UC Berkeley News
Press Release

UC Berkeley Press Release

New deans appointed to campus posts

– The UC Board of Regents has approved the appointment of six new deans for the University of California, Berkeley, following highly competitive searches and the recommendation of UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau.

The Regents' action on Thursday (July 17) at UC Santa Barbara cleared the following key appointments:

  • Sam Davis, professor emeritus of architecture, as interim dean of the College of Environmental Design
  • J. Keith Gilless, professor of forest economics, as dean of the College of Natural Resources
  • Richard K. Lyons, professor at the Haas School of Business, as dean of the business school. Lyons has been the chief learning officer at the Goldman Sachs investment bank in New York City while on leave from the Haas School.
  • Richard A. Mathies, professor of chemistry and director of the campus's Center for Analytical Biotechnology, as dean of the College of Chemistry
  • Mark S. Schlissel, professor of immunology, biochemistry and molecular biology, as dean of the division of biological sciences within the College of Letters & Science
  • Diana Wu, formerly the acting dean of University Extension, as dean of University Extension

"We are delighted about the appointment of this stellar cohort of deans," said UC Berkeley Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost George Breslauer. "These talented and accomplished individuals are recognized leaders in their fields, and UC Berkeley is very fortunate to have them."

He lauded the depth and breadth of their expertise, which he said "will enhance the disciplines and programs they represent, advance the interests of their individual schools and colleges, and serve well the university, its multiple constituencies, and the broader higher education community."

In addition to the six new deans announced this week, John Quigley, professor of economics, will serve as interim dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy, pending Regental approval of his compensation, while the campus continues its search for a new dean.

Except for Wu at University Extension, the deans all are UC Berkeley professors. Each new position is retroactive to July 1.

The new deans replace outstanding scholars who have retired, chosen to return to the faculty ranks or moved to other institutions:

Lyons takes the Haas School post held by Tom Campbell, who will be returning to teaching.

Quigley takes over at the Goldman School of Public Policy for Michael Nacht, who is returning to the Goldman School faculty.

Schlissel replaces W. Geoffrey Owen, who retired in June, in the office of dean of biological sciences.

Mathies takes the College of Chemistry post previously held on an interim basis by Clayton Heathcock, emeritus professor of organic chemistry and chief scientific director of QB3, the three-campus California Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Research.

Davis is filling the shoes of Harrison Fraker at the College of Environmental Design. Fraker, the William W. Wurster professor of architecture and urban design, will be on sabbatical through spring 2009.

Gilless has been serving as interim dean of the College of Natural Resources since Paul Ludden left that post and UC Berkeley in 2007.

Additional information about the new deans may be found on the Web sites of their particular schools or departments and can be accessed easily via the UC Berkeley home page.

More details about compensation for the new deans are available at the UC Regents' salaries and compensation Web site.

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