The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) seeks an innovative and visionary leader to serve as the next Associate Vice Chancellor for Communications and Public Affairs.
UC Berkeley is internationally renowned for excellence across all disciplines; for the opportunities it affords students of all backgrounds; and for scientific discovery, innovation, and cultural creativity. Ranked as the world’s No. 1 public university in most rankings, the Berkeley campus is home to over 33,000 undergraduate students and more than 12,800 graduate students as well as approximately 1,550 Senate faculty across 15 schools and colleges. Berkeley’s professors are highly distinguished researchers, scholars, and leading experts in their field, as attested by their many Nobel Prizes, other distinguished awards, and memberships in the most prestigious learned societies. The work of the campus is supported by an annual operating budget of $3.2 billion and an endowment of $7.39 billion.
Reporting directly to Chancellor Richard Lyons, and sitting on the Chancellor’s Cabinet, the Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) is responsible for managing a comprehensive communications program aimed at enhancing and protecting the University’s reputation. The role involves developing and implementing innovative communication strategies that align with UC Berkeley’s goals, including media relations, marketing, and internal communications. The AVC will lead a team of over 20 professionals and oversee an annual budget of approximately $5 million. The AVC will ensure a unified vision for communications and public affairs that delivers powerful, cohesive, and integrated messaging and storytelling, enhances the UC Berkeley brand, and furthers the goals of the entire University by leveraging partnerships and resources. This leader will have the opportunity to create a fresh, bold, and inspiring narrative for UC Berkeley; prioritize and focus on proactive, forward-looking areas of impact; leverage campus marketing and communications talent and resources; and strengthen internal communications.
As the campus forges its path for the future under new leadership, this role offers an opportunity to shape the narrative of one of the world’s leading public universities and contribute to its mission of excellence in education, research, and public service. The ideal candidate will have a deep appreciation for the history and contributions of the University of California, Berkeley, and significant executive experience in developing and implementing comprehensive communications programs across complex enterprises. This individual will possess superior strategic skills, a strong grasp of industry best practices, and a holistic understanding of public higher education. They will have broad experience in strategic communications, media relations, crisis management, and digital media, with a proven ability to engage diverse audiences. The successful candidate will be an effective spokesperson, capable of building strong relationships across the institution, and with external partners. They will demonstrate integrity, a collaborative spirit, and a commitment to personal and professional development. Strong leadership and management skills, including budget management and staff development, are essential.
For the full leadership profile and application procedure, please visit: https://wittkieffer.com/positions/200493
WittKieffer is assisting the University of California, Berkeley in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by January 31, 2025.
Applications, nominations, and inquiries can be directed to:
Ashlee Winters Musser, Jenna Brumleve, and Suzanne Teer
BerkeleyAVC@wittkieffer.com
Timeline
The search advisory committee members were selected in October 2024. Stakeholder engagement sessions took place throughout the month of October and November to gather feedback about the opportunities and challenges, qualities, qualifications, and skills as well as the priorities for the next AVC. The full leadership profile was published in late November. Recruitment for the position will occur November through January. Interviews will be conducted in February and March. While search timelines can change, we anticipate the hiring decision will be made in the spring semester with a start date of June 1, 2025.
Search Advisory Committee Roster
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Cathy Koshland, Professor of Energy and Resources, Emerita (committee co-chair)
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Colleen Rovetti, Executive Director of External Relations and Marketing Communications, UDAR (committee co-chair)
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Adam Ratliff, Assistant Director of Media Relations and Critical Communication, Student Affairs
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Amber Lauren Johnson, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff, Equity & Inclusion
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Andrea Lambert, Assistant Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff, EVCP
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Bill Pearce, Continuing Professional Faculty, Haas School of Business
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Chris Treadway, Assistant Chancellor, Government and Community Relations
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Erin McDevitt, Interim Associate Chief of Staff, Chancellor's Immediate Office
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Janet Gilmore, Senior Director, Strategic Communications, Communications & Public Affairs
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Mary Osako, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications, UCLA
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Sarah Fullerton, Director of Communications, Division of Arts & Humanities
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Shelly Meron, Deputy Director, Communications, UCOP
Please direct questions about the search to Megan Landin at mtroup@berkeley.edu or the WittKieffer consultant team at BerkeleyAVC@wittkieffer.com