As the top public university, UC Berkeley acts as a catalyst for transformation around the globe. Berkeley Inspire is home to uplifting, powerful stories you need to inspire, and be inspired by, your Berkeley community.
Chancellor Rich Lyons, University Librarian Suzanne Wones, and undergrads Alma Hasley, Will Siemens, and Parker Terrill speak to the diverse value of UC Berkeley’s many libraries — as living research labs, in-person study and community space, online resource hubs, and more.
Alum Karen Swett Conway ’82 has made a $1M gift to the College of Environmental Design (CED) that will sustain its leadership in design. The Design Futures Fund and Endowment aim to position CED at the forefront of creative new modes of design practice and teaching.
Peruse inspiring stories about people like you who have helped transform UC Berkeley.
A new course is launching in spring 2026 to engage students in the work of Harry Edwards, a famed sociologist and civil rights icon who captivated students at UC Berkeley for 30 years. Edwards developed the sociology of sport as a field at Berkeley.
In UC Berkeley’s first summer internship program in Taiwan, students dive deep into the country’s innovation, hospitality, and cultural richness, “a powerful way to build bridges of understanding between these two vibrant communities,” said benefactor Steven Pan.
The new Center for Unmet, Rare and Emerging Diseases (CURED) will connect efforts across campus to discover cures other organizations are not pursuing. Faculty founder Andrew Dillin discusses his own research on Leigh’s disease and how CURED can advance research like it.
The Building Bridges course, funded by the Yardi Foundation, encourages students to think like entrepreneurs and “see that technology can be used for good.”
63% of all undergraduates receive some form of financial aid
7,600+ students participated in community service
519 Hellman Fellows launching new careers
6 assistant professors named 2025 Sloan Research Fellows, among the largest cohort from any single university
