Dear campus community,
We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Randy Howard Katz as Berkeley’s next vice chancellor for research, effective January 1, 2018. Randy is a celebrated teacher and scholar who possesses deep experience with and understanding of our research community, and we are certain he will provide excellent leadership in this critical area.
After completing undergraduate studies at Cornell, Randy received his MS (1978) and PhD (1980) in computer science from UC Berkeley, then joined our campus as a member of the computer science faculty in 1983. An accomplished researcher in the areas of computer architecture and networked systems design, Randy is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as a fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is one of the key architects of technology conceptualized at Berkeley and in wide use by consumers and industry today: Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID), a data storage virtualization technology that speeds data access and improves storage reliability. A dynamic lecturer and caring teacher, Randy has also had a profound impact on engineering education at Berkeley, and has been recognized for his accomplishments with numerous honors including the campus’ Distinguished Teaching Award. He has been a frequent instructor in the Freshman Seminar Program, teaching courses on the history of communications technologies.
In addition to his many research accomplishments and accolades, Randy has an impressive record of service and has held several significant roles on campus and in government. He is a former chair of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences department and was a founding director of the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society. He has served on the Academic Senate’s Committee on Budget and Interdepartmental Relations and the Committee on Privilege and Tenure. Beyond the Berkeley campus, he has served as the Deputy Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Computing Systems and Technology Office, an advisor to the National Science Foundation and DARPA on research opportunities in information technology, and on the UC Office of the President’s council of the Department of Energy labs. Notably, while on leave from UC Berkeley for government service in the early 1990s, he established the whitehouse.gov website and connected the White House to the internet.
The vice chancellor for research search committee was impressed with Randy’s vision, his ability to lead the campus in identifying new research and funding opportunities, and his dedication to providing outstanding research administration support to our community. He is a strong believer in integrating research and education and is an advocate for ensuring access to high quality research experiences for undergraduates and groups that have traditionally had fewer research opportunities. He is committed to preserving Berkeley’s excellence in research and is enthusiastic about making the most of our opportunities and tackling our current challenges.
You can find out more about Randy’s background and vision in the Berkeley News story: https://news.berkeley.edu/2017/12/06/computer-scientist-randy-katz-named-vice-chancellor-for-research/
Please join us in welcoming Randy to this position, and we look forward to the contributions and leadership he will provide to one of the most important functions of our university. Please also join us in thanking Professor Emeritus G. Steve Martin, who returned from retirement to take up the interim vice chancellor position this past summer, and who will continue to lead the research division through the end of the year.
Sincerely,
Carol Christ
Chancellor
Paul Alivisatos
Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost