Inauguration of Nicholas Dirks

At a panel Friday morning, distinguished professors from UC Berkeley and Columbia University called for a reinvigoration of innovation on campus, discussing, among other things, the need to harness raw undergraduate energy to reimagine age-old problems.

Chancellor Nicholas Dirks was inaugurated as UC Berkeley’s tenth chancellor Friday in a ceremony that focused on his plans to reinvigorate the campus’ pursuit of its public mission.

In a Friday discussion on engagement between universities and the global community, UC Berkeley’s Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost George Breslauer discussed the ways in which the campus study abroad program is currently being adapted to more closely resemble that of Columbia University.

Just hours before the Friday inaugural ceremony of a chancellor who has championed the value of the liberal arts degree, a number of visiting scholars and campus professors came together in a panel discussion about the importance and challenges of creating a well-rounded undergraduate education.

Watch live as Chancellor Nicholas Dirks is officially inaugurated as UC Berkeley's 10th chancellor Friday in a 3 p.m. ceremony at Zellerbach Hall. UC President Janet Napolitano, also in her first year on the job, is scheduled to award Dirks with the Chancellor's Medal as part of the inauguration ceremony.

Today’s inauguration ceremony is an opportunity for Chancellor Nicholas Dirks. He will have the ears of the campus — professors, students, administrators and many other members of the community. To take full advantage of this opportunity, however, Dirks should take the time to reflect on the values and diversity of our campus and on who makes up our community.

Nicholas Dirks was a bit apprehensive. A few months into his new role as chancellor of UC Berkeley, he found himself in a sea of strident blue and gold, surrounded by hordes of screaming students. Dirks was at the first Cal football game of the season — in the student section.