Social Sciences (Faculty & Staff)

Geography Professor Brandi Summers talks about her students, research and work to advance Oakland, her hometown

April 25, 2024
By Lilah Klein

UC Berkeley Geography Professor Brandi Summers began her journey in academia after receiving her Ph.D. in sociology from UC Santa Cruz and a masters degree in social sciences from the University of Chicago. Throughout her career at Berkeley, Professor Summers has taught, mentored and inspired countless undergraduate and graduate students. Her research aims to use ideas from cultural and urban geography, urban sociology, African American studies and media studies to examine how people rethink and reshape race (especially blackness) and urban spaces through culture, politics...

Economics Professor Emi Nakamura talks about monetary policy, hard work and passion for the profession

April 8, 2024
By Emily Yang

Focusing her research on the effects of monetary and fiscal policy on the economy, Chancellor's Professor of Economics Emi Nakamura brings her distinguished academic background to UC Berkeley’s Department of Economics.

Nakamura is the recipient of the John Bates Clark Medal; co-vice chair of the Economics Department; previous co-editor of the American Economic Review; a member of the American...

Linguistics Professor Peter Jenks wins the 2024 UC Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Award

April 17, 2024
Emily Yang

Linguistics Professor Peter Jenks was named a recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Teaching Award (DTA), UC Berkeley’s highest honor. DTA recognizes faculty who consistently do an outstanding job teaching and inspiring their students. These faculty members not only make learning exciting but also help their students and fellow faculty see how classroom lessons connect to the real world. Award recipients receive a financial prize, recognition from the...

History Professor John Connelly wins 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship

April 15, 2024
By Kenny Ma

UC Berkeley History Professor John Connelly has been awarded a prestigious 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship. Connelly, who serves as the Sidney Hellman Ehrman Professor of European History, has made significant contributions to the field of European history through his extensive research and publications.

He currently directs Berkeley's Institute for East European, Eurasian, and Slavic Studies. Connelly, who holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a Ph.D. from Harvard University, published works that include “Captive University: The...

Ethnic Studies Continuing Lecturer Victoria Robinson wins the 2024 UC Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Award

April 15, 2024
Emily Yang

Ethnic Studies Continuing Lecturer and American Cultures Program Director Victoria Robinson was named a recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Teaching Award (DTA), UC Berkeley’s highest honor. The DTA recognizes faculty who consistently do an outstanding job teaching and inspiring their students. These faculty members not only make learning exciting but also help their students and fellow faculty see how classroom lessons connect to the real world. Award recipients...

Rich Lyons, longtime campus business, innovation leader, will be UC Berkeley's next chancellor

April 10, 2024
Jason Pohl, Berkeley News

Rich Lyons, an established economist, former dean of the Haas School of Business and the campus's current leader for innovation and entrepreneurship, will become the next chancellor at the University of California, Berkeley, the UC Board of Regents announced today (Wednesday, April 10).

The board's unanimous confirmation makes Lyons, 63, the first UC Berkeley undergraduate alumnus since 1930 to become...

https://news.berkeley.edu/2024/04/10/rich-lyons-longtime-campus-business-innovat…

U.S. News Grad Rankings: Berkeley Social Sciences departments among America's best

April 10, 2024
By Berkeley Social Sciences staff

U.S News Grad Rankings shield

The 2024 U.S. News & World Report graduate rankings are out. Several departments in Berkeley Social Sciences continue to top the list. Sociology ranked No. 1, Psychology No. 1, History No. 1, Economics No. 4 and Political Science No. 4.

"I'm very proud that University of California, Berkeley Social Sciences once again has some of our nation's best...

https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/university-of-california-berkeley-1…

Berkeley Social Sciences honors Dr. Harry Edwards with Inaugural Social Science for the Public Good Award

February 27, 2024
By Berkeley Social Sciences staff

Social Sciences award

Berkeley Social Sciences recently honored Sociology Professor Emeritus Dr. Harry Edwards with its inaugural Social Science for the Public Good Award. The award recognizes Edwards' many contributions to better society such as creating the field of sociology of sports, advancing social justice, and mentoring and inspiring his...

Op-Ed: Some jobs are better than others right out of prison

March 19, 2024
By David Harding, Berkeley Sociology Chair

What’s a good job for formerly incarcerated people?

You often hear this mantra from people in corrections: Get a job, any job. Work will reduce your risk of going back behind bars. As a result, people coming out of prison feel pushed to take jobs that have difficult schedules, low pay, no benefits or poor working conditions.

That’s bad advice. In my research with other scholars, we’ve found that formerly incarcerated people just churn through jobs like that. Indeed,...

https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/prison-job-work-employment…

Psychology Professor Serena Chen shares her passion in researching self-compassion and guiding her students

March 19, 2024
By Emily Yang

UC Berkeley Psychology Professor and former Department Chair Serena Chen began her almost three decades journey in academia after receiving her Ph.D. in social psychology from New York University. Throughout her long tenure at Berkeley Social Sciences, which began in 2000, Professor Chen has taught, mentored and inspired countless undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to shaping the lives of her students, Chen has produced new knowledge in the field of self-compassion and authenticity. She is also a Fellow of the Society of Personality and Social...