Sara Rahimian graduated in 1999 with a focus in computer science and one course shy of a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies. She later completed a certificate in business management through UC Extension. Over the past three decades, Ms. Rahimian has worked as a software engineer and engineering leader across an array of industries, starting in elevator controllers at Motion Control Engineering (now Nidec), then legal self-help at Berkeley's Nolo Press, restaurant reservation systems at OpenTable, and health insurance systems at Collective Health. In 2021, Ms. Rahimian joined Google as a senior manager in the Enterprise Networking space. In 2025, she decided to leave tech and pursue her passion for food and hospitality as the owner of Evergreen Cafe in Berkeley with a fellow UC Berkeley computer science alum.
She met her husband, Chris Harrelson, during their time together in the College of Engineering. They have committed to giving back to Cal by donating to offer a course in the Department of Global Studies called "Political Discourse in the Twenty-first Century," taught by Professor Darren C. Zook and focused on ensuring that the university educates knowledgeable, well-rounded individuals who are equipped to support humanity in balance with the rapid rate of technological advancement.
