Jennifer Johnson-Hanks has decided to step down as Executive Dean of the College of Letters & Science (L&S) at the conclusion of her five-year term on June 30, 2026.
Since assuming the role in July 2021, Executive Dean Johnson-Hanks has led L&S through a period of visionary growth and strategic organizational shifts. During her tenure, Johnson-Hanks launched L&S Futures, an initiative reimagining the general education elements of an L&S degree. By asking what skills, knowledge, and dispositions our students may require for the 21st century and beyond, this project has produced insightful recommendations to serve L&S undergraduates for decades to come.
“In the College of Letters & Science, we have a dual mission of creating new knowledge and new perspectives–expanding the realm of the known and the imaginable–as well as educating diverse generations of students for lives of contribution beyond themselves,” said Johnson-Hanks. “I am grateful for the opportunity to do this important work alongside my colleagues here at UC Berkeley, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”
Johnson-Hanks’ leadership has coincided with an era of unprecedented challenges for UC Berkeley and higher education, including labor disruptions, natural disasters, and budget deficits. Through it all, she has remained a steady and optimistic presence for the College, anchored by an unshakeable belief in the liberal arts. As a cultural demographer, Johnson-Hanks is uniquely attuned to the transformative power of a liberal arts education, often remarking that asking “big, fundamental questions” is a vital part of what makes us human.
Uplifting the Undergraduate Experience
As leader of the Undergraduate Studies Division, Johnson-Hanks spearheaded the development and implementation of a strategic plan grounded in the tenets of “belonging, wayfinding, and scholarly engagement.” These pillars supported critical new initiatives, most notably the reshaping of L&S Advising. Through an organizational restructure aimed at increasing staffing, improving salaries, simplifying procedures, and modernizing technology, Johnson-Hanks’ leadership has enabled L&S Advising to offer 80% more student appointments than four years ago and successfully re-introduce same-day appointments.
“Jenna has demonstrated over and over her commitment to improving the L&S undergraduate experience. Between Jenna's steadfast support for L&S Advising and her development of the L&S Pathways program to enhance student belonging, she has accomplished incredible feats in her five years as our Executive Dean,” said Sharon Mueller, Assistant Dean of Advising for the College of Letters & Science. “On a personal note, I am deeply appreciative for Jenna's continuous mentorship and encouragement. She welcomed me with open arms to L&S, and under her leadership, I have grown tremendously, both professionally and personally.”
A Berkeley alumna herself, Johnson-Hanks’ devotion to L&S runs deep. “I strongly believe that the kind of broad and deep education that the College of Letters & Sciences cultivates offers the best possible preparation for meaningful adulthood in our challenging and uncertain world and serves a central role in building a strong liberal democracy and civic life,” said Johnson-Hanks.
She has championed the idea of L&S as an inclusive and welcoming “intellectual home” for all, introducing programs and initiatives to bolster the first-year experience of L&S undergraduates. The L&S First-Year Pathways(link is external) program provides themed and cohorted learning experiences and a simplified enrollment process to help students find their way early in their careers. She also revitalized L&S 1, an introduction to the liberal arts that has been met with high student praise, with one student saying, “I am so grateful I enrolled in this course. I do not believe there is a better way to be introduced to the university.”
Johnson-Hanks also co-created the innovative course “Openness to Opposing Views(link is external),” which focuses on the value of engaging with differing perspectives. “You’ve got to be okay with the assumption that you could be wrong,” she noted in a recent article. “Engaging with other people is a really productive way of finding where your own errors and biases are.”
Strengthening Shared Governance
With over 25 years of service, Johnson-Hanks has a proven record of collaborative and transformative leadership. Prior to becoming Executive Dean, she served across campus in many key roles, including Chair of the Committee on Academic Planning and Resource Allocation (2017-2019) and Vice-Chair and Chair of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate (2019-2020; 2020-2021). As Executive Dean, she worked to strengthen shared governance in L&S, resulting in a more proactive and strategic L&S Executive Committee.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to work under Jenna's leadership. Jenna presented a strong vision for L&S that invigorated us and created positive change. In the face of small and large campus challenges, Jenna could always lift up the importance of our undergraduate teaching mission, the intellectual value of a liberal arts education, and the goal that we inspire our students to lead lives of consequence. The Executive Committee will continue to work on executing her vision using the ideas and plans developed through her collaborative L&S Futures project,” said EC Chair Linda Wilbrecht.
Advancing the Excellence of L&S
Beyond faculty governance, Johnson-Hanks has helped launch three new staff recognition and professional development programs, attracting more than 500 participants. She collaborated with the L&S Advisory Board to form the L&S Faculty Awards and fostered community through faculty and staff “lunch and learns,” ensuring the College remains a vibrant working environment for all.
During her tenure as dean, Johnson-Hanks has also energized the L&S Advisory Board as an effective fundraising body. In last year’s Big Give, members contributed over $246,000 through gift-matching commitments and personal gifts, sparking broader giving throughout the College. In 2025, L&S secured significant contributions including a $14M bequest intention for Mind and Society, and a $1M gift to establish an endowment for Disability Studies.
"As co-chair of the L&S Advisory Board, I have appreciated Jenna's tireless commitment to champion the unique role the College of Letters & Science plays on the Berkeley campus. I have felt like a valued campus partner. Not only has she taken special care to educate us about the college, but she has also done an excellent job seeking input and feedback from the board," said L&S Advisory Board Co-Chair Kathy Kwan.
Under Johnson-Hanks’ leadership, the College of Letters & Science has successfully navigated a season of change, emerging stronger and more deeply connected to its core mission. The College community is grateful for her tremendous contributions and enduring impact on L&S.