As the top public university, UC Berkeley acts as a catalyst for transformation around the globe. Berkeley Inspire is home to uplifting, powerful stories you need to inspire, and be inspired by, your Berkeley community.
Authors Rabih Alameddine and Deborah Tannen, Bancroft Library Director Kate Donovan, and friends and family celebrate our 2026 alum of the year, the wise, wild, and wonderful writer Amy Tan.
Peruse inspiring stories about people like you who have helped transform UC Berkeley.
Since our founding in 1868, UC Berkeley has served as a primary engine for the country’s success, transforming the lives of our students and the trajectory of our society. To mark America’s 250th anniversary, explore stories and events that illustrate how, through innovation, opportunity, and civic courage, Berkeley is and has always been a cornerstone of our nation’s journey.
A writer best known for her humor and ability to capture the cultural zeitgeist, Alice Kahn will be honored at UC Berkeley Journalism with what’s thought to be the nation’s first endowed journalism master’s fellowship for students who intend to use humor or satire in their work.
When Professor Gül Dölen joined UC Berkeley’s neuroscience and psychology departments in January 2024, the influential scientist got to work designing her new lab and office. Now, after an extensive renovation, Dölen can finally reveal the results.
In 1875, when the University Boat Club became Berkeley’s first athletic club, the sport of rowing was so popular that trains pulled stands full of fans to watch races unfold in real time.
63% of all undergraduates receive some form of financial aid
7,600+ students participated in community service
519 Hellman Fellows launching new careers
6 assistant professors named 2025 Sloan Research Fellows, among the largest cohort from any single university
