HAAS FUND
Each year, the Haas Fund fuels the heart of our school—our students, our faculty, and the innovative ideas shaping business and society. Below, you’ll see how donor support has advanced four critical priorities: scholarships and fellowships that open doors for talented students, faculty excellence that drives world-class teaching, emerging research in areas like artificial intelligence, and student and alumni experiences that build community and leadership. These investments ensure Berkeley Haas stays ahead of the curve—preparing our students not just for today’s challenges, but for tomorrow’s opportunities.
Haas Fund in FY25
alumnus Tim Ryan
Tim Ryan’s long legacy of giving lives on with Haas Fund Challenge Match
Although Tim Ryan, BS 59, MBA 62, passed away this year, his legacy of giving lives on with the $500,000 Haas Fund Challenge Match—part of a $3.3 million bequest including $1.5 million for the Tim and Annette Ryan Faculty Excellence Fund and $1.3 million for the University Library—along with the nearly $2 million given over his lifetime. Ultimately, Ryan’s Challenge Match will result in $1 million of overall giving to the Haas Fund, which the dean can use for the most pressing priorities.
Tim’s wife, Annette, says he led by example. “We think it’s very important to be supportive of excellence in public education, and UC Berkeley broadly and Haas specifically, are exemplary,” she says. “I just hope others—particularly young alums and students—will remember that whatever professional success you have, you’ll be remembered longer and better for the generosity you show others.”
Scholarships and Fellowships
Student support changes lives
Thanks to the collective support of donors like you, Berkeley Haas awards more than 700 scholarships and fellowships each year—with the Haas Fund playing a vital role in making that possible. Your generosity helps exceptional students like Shefali, Damon, and Volodymyr shape the future of business.
Faculty Excellence
Four new professors will help shape next generation of leaders
The Haas Fund’s investments in faculty recruiting and retention give the school resources to attract top scholars and support their emerging research. In FY25, we welcomed four new professors.
Associate Professor Kelsey Jack (top right), the Sheth Sustainable Business Chancellor’s Chair, explores how low-income communities balance environmental needs with development goals in places like Ghana and Niger. Professor James Sallee (bottom right), a faculty affiliate at Haas’ Energy Institute since 2016, researches energy, the environment, climate, and public economics, with a focus on public policy. Professor David Chan (bottom left), a health economist and MD who’s conducted research and taught at Stanford University for the past 11 years, leads the Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program. And Acting Associate Professor Martin Beraja (top left), who joins Haas from MIT, studies the role of government policy in stabilizing business cycles and responding to the challenges posed by digital and AI technologies.
Haas faculty recognized for exceptional contributions to students and policy
At Haas, scholarship doesn’t stay in the ivory tower—it shapes the world beyond it. The Financial Times reported that two of the top 10 business school research papers with the greatest global impact on policy are by professors Matteo Benetton (No. 2) and Ulrike Malmendier (No. 3). Meanwhile, Asst. Professor Ambar La Forgia was named to a 2025 list of “40 Under 40 Best MBA Professors” by Poets&Quants. Known for her energy and approachability, La Forgia explores how competition and consolidation affect healthcare delivery.
Emerging Research
New courses make AI and VC real for students
At Haas, students don’t just learn about innovation—they live it. In Harnessing AI for Business Success, veteran data leader Roopesh Varier took students into real-world applications of AI, analyzing customer feedback and mapping AI strategy with guidance from industry experts. Undergrads, meanwhile, stepped into the VC world through Introduction to Venture Capital, a popular new course led by Julie Bell, BS 97, COO and partner at Emergence Capital. From raising funds to debating product-market fit, students engaged directly with top VCs and founders. Both classes reflect the school’s commitment to learning by doing—and to empowering future business leaders.
Enhancing Student and Alumni Experiences
New clubs, stronger connections
Students and alumni launched new clubs and initiatives this year to meet emerging needs and strengthen inclusion. Barbara Rion and Cynthia Brzezinski, both MBA 25, restarted HaasAbilities, expanding support and visibility for MBA students with disabilities—both seen and unseen. Damon Wiley, Viridiana Santacruz, and Yvonne Mondragón, all MBA 25, founded the First-Gen Club (1G@Haas) to build community for MBA students who are first in their families to attend college. Meanwhile, a fast-growing group of product management enthusiasts, led by Ansu George, MBA 25, launched the Product Management Club (PMC) and hosted the inaugural Haas Product Con featuring speakers that included former Netflix product head Todd Yellin.
Alumni launched new affinity groups and regional chapters to build deeper connections and pride. Somos Haas Alumni, co-founded by Oscar Olivas, BS 05, and Adrien Lopez Lanusse, MBA 99, empowers Latinx/e graduates through cultural events and networking in Berkeley, Mexico City, and beyond. In Austin, home to more than 250 Haas alumni, volunteers laid the foundation for a new regional chapter, which was formalized in August 2025. A recent Berkeley Haas magazine article celebrated how Austin Haas alumni energize the city.
Haas celebrates 15th anniversary of Defining Leadership Principles
Fifteen years ago, the UC Berkeley Haas community launched the four Defining Leadership Principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself—the pillars of Haas culture. Since then, they’ve been carved into our buildings, embedded in our courtyard, and ingrained in 180+ business processes. Thanks to donations of more than $200,000, the Berkeley Haas Culture Fund continues to grant $5,000 to Haas students, faculty, and staff to support new initiatives directly linked to the DLPs. Not surprising, then, that Haas has been called “the archetype for a values-driven MBA program” by Poets&Quants. Last spring, Haas celebrated and reflected on the significance of the DLPs in many ways, including with a Dean’s Speaker Series.
Dean Jenny Chatman, PhD 88, a culture expert who consulted closely with former Haas Dean and current Chancellor Rich Lyons, BS 82, on the effort to codify Haas’ long-standing culture, offered her insights in a 15th anniversary video. “They pulse through everything we do, and they unite our entire community,” she says.
