Social Sciences (Faculty & Staff)

UC Berkeley commencement for class of 2021 speaks on preservation

December 20, 2021
Luis Saldana

The graduating class of 2021 shared a single emotion: preservation. Being able to survive the most recent years strengthened the class and created a sense of connection and family between its members.

During Saturday’s commencement, the host, campus Associate Dean of Students Alfred Day, recognized the original settlers of the Berkeley area, the Huchiun. He acknowledged everyone benefits from the land in the Berkeley area and that it is the responsibility of the UC Berkeley community to acknowledge these original residents and their current prosperity.

“Consistent with our...

https://www.dailycal.org/2021/12/20/uc-berkeley-commencement-for-class-of-2021-s…

Economics alumnus Steven Sidener supports graduates with $10.5M estate gift

December 20, 2021
Michelle Phillips

Nearly four decades after UC Berkeley alumnus Steven Sidener, Class of 1982, earned his economics degree, his legacy will carry on to impact generations of Berkeley graduate students. Sidener passed away in August 2020 at the age of 62, just 8 days shy of his 63rd birthday. Shortly after, the Department of Economics received a $10.5M estate gift that will extend Sidener’s enduring connection to the university and department. Committed to strengthening the student experience, the Steven Sidener Graduate Support Fund will fund graduate student fellowships, research, and the graduate...

Remembering Tyler Stovall (1954-2021)

December 17, 2021
Cathryn Carson, Chair, Department of History

Dear friends,

I am distressed to share the news that the distinguished historian of modern France and our former colleague Tyler Stovall passed away unexpectedly on Friday, December 10, at the age of sixty-seven.

A prolific scholar, Tyler grappled powerfully with questions of Blackness, class, and empire in France’s national self-understanding and transnational connections. His scholarly works included The Rise of the Paris Red Belt (1990), Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Light (1996), Paris and the Spirit of 1919 (2012), White Freedom: The Racial History of an...

Bobby Lee (Ph.D. '17) Awarded Roy Rosenzweig Prize for Creativity in Digital History by AHA

November 1, 2021

Alumnus Bobby Lee (Ph.D. '17) and team were awarded the Roy Rosenzweig Prize for Creativity in Digital History by the AHA, for their project “...

https://history.berkeley.edu/news/bobby-lee-phd-17-awarded-roy-rosenzweig-prize-…

Bathsheba Demuth (Ph.D. '17) Awarded John H. Dunning Prize by AHA

November 1, 2021

Bathsheba Demuth (Ph.D. '17) has been awarded the John H. Dunning Prize by the AHA for her book Floating Coast: An Environmental History of the Bering Strait (W.W. Norton, 2019). Demuth is currently an Assistant Professor of History & Environment and Society at Brown University. The John H. Dunning Prize is awarded for an outstanding monograph on...

In Memory of Professor Robert Powell: Colleague, Mentor & Friend

December 15, 2021
Erin Blanton

In memoriam photo of Professor Robert Powell, 1956-2021Robert L. “Bob” Powell passed away on December 13, 2021. He passed peacefully in his home, in the company of friends.

Bob was blessed with a powerful, extraordinarily clear intellect. He shared this gift with the world through many pioneering contributions to international relations, political economy, and game theory. His work on...

New research by Berkeley Economics faculty shows growing world inequality

December 9, 2021
Hagit Caspi
According to the new report, the world’s richest people now own 11% of global wealth, marking the biggest leap in recent history

The 2022 World Inequality report, authored by Lucas Chancel, Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez, and Gabriel Zucman, also found that wealth inequality had a strong correlation to carbon emissions and climate change goals. The poorest half of the population in rich countries is already at (or near) the 2030 climate targets in terms of emission rates, but that’s not the case for the top 50%.

...

https://fortune.com/2021/12/07/worlds-richest-inequality-richer-during-pandemic/

Nikki Jones is the new H. Michael and Jeanne Williams Professor and Department Chair for African American Studies

December 8, 2021
By: Michelle Phillips

Nikki Jones, new Department chair of African American StudiesNikki Jones, a celebrated scholar and professor at UC Berkeley, was appointed the H. Michael and Jeanne Williams Professor and Department Chair for African American Studies in the College of Letters & Science.

H. Michael Williams ‘82, former UC Berkeley Foundation Trustee, Director of Cal Athletics and retired global financial services...

L&S faculty and staff shine in 2020 & 2021 Excellence in Advising Awards

December 7, 2021

Image of students on campus with words "Advising Matters"Congratulations to our fellow community members in the College of Letters & Science recognized as 2020 and 2021 Excellence in Advising and Student Services Awards winners! According...

Berkeley Talks: Berkeley Experts on how to fight disinformation

October 8, 2021
Public Affairs

In Berkeley Talks episode 125, a panel of leading UC Berkeley experts describe the harms of disinformation and explore potential solutions to its spread, from measures to strengthen old-school local news media to government regulation of tech titans like Facebook and Twitter.

“Disinformation, of course, is not new and we should acknowledge that,” began Hany Farid, associate dean and head of Berkeley’s School of Information, at the Sept. 21 event. “For as long as there’s been information, there’s been disinformation. However, in the digital age, I don’t think it will...

https://news.berkeley.edu/2021/10/08/berkeley-talks-disinformation/