Social Sciences (Faculty & Staff)

Berkeley Social Sciences Commencement 2024: Celebrating a Milestone of Achievement

May 23, 2024

CogSci Commencement 2024

Political Economy graduates. Photo by Emily Yang.

Berkeley Social Sciences’ 15 departments and programs held their commencement ceremonies last week, which included notable speakers, to celebrate their students’ hard work and perseverance to earn their degrees. There were many moments of pure joy for the students, many of whom did not have a...

Berkeley Talks: Reconsidering Black America’s relationship to the plantation

July 2, 2024

Closeup headshot of woman with dark hair and glasses looking into camera, smiling

In Berkeley Talks episode 203, Alisha Gaines, a professor of English and an affiliate faculty member in African American studies at Florida State University, discusses why it’s important for Black America to “excavate and reconsider” its relationship to the plantation.

“If we were to approach the plantation with an intention to...

New course teaches about democracy in the real world

June 24, 2024

In his spare time between classes, fourth-year student Gabriel Alexander Juarez ’24 plays guitar in two punk bands. The political science major started one
Gabriel Alexander Juarez performing at 924 Gilman of his bands, Raccoon Hospital, with his UC Berkeley classmates. When it was time to choose his civic engagement project for his class, Professor Darren C. Zook’s “...

Ethnic Studies Continuing Lecturer Pablo Gonzalez talks about Chicano history and children’s books

June 5, 2024

UC Berkeley Ethnic Studies Continuing Lecturer Pablo Gonzalez is a first-generation Chicano scholar-activist and anthropologist, and the recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Teaching Award. His research is focused on the political and cultural impact of indigenous social movements, particularly their resonance with Chicanxs and communities of color in the United States. Gonzalez teaches courses on Chicanx history, culture, ethnography, migration and criminality.

During the Fall 2023 semester, students in his Chicano Studies history course...

Berkeley Social Sciences Dean Raka Ray reappointed for second five-year term

June 4, 2024

Raka Ray

We are delighted to announce that Raka Ray has been reappointed as dean of the Social Sciences Division for a second five-year term, beginning July 1, 2024.

Dean Ray is an accomplished sociologist and award-winning mentor. She is widely...

Seven UC Berkeley scientists elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

April 24, 2024

Seven UC Berkeley scientists — including a chemist, a psychologist, an engineer, two biologists and two physicists — are among 250 new members elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences today.

The Academy recognizes excellence and convenes leaders from every field of human endeavor to examine new ideas, address issues of importance to the nation and the world, and to work together to cultivate art and science.

“We honor these artists, scholars, scientists, and leaders in the public,...

“This program is truly a gift:” CogSci Career Catalyst offers professional opportunities for students

September 6, 2023

"This program created a real impact in my career trajectory." - Angel Xu '23

Students from around the world have returned to UC Berkeley to start the fall semester, and many are bringing lessons from summer internships with them. These valuable...

Berkeley Letters & Science announces 2nd annual L&S Faculty Award winners

May 8, 2024

The College of Letters & Science Advisory Board has announced the recipients of the second annual L&S Faculty Awards, which recognizes and celebrates exceptional faculty in the College of Letters & Science. Awardees were selected for their exceptional scholarship, service to the College and community, and transformational teaching. These extraordinary individuals not only embody the excellence of the College of Letters & Science, but they...

For new professor, psychedelics and octopuses may hold keys to the human mind

February 13, 2024

Octopus graphic

Gül Dölen became a scientist because she loved solving puzzles that drew on neuroscience, medicine, biology and philosophy. But a decade ago, her spirits were waning, and a string of funding rejections brought her lab to the brink of folding.

Then came the octopuses, all seven of them, and a curiosity-driven experiment.

Before then,...

Anthropology Professor Kent Lightfoot receives the Society for American Archaeology’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award

May 28, 2024

UC Berkeley Anthropology Professor Kent G. Lightfoot received the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for American Archaeology for his innovative approach to combining archaeology with contemporary social justice issues which contributes new understandings of the Anthropocene era.

Professor Lightfoot’s research explores the interactions between Indigenous peoples and European settlers, highlighting the history and effects of settler colonialism. He works closely with Native Californian tribes, helping to develop new ways to...