UC Berkeley faculty members Yunqing Tang and Benjamin Safdi have been awarded the New Horizons Prizes in Mathematics and Physics, recognizing early-career researchers making exceptional contributions to their fields. news.berkeley.edu/2026/04/20/t...
UC Berkeley Professor Oliver Arnold explores Shakespeare’s enduring appeal and the way ‘Hamnet’ imagines a small‑town son of a glovemaker becoming a global icon. news.berkeley.edu/2026/04/20/w...
Portrait of Professor John DeNero smiling in front of a blank gray background. He is wearing a plaid shirt and white t-shirt underneath.
Professor DeNero’s personal commitment to the power of a Berkeley data science education is an inspiring force. He is this year’s recipient of the Fiat Lux Faculty Award.
Professor DeNero standing on a raised platform with a podium next to him, lecturing to students in front of him in a lecture hall. DeNero is to the right of the image looking left, to the students.
Through his leadership as faculty director of the Data Science Undergraduate Studies (DSUS) program, he developed the data science major into the largest on campus and clinched the No. 1 ranking for the major nationally, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Portrait of Professor DeNero lecturing. He is standing in front of a large projector screen and next to a podium, gesturing with his hands.
Establishing shot of a crowd of students in a lecture hall with laptops and notes in front of them. They are looking at Professor DeNero in the front of the room by a podium, gesturing to a large projector screen with lecture information on it.
Professor John DeNero Ph.D. ’10 joined Berkeley in 2014 to focus on undergrad education in computer science and data science. He currently teaches and develops two of the largest courses on campus.
#AchievementAwards #UCBerkeley
If you need a refresher on things you should confirm before Commencement, check out our graduation checklist at gobears.me/4most1c (for grads) and gobears.me/48yA5Zl (for guests).
Special note: Professional photographers from Pro Pics will capture photos of graduates at Spring Commencement. Register and upload a selfie to UCBerkeleyPhotos.com to get the photos of you sent to you after the ceremony! There is no cost to be photographed, and no obligation to purchase.
A blue cap and gown laid down on a surface haphazardly. The Berkeley seal on the left sleeve is visible on the right side of the image. On top of the gold tassel attached to the cap is a sticky note with a checklist: "get cap and gown," verify "diploma details," "register?," "sign up for photos," and "get tickets."
Regalia, check. Diploma info, check. Registration?
Reminder to all graduates: the registration deadline to get your name on the program for the campuswide Spring Commencement ceremony is TODAY! If you miss the deadline, you can still participate, but your name won't be listed.
#UCBerkeley #CalGrad
Singh is one of this year’s recipients of the Mark Bingham Award for Excellence in Achievement by Young Alums.
(From left to right) Professor Pieter Abbeel, Arjun Singh ’10, Ph.D. ’16, and Sergey Karayev Ph.D. ’15 in an indoor environment at Berkeley. Behind them are two large windows that reveal a Berkeley landscape outside, with the Campanile strategically placed in view.
Acquired by Turnitin in 2018, it was instrumental in helping that software adapt to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on remote teaching and learning. Today, the platform is used by more than 150,000 instructors and 4 million students at 2,600 universities worldwide.
Headshot of Arjun Singh ’10, Ph.D. ’16 in front of a dark blue background. He is wearing a dark gray shirt with a light gray collar, and a white shirt underneath.
(From left to right) Sergey Karayev Ph.D. ’15, Professor Pieter Abbeel, Ibrahim Awwal ’12, and Arjun Singh ’10, Ph.D. ’16 in an indoor environment looking at something out of frame. Sergey is sitting on a table, while Professor Abbeel and Ibrahim are sitting down, and Arjun is standing up with a marker in his hand. Behind them are large windows that show a view of the street below them.
As a Berkeley doctoral student, Arjun Singh ’10, Ph.D. ’16 worked with Professor Pieter Abbeel and fellow alums to develop Gradescope, an AI-assisted grading platform that speeds grading and provides teachers and students with instant feedback.
#UCBerkeley #AchievementAwards
Alum Dean Tanioka struggled to navigate UC Berkeley when he transferred in 2016. Now, through a program he co-founded, he helps first-generation and non-traditional students find community and thrive on campus. news.berkeley.edu/2026/04/08/h...
Reminder to all graduating Bears: The registration deadline to get your name in the campuswide Commencement program (and participate in the ceremony) is next week: April 17!
Register now and get your loved ones their tickets: commencement.berkeley.edu/tickets
Paige Balcom on campus in blue graduation regalia. She is standing next to a banner that notes: "Berkeley Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy."
Balcom is one of this year’s recipients of the Mark Bingham Award for Excellence in Achievement by Young Alums.
#UCBerkeley #AchievementAwards
Paige and three men standing on a sidewalk in green t-shirts, blue overalls, and black knee-high work boots. Balcom and one other man are wearing shirts that have the Takataka Plastics logo on it. To their right is a feather flag that has the text: "Takataka Plastics," "Transforming Waste, Empowering Communities," and their contact information ("+256393252992, info@takatakaplastics.com").
A large field of discarded plastic water bottles, with plastic bags popping up incrementally in the pile. A group of individuals in blue overalls are near the back of the pile, loading large brown bags of the plastic into a truck. To the right of them are more large bags and other wire containers. In the background are trees and other greenery.
The Ugandan social enterprise she co-founded (and is co-CEO of) recycles plastic waste into construction tiles and household products. It is the first company in Uganda to locally recycle PET bottles at scale, helping protect communities from pollution and improve public health.
UC Berkeley alum Paige Balcom standing outside in a field of bags of plastic bottles and other plastic material. She is holding a sheet of material created from the recycled plastic.
Through Takataka Plastics and her ongoing mentorship, Paige Balcom M.S. ’18, Ph.D. ’22 embodies the Berkeley spirit — she has created a model of sustainable, community-driven change that continues to inspire both Berkeley alumni and global partners.
UC Berkeley remains a powerhouse for prestigious graduate programs, with more than 50 earning top marks in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. news.berkeley.edu/2026/04/07/u...
Meel is this year's recipient of the Peter E. Haas Public Service Award, which recognizes an alum who has made significant and impactful contributions to society through volunteering. The award will be presented at this year’s Spring Commencement.
A group photo of Meel (left) and a handful of BrideUSA team members in an indoor environment. The wall behind them is a lime green color, and a tv is mounted on it.
Meel and three other individuals in formal wear. They are looking at one specific individual with white hair as he inspects something in his hands.
The organization has empowered more than 60,000 students in its effort to move past political polarization, honor diverse perspectives, and bridge differences using constructive conversation.
The early days of BridgeUSA. Meel and some of his classmates are standing in front of a podium in a classroom giving a speech. Behind them are a chalkboard with a TinyURL link and a projector screen.
With his friend Ross Irwin and some fellow undergraduates, created a space where students could engage with each other respectfully.
What began as BridgeBerkeley soon evolved to became BridgeUSA, a multipartisan nationwide organization that combats political division by cultivating dialogue.
Headshot of Manu Meel '20 outdoors, with greenery and a skyline visible in the background. The sun is setting and illuminating the left side of his face.
Manu Meel '20 speaking on a stage. He is holding a microphone in his left hand and gesturing with his right. There is a purple curtain in the background.
In 2017, first-year pre-med student Manu Meel ’20 was dismayed by a protest on the Berkeley campus that disrupted an event with a controversial speaker.
Motivated by a desire to strengthen America by overcoming our divisions, Meel pivoted to study political science. 🧵
#UCBerkeley #CalGrad
Most grads head to big cities—but some UC Berkeley alumni are choosing rural communities, where their impact can be immediate, visible and deeply personal. news.berkeley.edu/2026/03/26/f...
Learn more about all the Commencement festivities and all of the graduation ceremonies planned this year at commencement.berkeley.edu.
A department graduation ceremony of undergraduate and graduate students at the Greek Theatre. Students are sitting in chairs in the middle of the theatre, while loved ones sit around them on the stone benches. Flags adorn the stage, while the stage party cheers ona. stoudent walking across the stage.
Departments and student groups also hold smaller, more personal graduations throughout in a two-week period around the campuswide Commencement, with itineraries of their own. These celebrations are separate from the campuswide Commencement, so contact those coordinators directly for details.
Wide angle shot of the Cal logo on the turf at Cal Memorial Stadium. Int he background is the Cal C in the stands, surrounded by a sea of loved ones and graduating students. A small screen in front of the student section notes "Congrats Class of," as well as the California script wordmark.
The campuswide Commencement is on May 16, 2026, and will include a keynote speaker, the university medalist speaker, the presentation of the Haas Public Service Award, and the official conferring of degrees by Chancellor Rich Lyons. Graduate names are not read at this event!
Graduating students walking onto the field in Cal Memorial Stadium, with a crowd of loved ones blurred out in the background. They are adorned in black regalia, as well as Berkeley stoles, honor cords, and medallions.
Spring Commencement is a university-wide affair, but there isn't just one ceremony you can participate in! 🎓 🧵
#UCBerkeley #CalGrad
Portrait of Professor Doris Tsao in an office environment, with a bookshelf filled with books and documents visible behind her.
Infographic that lists the event details of the 113th Annual Martin Meyerson Faculty Research Lectures. Presenting Doris Tsao's "Representing the Visual World." It will be held on Wednesday, April 8 from 4–5 p.m. in East Pauley Ballroom at the MLK Jr. Student Union.
In the 113th annual Faculty Research Lectures, neuroscience professor Doris Tsao will present “Representing the Visual World.”
The lecture is held on 4.8.26 from 4–5 p.m. in East Pauley Ballroom at the MLK Jr. Student Union. Learn more: facultylectures.berkeley.edu
Beginning this fall, UC Berkeley will guarantee two years of on-campus housing to every incoming first-year student -- and I couldn't be more proud.
This milestone took years of bold vision, relentless planning, and investment.
bit.ly/3PsRcoS
A scenic view of a lively outdoor space at the University of California, Berkeley. People are gathered near benches and flower beds. In the background, the iconic Sather Tower, also known as the Campanile, rises above the trees. The sky is clear and the area is surrounded by greenery.
A large crowd is gathered in an outdoor stadium for a graduation. Rows of people in academic regalia are seated on the field, with a podium area nearby. American flags are displayed prominently. Spectators fill the stands in the background.
A bustling street scene depicts a lively urban area with numerous pedestrians. Visible businesses include Whelan's Cigar Store and signage for Coca-Cola. Cars are parked along the street, and trees add greenery to the scene.
View of an empty Cal Memorial Stadium from the stands, with rows of concrete seats leading down to the football field. The field has "Golden Bears" marked in the end zone. The scene is overcast, with a scoreboard visible in the background.
On this day in 1868, Gov. Henry Haight signed an act catalyzing the idea that California should have a great public university. One year later, the new university opened in Oakland with 10 faculty and 40 students.
Happy Charter Day and happy birthday, @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social!
#UCBerkeley
• Paige Balcom M.S. '18, Ph.D. '22 — Mark Bingham Award for Excellence in Achievement by Young Alums
• Arjun Singh '10, Ph.D. '16 — Mark Bingham Award for Excellence in Achievement by Young Alums
Join us in the coming weeks as we introduce each of the awardees!