Dear Cal Supporters and Alumni, Berkeley has long been a place of innovation, an institution that has produced knowledge that has, literally, changed the world. Thanks to your generous support, our community continues to help launch bright and promising students across all fields of study. But I also know that the past few years have been challenging on campus and that many of our graduate students struggle to keep body and soul together. With that in mind, I have three main goals that I hope to advance this year: Ensuring that our graduate students’ basic needs are met and that our funding packages reflect the reality of the cost of living in the Bay Area; Expanding and deepening the professional development opportunities available to our doctoral students who want to consider career paths beyond academia, and to support our professional masters students as they move into their careers; Diversifying our graduate student population so that it better reflects California, the nation, and the world. When I began my undergraduate career at Cal in the fall of 1987, I never imagined that I would be in this position; a PhD was nowhere on my radar. I see my role as opening doors for others, like me, who did not necessarily see themselves pursuing a masters or doctoral degree. Opening those doors matters because the knowledge Berkeley graduate students create changes our world. I look forward to working with our alumni community to help address the challenges we face to ensure that every graduate student on this campus is able to thrive. Together we can make a difference. Warmly, Lisa García Bedolla Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate Division
Dear Cal Supporters and Alumni, Berkeley has long been a place of innovation, an institution that has produced knowledge that has, literally, changed the world. Thanks to your generous support, our community continues to help launch bright and promising students across all fields of study. But I also know that the past few years have been challenging on campus and that many of our graduate students struggle to keep body and soul together. With that in mind, I have three main goals that I hope to advance this year: Ensuring that our graduate students’ basic needs are met and that our funding packages reflect the reality of the cost of living in the Bay Area; Expanding and deepening the professional development opportunities available to our doctoral students who want to consider career paths beyond academia, and to support our professional masters students as they move into their careers; Diversifying our graduate student population so that it better reflects California, the nation, and the world. When I began my undergraduate career at Cal in the fall of 1987, I never imagined that I would be in this position; a PhD was nowhere on my radar. I see my role as opening doors for others, like me, who did not necessarily see themselves pursuing a masters or doctoral degree. Opening those doors matters because the knowledge Berkeley graduate students create changes our world. I look forward to working with our alumni community to help address the challenges we face to ensure that every graduate student on this campus is able to thrive. Together we can make a difference. Warmly, Lisa García Bedolla Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate Division