Raka Ray

Congratulations to @berkeleysocio Prof. Ricarda Hammer on being awarded the 2026 Faculty Award for Outstanding Mentorship of GSIs (graduate student instructors)! The award recognizes her exceptional mentorship in preparing GSIs for future careers in teaching.

In response to the serious allegations against Cesar Chavez, our Chicanx Latinx Studies faculty reflect on how to support our students + @UCBerkeley’s efforts to rename the Cesar Chavez Student Center. Learn more: bit.ly/47eCqYN

Berkeley Social Sciences students - come join me for pizza! I want to hear about your semester + Cal experiences! RSVP for the April 27 lunch at Durant Hall on campus here: bit.ly/40Et6de

Political Science alumnus Justin Kolbeck is reshaping the global food system as co-founder of Wildtype (@wildtypefoods), which developed the world’s first cultivated + FDA-approved salmon to tackle food insecurity + sustainability. Learn more: bit.ly/3NydIvR

.@UCBHistory Prof. David Henkin’s “Love, Sex and Marriage” seminar challenges everything students think they know about romance, from the multi-billion-dollar wedding industry, to the surprising 19th-century history of contraception. Read more: bit.ly/46DKtOy

As public universities face growing uncertainty, @UofCalifornia leaders—including UC Provost + Exec. VP of Academic Affairs Katherine Newman—joined a @SocSciMatrix panel to discuss how these challenges are shaping the future of higher education. Read more: bit.ly/40qqrDO

Thank you to our incredible Social Sciences community for making Big Give 2026 a success! All of our matches were fully funded, and your generosity helps us continue our mission of innovative research, transformative education + building community.

Today is Cal’s annual #CalBigGive fundraiser! Please consider giving to Berkeley Social Sciences to support our strategic plan’s efforts to conduct innovative research, provide transformative education + build community on campus + beyond. Learn more: bit.ly/4ulHPY1

How do our relationships change over a lifetime? In the new book “Personal Networks over the Life Course: Dynamic Perspectives,” @berkeleysocio Prof. Claude Fischer + other scholars explore why our social networks shift + how we reconnect. Read more: bit.ly/4aLyX4Y

We have a great opportunity for high school students to create, fund + scale social impact ventures at @UCBerkeley’s Global Social Entrepreneurship Summer Camp, June 28–July 10! Learn more + apply here: bit.ly/3Pgvggo

Read more: bit.ly/4rhluIv

Could a “fair share tax” effectively tax the ultrarich? @BerkeleyLaw Prof. Brian Galle explains how it could bypass constitutional hurdles that stalled past proposals at a recent James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality lecture.

Congratulations to @BerkeleyAfroAm Prof. Leigh Raiford on being named a 2026 Gordon Parks Genevieve Young Fellow! The prestigious award supports her research on famed African American photographer Gordon Parks’ abstract photography. Read more: bit.ly/40vdTuI

Despite budget pressures, a new faculty "cluster hire" is expanding research into Asian American + Pacific Islander experiences — bringing experts in ethnic studies, geography + more across the @UCBerkeley campus. Learn more: bit.ly/4sgwbvL

.@BerkeleyPsych Prof. Fei Xu spoke with @KQED about the dangers of AI companion toys for kids. There is a “potential issue of young children being emotionally attached to these AI toys,” she says. “More research is urgently needed.” Read more: bit.ly/4qltckn

As CA's 1st Latina Senate President pro Tempore, @berkeleysocio Alumna @MoniqueLimonCA credits her time at Cal with shaping the leadership skills she uses to lead the State Senate. Her advice to students? “Give yourself permission to go for it.” Read more: bit.ly/3N6beVd

Photo 2 (left to right): Anthropology Chair Sabrina Agarwal, African American Studies Professor Nikki Jones, Gender and Women's Studies Chair Paola Bacchetta

Photo 1: Political Psychology + Legal Studies Alumna Shaudi Fulp, who is a member of the Dean's Advisory Council (left) and Social Sciences Dean Raka Ray (right)

(1/2) This plan belongs to all of us. Students: bring your energy + ideas. Faculty: lead boldly with research + mentorship. Staff: keep building our foundation. Alumni: stay connected + support opportunities.