Golden State Today

As her retirement approaches, UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ is being recognized for her collaborative and effective leadership. Described as decisive, a listener, a team builder, and a champion of free speech, equity and inclusion, and knowledge creation, Christ's tenure has seen significant changes to the university's physical landscape.

"It's been 'a golden era for UC Berkeley's physical development,'" says Marc Fisher, vice chancellor for administration. This level of building activity at Berkeley hasn't been seen since the 1960s.

Hundreds of construction projects — from small to immense — have been completed, are underway or are soon to start. Major highlights include the Bakar BioEnginuity Hub, an incubator for biotech startups; Creekside Center for the Disabled Students’ Program; and the Gateway, a 367,270-square-foot home for the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society.

Marc Fisher praises Christ’s tenure: “Her visionary leadership has not only expanded our campus infrastructure but enhanced our academic and research capabilities and set new standards for excellence and sustainability. We’ve witnessed the construction of cutting-edge research facilities, modernized classrooms and new housing complexes — all designed to meet the needs of our diverse and dynamic community.”

Christ also renamed five campus buildings based on recommendations from the Building Name Review Committee she established. She supported naming new buildings in ways that are more inclusive and representative of the broader campus community.

Campus architect Wendy Hillis notes that Christ’s dedication to Berkeley’s long-range development plan and the creation in 2022 of a new campus master plan "reflects her deep understanding of the critical role that physical spaces play in fostering academic excellence and community. Her impact on our campus will be felt for generations."