Contact the Graduate Division

Lisa García Bedolla became the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and the Dean of the Graduate Division in July 2019. The chief advocate for graduate education and research at Berkeley, she is a member of academic and administrative leadership groups convened by the Chancellor and the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost. She works with the Graduate Council of the Academic Senate on policies that sustain the world-renowned excellence of more than 100 graduate programs. The Dean of the Graduate Division ensures equity and fairness across the disciplines, collaborates across the spectrum of campus stakeholders, and builds diverse sources of academic, financial, personal, and professional development support for more than 11,000 doctoral and master’s students throughout their studies.

• Director of the Office of Graduate Diversity (OGD), a program designed to support the outreach to, recruitment, admission, academic success, and graduation of students who will enrich the diversity of graduate programs at the University of California, Berkeley
• Serves as a senior advisor and operations manager for the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate Division
• Serves as senior advisor on specific priorities such as graduate diversity, campus climate, professional development, and overall support for the graduate student community
• Works in very close partnership with the campus administrative leadership, Deans, and Academic Senate
• Manages all communications staff within the Graduate Division
• Works with the Development Director to coordinate development efforts across the Graduate Division, the Office of Graduate Diversity, and the Division of Equity and Inclusion to ensure these efforts are carried out as effectively as possible

• Oversees fellowship matters and other student financial support matters
• Oversees student well-being and welfare issues
• Oversees Graduate Student Professional Development programs and liaises with the Graduate Council subcommittee on Graduate Professional Development
• Represents the Graduate Division in academic program reviews (shared with Gail Brager)
• Associate Professor in the departments of African American Studies and Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies

• Oversees admission allotments
  
• Reviews academic program proposals and requests for exceptions to academic policies
  
• Oversees the Interdisciplinary PhD program; the GSI Teaching and Resource Center, Graduate Writing Center, and Mentoring programs
• Represents Graduate Division in supporting the campus’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
• Serves as liaison to the Graduate Council of the Academic Senate
• Represents the Graduate Division in academic program reviews (shared with Brandi Catanese)
  
• Professor of Architecture, Building Science
• Director of the Center for Environmental Design Research
• Associate Director, Center for the Built Environment

• Manages the staff and overall operations in the Admissions, Fellowships, Appointments, Degrees, and Student Life units
• Implements new policies and executes changes to existing policies related to graduate student services
• Approves exceptions as delegated by the Associate Deans to policies and regulations and makes recommendations to the Director of Academic Affairs and Associate Deans on specific issues or cases
• Advises departments and students on issues of probation, lapsing, and dismissal, and sensitive student matters
• Oversees processes to ensure compliance of students and department administrators with existing requirements and policies related to academic progress, enrollment, appointment eligibility, terms of financial awards, admissions procedures
• Develops communication plans and schedules trainings and informational sessions to inform and educate campus academic departments, administrative offices, and outside agencies
• Acts as coordinator of Graduate Division role in instances of deaths of graduate students
• Represents the Graduate Student Services unit to the campus community and relevant external constituencies

• Senior advisor to Graduate Division leadership and campus on graduate educational policy matters.
• Advises on development of new or proposed changes to graduate educational policy.
• Advises on and oversees academic program requests for exceptions to or waivers from graduate educational policy.
• Advises on the development of new graduate degree and non-degree proposals, as well as changes in the requirements of existing graduate academic programs.
• Advises on formal graduate student appeals and oversees the process on behalf of the vice provost and dean.
• Acts as liaison to the Graduate Council.
• Coordinates graduate group snd self-supporting graduate professional degree program reviews conducted by the Graduate Council.

• Leads new graduate academic misconduct policy rollout
• Advises graduate students on their responsibilities surrounding academic conduct
• Collaborates with Center for Student Conduct on graduate student academic misconduct cases
• Collaborates with other campus par

• Provides leadership and vision for graduate student professional development, GSI Teaching and Resource Center
• Supports the work of Graduate Council standing committees
• Supervises and guides the work of Graduate Division professional development staff
• Works with graduate students, faculty, and departmental staff to ensure compliance with Graduate Council policy on GSI preparation for teaching
• Designs, oversees, and evaluates centralized programs for GSIs
• Designs and facilitates workshops on a wide range of topics pertaining to teaching and mentoring in the Graduate Division and in departments
• Teaches GSPDP 301, Mentoring in Higher Education, and GSPDP 375, Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
• Co-directs the Summer Institute for Preparing Future Faculty

• Graduate admissions & enrollment planning & analysis
• Institutional data reporting
• Dashboard and data visualization development

• Campus-wide Institutional Survey Research and data collection
• Institutional data reporting
• Represents UC Berkeley for system-wide survey needs
• Provides support for Graduate Division technical functions and processes

• Oversees the day-to-day operations for graduate admissions and the admission
  application system
• Collaborates with campus partners to develop and implement a diverse, inclusive, and holistic vision and strategy to accomplish the university’s admissions, recruitment, and enrollment goals

• Advises departmental staff, faculty, applicants, sponsoring agencies, and exchange programs pertaining to Graduate Admissions requirements
• Evaluates academic records to determine admissions eligibility
• Processes exception requests and approves registration and/or issues administrative blocks
• Researches higher education systems for accreditation and degree programs comparability with Graduate Division standards
• Specializes in Spanish speaking countries
• Conducts training workshops for departments and information sessions for prospective international applicants
• Serves as a liaison for the LASPAU and GTU programs
• Monitors the gradadm@berkeley.edu e-mail account

• Advises departmental staff, faculty, applicants, sponsoring agencies, and exchange programs pertaining to Graduate Admissions requirements
• Evaluates academic records to determine admissions eligibility
• Processes exception requests and approves registration and/or issues administrative blocks
• Researches higher education systems for accreditation and degree programs comparability with Graduate Division standards
• Specializes in Europe and the Middle East
• Conducts training workshops for departments and information sessions for prospective international applicants
• Serves as a liaison for the EAP, IIE, and Fulbright programs
• Monitors the gradadm@berkeley.edu e-mail account

Graduate programs I advise

• Monitors Graduate Student progress toward the Masters and Ph.D. degree.
• Oversee the Exchange Program with other universities

• Blanket Approvals
• Graduate Group membership (including Designated Emphasis faculty lists)
• GLOW access
• Non-student specific requests

Graduate programs I advise

• Monitors Graduate Student progress toward the Masters and Ph.D. degree.

• Supervises Student Funding staff (i.e., Fellowships and Student Academic Appointments) and manages all operational functions related to the graduate student funding enterprise
• Analysis, policy, and business process development related to graduate student funding for Berkeley campus; training and support for campus partners and departmental advisors
• Leads divisional audit, compliance, and security functions related to student funding data, storage and access, and business process.

Coordinates the following fellowship programs:

• University multi-year fellowships and DCF (by department)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (by department)
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program (IIE)
• Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship (DDRA)
• Mentored Research Award
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study
• Philip Brett LGBT Studies Fellowship
• Foreign Language and Area Studies Awards
• Taiwan-UC Berkeley Fellowship
• UC President’s Pre-Professoriate Program Fellowship

Administers the following fellowship programs:

• Graduate Opportunity Program Master’s Fellowship
• Graduate Division Student Parent Grant
• Graduate Division Caregiver Grant
• Conference Travel Grant
• Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship
• Paul J. Alexander Memorial Fellowship
• Jim Fahey Safe Homes for Women Fellowship
• Dr. and Mrs. James C.Y. Soong Fellowship
• The David N. Keightley Fellowship

Administers the following fellowship programs:

• University multi-year fellowships and DCF (by department)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (by department)
• Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship
• Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships
• Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)
• Hellman Fellowship
• UC Dissertation-Year Fellowship
• Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity
• UC MEXUS-CONACYT Doctoral Fellowships for Mexican Students
• Department of Energy CSGF & NNSA SSGF Fellowships

• Support graduate students around issues that affect their well-being — such as health education and wellness, housing, parenting support, community-building, and campus climate
• Help create a more inclusive community for all students
• Coordinate opportunities for engagement and advocate for the unique needs of graduate students
• Represent the Graduate Division on various campus committees to address graduate student needs, including campus partners in the Graduate Assembly, Student Affairs, and other units that offer services to graduate students

• Provides leadership and vision in matters pertaining to international GSIs and their oral communication and teaching development needs
• Directs all aspects of the Language Proficiency Testing Program for prospective GSIs who do not speak English as a native language
• Administers oral English language proficiency tests
• Provides consultations and feedback for international GSIs on oral English proficiency and teaching

• Provides one-on-one consultations for GSIs and classroom observations of GSIs
• Designs and facilitates pedagogical workshops for GSIs offered in the Graduate Division and in departments
• Oversees the hiring and training of workshop leaders for Fall and Spring GSI Teaching Conferences
• Contributes to annual update of Center’s online ethics course for GSIs

• Provides one-on-one consultations for GSIs and classroom observations of GSIs
• Designs and facilitates pedagogical workshops for GSIs offered in the Graduate Division and in departments
• Hires and trains workshop leaders for Fall and Spring Teaching Conference
• Contributes to annual update of Center’s online ethics course for GSIs

• Teaches Language Proficiency Program oral English proficiency courses for prospective GSIs
• Assists in updating Language Proficiency resources on Center website
• Designs and conducts conference sessions on the Language of Teaching at the annual International GSI Teaching Conference

• • Advises students and departments on policies and procedures for GSI preparation for teaching
  • Provides student service support for the Language Proficiency Program
  • Advises students on Teaching Certificate requirements and manages enrollment and completions
  • Coordinates and manages all Center events
  • Contributes to Center website

• Provides leadership and vision for programs that address the academic and professional writing needs of graduate students campuswide
• Develops and conducts workshops, writing groups, and boot camps on academic and professional writing both in the Graduate Division and in departments
• Provides one-on-one consultations on academic and professional writing.
• Co-directs the Summer Institute for Preparing Future Faculty
• Teaches GSPDP 301, Mentoring in Higher Education, and GSPDP 320, Academic Writing for Graduate Students

• Manages the Office of Graduate Diversity (OGD) staff to support the outreach to, recruitment, admission, academic success, and graduation of students who will enrich the diversity of graduate programs at the University of California, Berkeley.
• Provides students from historically underrepresented backgrounds with graduate resources regarding the admissions process, academic support, financial advice, professional development, and a forum to share ideas and programs to enhance their educational experience.
• Supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of OGD’s pipeline, academic success, and recruitment programs.
• Designs and implements outreach strategies to increase the number of competitive underrepresented applicants and matriculants.
• Works with internal campus departments/colleges/schools and external partners to expand and support pipeline programs and outreach efforts.

• Director of the Office of Graduate Diversity (OGD), a program designed to support the outreach to, recruitment, admission, academic success, and graduation of students who will enrich the diversity of graduate programs at the University of California, Berkeley
• Serves as a senior advisor and operations manager for the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate Division
• Serves as senior advisor on specific priorities such as graduate diversity, campus climate, professional development, and overall support for the graduate student community
• Works in very close partnership with the campus administrative leadership, Deans, and Academic Senate
• Manages all communications staff within the Graduate Division
• Works with the Development Director to coordinate development efforts across the Graduate Division, the Office of Graduate Diversity, and the Division of Equity and Inclusion to ensure these efforts are carried out as effectively as possible

Provides general support to current and prospective graduate students from low-income, historically underrepresented, and first generation backgrounds as first point of contact through grad.diversity@berkeley.edu email. Coordinates logistical and business processes for day-to-day and annual events of the Office for Graduate Diversity, McNair Scholars Program, and American Indian Graduate Program.

Facilitates the Firebaugh Scholars Program and supports undocumented, low-income, first-generation college, and minoritized graduate students at UC Berkeley.

• Directs and oversees the American Indian Graduate Program
• Plans and implements academic, programmatic, cultural, outreach, and professional development services provided to American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students
• Collaborates with campus partners to provide advising and leadership on ethnic specific and multicultural issues
• Provides assistance to the Native graduate students
• Manages AIGP events, and daily office functions

• Serves as a confidential, neutral place for students and postdocs to discuss their difficult campus related issues
• Explores and provides options to visitors for possible resolutions to their situations
• Facilitates or mediates resolutions between parties
• Provides individual coaching and group and training on communication, conflict styles and feedback
• Sets budget and direction for the department

Please note: All appointment requests can be made by calling the listed office number

• Serves as the first point of contact for visitors
• Conducts intake regarding the nature of the needs of the client
• Schedules appointments
• Conducts outreach and training related to conflict resolution
• Gather and analyze confidential data and prepare reports to share trends and make recommendations for systematic/organizational changes

Please note: All appointment requests can be made by calling the listed office number

• Student communications
• Web management and content
• Graduate Division publications
• Development communications
• GradNews, Graduate Division’s e-newsletter
• Social media
• Event communications

• Plans and executes outreach strategies, and extends the reach of ideas to prospective and current students, staff, faculty, and donors, and drives engagement through web, social, and traditional media.
• Helps oversee editorial voice and crafts compelling written content.
• Liaises with students and staff to publicize stories about graduate student excellence.
• Stewards recruitment and community-building initiatives.
• Directs video creation to highlight Graduate Division staff knowledge.
• Guides tools and resources to build community among graduate advisors.

For lecture coordination assistance, please email lectures@berkeley.edu.

• Manages nine Lectureships (open to the public):
  •  Five Graduate Council Lectureships
  • Three Graduate Division Lectureships
  • Tanner Lectures on Human Values
• Manages large scale graduate student events and new faculty events:
  • Distinguished Fellows Reception
  • New Graduate Student Orientation
  • New Faculty Reception
  • Assists with donor engagement (regarding visiting lecturer events).

• Organizes monthly Graduate Student Advising Officers (GSAO) Meetings
• Maintains delegation of authority information for Graduate Division
• Supports Graduate Division facilities
• Coordinates business functions and processes
• Manages graduate development events and plans other events
• Monitors gradrsvp@berkeley.edu and gradsupport@berkeley.edu email accounts

• Develops, implements, and leads all aspects of a comprehensive development operating plan to secure funding for the Graduate Division
• Creates and executes strategies for the identification, cultivation, stewardship and solicitation of major donors
• Develops and maintains a plan for the systematic cultivation of donors to ensure their growing commitment to the university
• Develops and implements aggressive major donor cultivation/solicitation programs and fundraising opportunities
• Works collegially with the campus-wide units and their senior staff to ensure the free flow of information and solicit cooperation
• Integrates fundraising requirements into the budget process

For lecture coordination assistance, please email lectures@berkeley.edu.

• Manages nine Lectureships (open to the public):
  •  Five Graduate Council Lectureships
  • Three Graduate Division Lectureships
  • Tanner Lectures on Human Values
• Manages large scale graduate student events and new faculty events:
  • Distinguished Fellows Reception
  • New Graduate Student Orientation
  • New Faculty Reception
  • Assists with donor engagement (regarding visiting lecturer events).

• Organizes monthly Graduate Student Advising Officers (GSAO) Meetings
• Maintains delegation of authority information for Graduate Division
• Supports Graduate Division facilities
• Coordinates business functions and processes
• Manages graduate development events and plans other events
• Monitors gradrsvp@berkeley.edu and gradsupport@berkeley.edu email accounts

• Human Resources
• Achieve Together
• Compliance
• Financial Management

• Graduate Division Fellowships and Endowments Annual Fund Balance Management
• Fee Remission Benefits Collection and Reconciliation
• GSR Childcare Reimbursements
• UC Intercampus Fee Remission Transfers

• Contracts and grants funds management and reconciliation
• External funding from corporates, industry and private agencies
• UC systemwide programs funding
• Procurement and Entertainment BFS approvals – BluCard, BearBuy

• Business systems analyst for student records, advising and campus community
• Campus Solutions APR expert
• Systems strategy lead

• Business systems analyst for the online graduate application
• Slate application system expert
• Application reporting lead

• Spearheads innovations in the delivery of graduate education and programming within Grad Div, across programs, and across campus units
• Partners with the Division of Undergraduate Education, Research + Teaching + Learning Services (RTL) to innovate Berkeley’s collective practice and pursuit of teaching and research excellence
• Provide instructional design and technology consultation and support for instructional courses, modules, and/or certificates