A Letter from the Dean

For me, one of the best parts of being a faculty member at UC Berkeley is working with students. In the classroom and the lab, their ideas and enthusiasm have inspired me throughout my career.

At Rausser College, we’re proud to offer outstanding instruction, hands-on research and discovery experiences, and high-quality mentoring and advising—all with the goal of preparing our students to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact in the world. And, as I’m often reminded, our students are also doing big things even before they graduate.

This issue of Breakthroughs shines a light on several of our College’s amazing undergraduate and graduate students. They are from various backgrounds and are pursuing a range of academic paths, but they all embody our mission of “seeing the bigger picture and making a better world” in their own way.

They are scientists, artists, musicians, authors, athletes, mentors, and changemakers. They are conducting groundbreaking gene-editing research and essential work on environmental justice issues, advancing equity and inclusion, leading student organizations, and working to encourage UC Berkeley to be the best university it can be. They are the reason we are here at all, and even as we strive to give them an exceptional education, we acknowledge that they are teaching us every step of the way.

I hope you’ll enjoy reading about the many and varied accomplishments of those featured here and consider making a gift to support all Rausser College students.

As always, I welcome your feedback at dackerly@berkeley.edu.

David D. Ackerly

Breakthroughs magazine is published twice per year by Rausser College of Natural Resources at the University of California, Berkeley. To sign up to receive a print or digital copy of the magazine, please use the form at the link below.

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Dean

David D. Ackerly

Editor

Julie Gipple

Associate Editor

Mathew Burciaga

Creative Director

Arnaud Ghelfi

Copy Editor

Laura Deck

Contributing Writers

Mathew Burciaga
Kate Cullen
Andrew Faught
Kara Manke
Kirsten Mickelwait
Anjika Pai
Kristin Baird Rattini
McKalee Steen
Zac Unger

Contributing Photographers

Becca Brunner
Adam Sings In The Timber

Design & Production

l’atelier starno
www.starno.com

Online Director

Joseph Bunik

Online Production

Anjika Pai
Kelthie Truong

Please direct correspondence to:

Breakthroughs
Rausser College of Natural Resources
University of California, Berkeley
101 Giannini Hall #3100
Berkeley, CA
94720-3100

Or email breakthroughs@berkeley.edu