I couldn’t be more excited for Berkeley’s next decade and beyond and what we will build together. I bring to this role more than 30 years of service and personal growth at Berkeley. I love this place, and I have profound respect for the values and capabilities – including access, excellence and so much more – that set Berkeley apart. These values and my dedication to them, are steadfast and enduring.
I am home grown, the first undergraduate alum to serve as your Chancellor. More than anyplace else, Berkeley has had the most impact on my life, no contest. This element of who I am is a great source of motivation and meaning for me.
I am here to serve the whole university. What makes Berkeley, Berkeley is our scope, our ability to come at every challenge and opportunity from every conceivable angle, our embrace of, and engagement with, the full range of human endeavor and interests – and our collaboration between them – that separates us from the crowd. Our combination of access and excellence occupies a truly singular place in higher education. That singularity is an opportunity to leave a bigger mark on society and make our capabilities understood even more widely around the world. We can make UC Berkeley the number one choice for faculty, staff and students who want to have an impact. This is my aim.
I also aim to redouble our commitment to our Principles of Community. These principles, which emphasize integrity, diversity, excellence, freedom of expression, and access, help us to navigate overlapping ideals like free speech, academic freedom, and commitment to diversity of perspectives, origins, and identities in our community.
I look forward to listening, growing and building together over the next decade and beyond. Go Bears!
Rich Lyons