I am very pleased to announce that University of California President Janet Napolitano has been appointed a faculty member at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy.  

One of the hallmarks of top-ranked public policy schools is that they not only have world-class academic scholars who develop the scientific basis for new public policies, but they also have faculty members who have made major impacts on public policy through their innovative work.  These leaders have formulated new policy ideas, developed new public sector organizations, and implemented programs to advance these policies. President Napolitano has done all of these things successfully in high-profile, demanding positions.

President Napolitano has a lengthy record in public service. She served as US Attorney in Arizona before being elected Arizona’s first female attorney general, and she was the twice-elected governor of Arizona when she joined President Barack Obama’s Cabinet as the third secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. She began serving as the 20th president of the University of California system on September 30, 2013.

As the first woman to chair the National Governors Association, President Napolitano launched the “Innovation America” initiative to align K-12 and higher education curricula. At the Department of Homeland Security, she strengthened outreach efforts to academic institutions through the establishment of the Office of Academic Engagement, and she created the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council, involving leadership from more than 20 universities and colleges around the country.

Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks approved the appointment of President Napolitano to the tenured position, following the standard faculty and administrative review process.The position will provide no compensation while she is serving as UC president.