Berkeley's 10th Chancellor: Nicholas B. Dirks

Nicholas B. Dirks became the 10th chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley on June 1, 2013. An internationally renowned historian and anthropologist, he is a leader in higher education and well-known for his commitment to and advocacy for accessible, high-quality undergraduate education, to the globalization of the university, and to innovation across the disciplines as well as between the university and outside partners. 

As chancellor, Dirks' tenure focused on improving the undergraduate experience through the creation of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education, enhancing advising and student support, renovating campuswide instructional and learning facilities, and improving extracurricular and residential life. He launched initiatives in neuroscience, genomics, data science, and arts and design. Dirks established a range of international research, teaching and exchange partnerships, with universities including Tsinghua University, Cambridge University, the National University of Singapore, and others. He emphasized collaboration in fundraising and the development of new revenue sources, while confronting major financial challenges. He stepped down as Chancellor on June 30th, 2017.