Q&A: A Chat with George Breslauer
THE SOON-TO-BE PROVOST REFLECTS ON HIS LONG CAREER AND DEFINES TOP CHALLENGES FOR UC BERKELEY'S FUTURE

by Monica Friedlander

A teacher, world-renowned scholar, and administrator, George Breslauer has served the College of Letters and Sciences in multiple capacities during his 35-year affiliation with the University. On March 15, Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau announced that Breslauer, the executive dean of L&S and dean of the College's Division of Social Sciences, will become UC Berkeley's executive vice chancellor and provost (EVCP). The appointment, effective July 1, will make Breslauer the campus’s chief academic officer and the chancellor’s second-in-command.

While honored and energized by the opportunities ahead, the avuncular political scientist can’t suppress a twinge of regret at leaving L&S — his home throughout his career at Berkeley. It was during his years here that he imparted his love for international politics to generations of students. Here he went on the intellectual journey that led to his acclaim as an expert in Soviet/Russian politics and his publication of a dozen books on the subject. And it was here, in the College of Letters and Science, that Breslauer, as dean, got to work with professionals across departments to improve access to excellence in the liberal arts for all students.

Following the announcement of his new appointment, Breslauer sat down for a chat to reflect on his years here and look ahead to the great challenges awaiting him in his new position.

his years at L&S		the challenges ahead		personal reflections

On his years at L&S

Can you reflect on your experience at L&S (both as social science dean and executive dean)? What are some of the highlights of these years and your proudest achievement(s)?

As dean of social sciences, I've had many sources of satisfaction. I've enjoyed stretching myself intellectually to relate to 12 disciplines. I've enjoyed recruiting world-class faculty members and inducing our existing, world-class faculty to resist outside offers. I gained great satisfaction from convincing the campus to allocate 21 extra faculty positions to four "impacted" departments in the Social Sciences Division. As a fundraiser, I've enjoyed getting to know extraordinary alumni who are highly educated, accomplished in their fields, loyal to Cal, and generous with their time, energy and financial resources. But I think my greatest source of continuing satisfaction has been selecting and then working with department chairs to improve the functioning and professional standing of their departments. In my seven years as dean, I've worked with about 35 chairs of the 12 departments, and almost all have been a delight to work with.

I've only been executive dean for eight months. But my greatest source of satisfaction has been the success we have had in staffing and building the infrastructure of the College. That is, during those months, we have hired first-rate individuals into the positions of dean of development, communications specialist, special assistant to the EDLS, and office manager.

You served as executive dean for less than a year. Are there items on your agenda that you will not be able to see through before you leave?

Not really. There is substantial consensus among the L&S deans as to the directions in which we must move in our common efforts. The greatest challenges facing my successor as executive dean will be achieving success in the new fundraising campaign and in ensuring adequate representation of the L&S voice in all-campus decision-making. The latter, of course, will be facilitated by my serving as EVCP, since I will readily understand the implications of central decisions for L&S.

How do you think your departure will affect the College? Do you foresee major changes under a new dean?

My successor as dean of social sciences will, by definition, be a rookie. He or she will have a great deal to learn. Since that person will report directly to me, I will have a stake in taking the time to help train him or her, so that the social science departments will continue to be well served.

What are the major challenges faced by the College right now?

The major challenges are to succeed in the Capital Campaign, to rationalize the administration of undergraduate education, and to design an effective structure for fundraising for undergraduate scholarships, programs and facilities.

What will you miss the most about L&S?

Probably the proximity to department chairs and academic personnel cases. The EVCP has a much broader span of responsibility and therefore cannot afford to get overly involved in intra-departmental matters.

Will L&S continue to have a special place in your heart as you move on to oversee UC Berkeley’s 15 colleges?

Of course! I’ve been an "L&S guy" for 35 years — it must have a special place in my heart. And the comprehensive excellence in L&S is pretty awe-inspiring. It is one major responsibility of any EVCP to ensure that that excellence is not compromised. But, as EVCP, I will be an honest broker who recognizes that both L&S and the professional schools must flourish for the campus to remain a national leader in the creation, teaching, and broader dissemination of new knowledge.

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