Join the Social Sciences Dean's Circle

The Honorary Chairs champion the Social Sciences Dean's Circle and inform its growth across geographies and areas of study. Our Chairs set an example for our broader alumni base, inspiring other alumni in the region. They inform our activities in their region or academic area of interest, and they provide a human connection to the Dean's Circle for other alumni. We are incredibly thankful to our honorary chairs for their support. 

Daniel Behrendt ‘92, honorary chair for Southern California and for the Political Economy major, is a leader with 15 years of international corporate business development and partnership experience across deal sourcing, execution, and M&A post-merger integration in both venture-backed and multinational conglomerates, including Samsung, Microsoft, and Honeywell International. Dan brings his successful track record and inetwork across the US and Asia to the Dean's Circle in support of UC Berkeley's students and faculty.  Dan obtained his BA from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a varsity letterman with the Mens’ Intercollegiate Soccer Team, and holds an MBA from INSEAD and a J.D. from the University of California, Davis. He is proficient in the Korean language.

Laura Jehl ‘86, an honorary chair for Washington, D.C., joined the Dean's Circle in 2019. Laura Jehl serves as Co-Chair, Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice at Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Focusing on the intersection of data, law and emerging technologies, Laura advises clients on a broad range of privacy and cybersecurity issues. She has extensive experience identifying and mitigating privacy and data protection issues arising out of the collection, use and storage of data as well as the design of new business models, products and technologies. With unique experience as a former senior in-house counsel and C-suite executive, she understands the business, legal and technological challenges and opportunities her clients face and helps develop innovative approaches to maximize the value of their data-based assets. Laura holds a degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a J.D. from Harvard Law.  

Anthony McCusker ‘92 serves as the honorary chair of the Dean's Circle for Silicon Valley. He is a partner at Goodwin Procter LLP and co-chair of the firm’s technology practice. He specializes in all areas of corporate, securities, and partnership law, with a primary focus on advising emerging-growth technology companies. He is a key contributor to Goodwin's Founders Workbench, an online resource for start-ups, emerging companies, and the entrepreneurial community. 

Anjanette Pelletier ‘92, honorary chair for Psychology, joined the Dean's Circle in 2018. Anjanette Pelletier serves as the associate superintendent of the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) at San Mateo County's Office of Education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley and a master’s degree in Clinical Child Psychology from CSU, Hayward.

Michael Quigley ‘80, honorary chair for South Korea, joined the Dean's Circle  in 2014. Michael is a US lawyer and a tax partner at Kim & Chang in Seoul, Korea. He divides his time between Seoul and Honolulu. Michael holds a degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley and a JD from Pepperdine University School of Law.

Edward Ring ’88, honorary chair for Anthropology and for Los Angeles, joined the Dean's Circle in 2017. He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of New Standard Equities, a leading full-service investment platform in multifamily properties throughout the west coast. Edward has ultimate responsibility for New Standard Equities’ investment strategy, operations, risk management, and investor relationships. He has over 25 years of real estate and financial consulting experience, with 18 years of dedicated investing and operating experience in the multifamily sector. Edward holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley in Anthropology.


Addy Spiller '00, honorary chair for New York City, joined the Dean's Circle in 2022. Addy Spiller is a Digital Product Leader adept at defining and executing against product strategy: understanding client needs, designing creative solutions, and building new products in dynamic, entrepreneurial environments. She has 15+ years of experience in Financial Services, with a strong focus on creating digital experiences that drive customer loyalty and engagement in B2B and B2C channels.

Michael Sternberg ‘85, honorary chair for New York, joined the Dean's Circle for Economics in 2016. Michael is Managing Director and Head of Analytics & Modeling at BlackRock. He has worked in financial services for over 30 years in New York and London. Michael holds a degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Tina  Walton (‘91, East Asian Languages and Economics) and David Walton (‘86, J.D.) both graduated from UC Berkeley, though they only first met after their graduation, when they were both living in Seattle. Their marriage led them first to Hong Kong, and eventually to their permanent home in Singapore. There, David is the Deputy Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer for BOC Aviation and Tina is a published author
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