Dear campus community,
After a competitive nationwide search, we are pleased to announce that Mark Asta has been appointed as the next dean of the College of Engineering. Professor Asta will continue in his current role as interim dean until his appointment becomes effective on July 1, 2026.
Professor Asta brings deep expertise in strategic leadership, with over 13 years of executive experience. He previously served as executive associate dean of Berkeley Engineering, director of the Materials Science Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and chair of Berkeley’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
He will draw upon this experience in his new role to advance priorities in support of the college’s faculty, students, and staff; strengthen alumni engagement; and position Berkeley Engineering to address the challenges of our time.
Professor Asta is renowned for his scholarly contributions. He is a fellow of the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and the American Physical Society. He received the William Hume-Rothery Award and the David Turnbull Lectureship Award, and he holds the Arthur C. and Phyllis G. Oppenheimer Chair in Advanced Materials Analysis and the Roy W. Carlson Chair in the College of Engineering.
Professor Asta is also a “Triple Bear,” having received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from UC Berkeley in 1988, 1990, and 1993, respectively. Before joining the Berkeley faculty in 2010, he held positions at Sandia National Laboratories, Northwestern University, and UC Davis.
You can learn more about Professor Asta here
We extend sincere appreciation to the search advisory committee for their diligent and thoughtful work throughout this process. Please join us in congratulating Professor Asta on his appointment and supporting him as he begins this important new chapter of leadership.
Sincerely,
Richard K. Lyons, Chancellor
Benjamin E. Hermalin, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost