Kathy Yelick Named as Next UC Berkeley Vice Chancellor for Research

Kathy Yelick, executive associate dean for UC Berkeley’s Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS), will be the university’s next vice chancellor for research, Chancellor Carol Christ announced today.

In her new role, Yelick hopes to foster innovative and impactful interdisciplinary collaborations across the university, update and expand research facilities on and off campus and increase diversity in Berkeley’s research community. She will start in her new role January 1.

“UC Berkeley’s research community is uniquely positioned to tackle some of the world’s most important social and scientific problems, from climate change and public health to equity and social justice,” Yelick said. “It’s important to bring together diverse expertise and perspectives, and I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues across academic disciplines.”

Yelick also serves as the Robert S. Pepper Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory senior faculty scientist. She joined Berkeley’s faculty in 1991 and is renowned for her parallel computing research.  

This is Yelick’s second year as an associate dean at CDSS. This year, she shepherded the division towards becoming the first new college or school at Berkeley in more than 50 years and oversaw academic personnel review. Before that, she was CDSS’ associate dean of research.

"Kathy Yelick is one of the most talented leaders I have ever worked with — she listens, sees the big picture, and co-creates and implements phenomenal solutions,” said Jennifer Chayes, associate provost for CDSS. “I cannot imagine a better vice chancellor for research, and we at CDSS look forward to working with Kathy in her new role."

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Kathy Yelick Named UC Berkeley’s New Vice Chancellor for Research