Leading the Way for 120 Years

Copyright Noah Berger / 2016

Rich Lyons

2004–2005, 2008–2018

Brought in eight of the nine largest gifts in school history, including the largest-ever donation from a UC Berkeley alum under age 40. Oversaw construction of new student-focused building. Codified school culture. Brought all degree programs to highest rankings ever. Added new degree program for undergrads with the College of Engineering and other “science in business” programs. Revamped curriculum to emphasize experiential learning and soft leadership skills. Promoted diversity and gender equity initiatives.

Tom Campbell

2002–2004, 2005–2008

Expanded enrollment for undergrads and the Evening & Weekend Berkeley MBA Program. Increased faculty. Improved an array of services for students, alumni, and corporate recruiters. Boosted Haas’ showing in the major business school rankings to the top ten. Reached record-level fundraising, helping make progress toward Haas’ goal of financial self-sufficiency.

Laura D’Andrea Tyson

1998–2001

Negotiated a path-breaking agreement with the university administration to grant the Haas School greater financial and operational autonomy, allowing Haas to better attract and retain world-class faculty by paying market-rate salaries. Added the weekend component to the evening MBA program. Launched the master’s degree in financial engineering and the first executive MBA program.

William Hasler

1991–1998

Oversaw construction of the Haas School complex. Increased Annual Fund and endowment to weather a recession and decline of state support. Expanded executive education offerings. Developed strategic plan so Haas would be recognized as a preeminent b-school by the year 2000.

Raymond Miles

1983–1990

Secured, with the help of former dean Cheit, the then-largest gift in UC Berkeley’s history for the new business school campus. Hired the school’s first full-time development director and increased outreach to alumni. Expanded the size and quality of the faculty, including the hiring of future Nobel Laureate Oliver Williamson.

Earl F. Cheit

1976–1982, 1990–1991

Increased the number of endowed professorships, opened a career planning and placement center for graduates, and started fundraising for Haas’ original three buildings, to give the business school a more cohesive identity as a professional school.

Richard Holton

1966–1976

Oversaw the creation of the international business curriculum. Launched the evening MBA program, the joint business and law degree (MBA/JD), and one of the country’s first courses in entrepreneurship. Established new links to the business community, strengthened outreach with alumni, and created the Alumnus/a of the Year Award and the alumni magazine, originally called Decision.

John W. Cowee

1961–1966

Introduced social and behavioral sciences into research and teaching, which became a model for other business schools. Expanded faculty ranks and oversaw move into Barrows Hall, the school’s home for the next three decades.

E.T. Grether

1934–1936, 1942–1961

Transformed the College of Commerce into a modern School of Business Administration. Inaugurated a long-sought graduate program, followed by the PhD and executive education programs. Recruited business executives to form an advisory council. Created several research units.

Robert Calkins

1937–1941

Added several high-profile faculty from other universities. Attempted to establish a two-year graduate school of business as number of enrollees in the school’s graduate studies more than doubled.

Henry F. Grady

1928–1934, 1936–1937

Shifted studies in specialized areas like finance, marketing, statistics, and foreign trade to the graduate program.

Stuart Daggett

1924–1928

Successfully lobbied the university to establish a master of science in business administration for undergrad business students to pursue. Distanced business curriculum from the Economics Department through professional development courses.

Henry Rand Hatfield

1916–1924

Helped found the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) to promote recognition of business education—now the industry’s accreditation body. Attracted East Coast scholars to teach during Berkeley’s Summer Sessions, further increasing recognition.

Carl Copping Plehn

1898–1916

Implemented the first four-year business curriculum, combining liberal arts and business education with scientific theory and practical expertise—the core model for today’s undergrad program.