUER has agreed to be recalled to serve as the first UC Berkeley Faculty Director of The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life. Professor Breslauer, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Emeritus, is being recalled to serve as a bridge to lead in the transition of the Downtown Magnes from its current association with the Bancroft Library to become part of the Center for Jewish Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.