cover story
SEVEN YEARS OF LEADERSHIP
Looking back at Dean Jeffrey Edleson’s tenure When Jeff Edleson began his tenure as Dean at Berkeley Social Welfare in August 2012, he brought over 30 years of expertise to the role, along with a knowledge of UC Berkeley and Haviland Hall shaped by his years as an undergraduate here. Seven years later as he steps into the role of professor, he leaves the School on a solid footing, poised to meet the demands of a changing field.
Dean Edleson presided over a significant changing of the guard among the faculty due to retirements and prior vacancies. Hiring trends for both Senate and Field faculty demonstrate a commitment to bringing diverse voices and perspectives into Social Welfare classrooms. Since 2012, the overwhelming majority — over 90% — of Senate faculty and Field faculty hires have been faculty of color (11 of 12) and female (12 of 12). Currently, 57% of Senate faculty members in Social Welfare are female and 29% are from underrepresented groups — a substantial increase under Dean Edleson’s leadership. (Campus averages are 31% and 9%, respectively.) New faculty have also brought a diversity of research interests, and new research centers have been established on risk assessment, reproductive justice, health disparities, and prevention. Dean Edleson’s tenure has also been characterized by an increase in external funding and faculty grant awards. The average faculty grant award has more than doubled from $327,730 in 2011–12 to $761,376 in 2017–18, and total external funding saw a 42% increase in the same time period.
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SOCIAL WELFARE AT BERKELEY COVER STORY: SEVEN YEARS OF LEADERSHIP
