Alumni Spotlight: Helen Tombropoulos, Class of 1950
By Daniela X. SandovalAt 20, Helen Tombropoulos left Berkeley with a degree in public law and a hunger for the world, what followed was a life few could imagine.
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What It Really Takes to Build a Company That Lasts
By Urja UpadhyayaAt Berkeley’s VC and Startup Summit, four insiders drop the usual advice and focus on what actually determines who makes it—and who doesn’t.
Alumni Engagement Is Critical To Advancing Our Mission
I am honored to stand before you as part of a community that represents the very best of UC Berkeley. And just as the Cal Alumni Association (CAA) is undergoing a redesign of its leadership structure, so is California magazine. We hope you like it! Having returned to Berkeley in February 2026, after two previous […]
Inside the Studio with Kristiana Chan 莊礼恩 and Héctor Muñoz-Guzmán
By Shannon ChengGraduating MFA students Kristiana Chan 莊礼恩 and Héctor Muñoz-Guzmán talk about their artistic process and how they have grown within and outside their studios. They will be showcasing their work at BAMPFA’s annual MFA exhibition this summer.
Where Science Comes Alive
By Urja UpadhyayaA child who hangs back on the first day can leave calling themselves a scientist.
Inside the Power Grid
By Urja UpadhyayaThe conversation began with artificial intelligence and ended somewhere more concrete: power outages, charging networks, and a grid already starting to change.
Cal Alumni Leaders Gather to Strengthen Chapters Nationwide
By Urja UpadhyayaAt the Cal Alumni Chapter Leadership Conference, alums from across the country reflected on the university’s evolving landscape and strengthened the communities they lead beyond Berkeley.
Make Your Movie: The Power of Networks in Independent Filmmaking
By Urja UpadhyayaAt Alumni House, filmmakers gathered to talk about independent filmmaking. From student-led productions to a feature film twelve years in the making, the evening revealed how community, resourcefulness, and relentless persistence shape the path from idea to screen.
From Sociology to Supply Chains: How Amrita Bhasin ’23 Is Rewriting Retail’s Waste Story
By Urja UpadhyayaAfter witnessing textile waste in India as a child, Amrita Bhasin ’23 began questioning the systems behind overproduction. At Berkeley, she expanded on her experience through sociology and entrepreneurship. Today, she builds circular solutions that help retailers rethink excess and reduce waste at scale.
From the Court to the Cause: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Lifelong Stand for Justice
By Marquis ChambersFor Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, justice has never been a sideline pursuit. In this intimate interview with UC Berkeley journalism student Marquis Chambers ’26, the basketball legend traces a throughline from the civil rights era to today’s fight for democracy, urging young people to stay in the work for the long haul.
Introducing CAA’s New Executive Director and CEO
By Laura SmithJohn Clamme joins the Cal Alumni Association as its next executive director and CEO, bringing decades of experience across higher education, alum relations and engagement, athletics, and campus partnership.
Nia Novella Jones is working to be the change and build environmental leaders.
By Nia CoatsEnvironmental advocacy became a major part of Jones’ career when she recognized the disparities in retention of Black environmentalists in her field. She saw it as her duty to be the change she wanted to see.
