Roots of Peace Founder Heidi Kuhn ’88 (center) and CAA Executive Director Cloey Hewlett (right) celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary.
Roots of Peace Founder Heidi Kuhn ’88 (center) and CAA Executive Director Cloey Hewlett (right) celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary.More than 400 alumni and friends join Professor Alex Filippenko and CAA’s Cal Discoveries Travel program to view the August 2017 total solar eclipse from Terrebonne, Oregon.At the year’s end, I find it encouraging to look back on the work the Cal Alumni Association (CAA) and UC Berkeley have accomplished. In 2017, Berkeley remained steadfast in its mission to unify its diverse communities by creating a culture of peace and respect for the dignity of human life at a time when public discourse has often turned divisive and dehumanizing.
This year, CAA will award more than 800 scholarships to some of Cal’s best and brightest students.Our alumni association has continued to advocate for the Cal community this year, as we have every year since our founding in 1872. Cal alumni have a long legacy of carrying out the university’s commitment to excellence—from the members of the class of 1872 who fought for Berkeley in the state legislature to those today who support more than 800 bright young scholars in gaining a Cal education through our Alumni Scholars Program.
UC Berkeley Chancellor Emeritus Robert Birgeneau Ph.D., Goldman School of Public Policy Professor Steven Raphael Ph.D. ’96, and Carol Liu ’63, C.EAS ’82 join moderator Kim Baldonado ’87 to discuss California’s spending on higher education at CALIFORNIA Live! this October.Today, CAA continues to find new ways to support our ever-growing community. At the outset of the academic year, Cal alumni volunteered at UC Berkeley’s Golden Bear Orientation, offering career advice to more than 2,000 transfer students. At CALIFORNIA Live! this October, we educated alumni in Los Angeles about the state’s role in funding higher education.
The Chinese Chapter (pictured, with Hewlett, center) and the Berkeley Chinese Alumni International Association hosted the 2017 Berkeley China Summit (伯克利中美峰会), themed “Technologies & Innovations that Build the Future.”If we, as alumni, are to carry out the university’s commitment to excellence in diversity—a commitment manifested in such forms as welcoming to campus female students in 1870 and international students in 1890—we must continue to uphold all members of our community. As 2018 begins, we are making it part of CAA’s stated vision and deliberate mission to ensure that all Cal alumni worldwide are connected and engaged with UC Berkeley for life. Our five-year strategic plan outlines the pledge our alumni association vows to uphold, in intention and in practice, for every UC Berkeley alum, beginning the moment they set foot on this campus.
Alumni reunite at the Cal Café in front of Alumni House during the 2017 Reunion and Parents’ Weekend at Homecoming.UC Berkeley alumni, faculty, staff, and friends march in the 2017 Oakland Pride Parade.Alumni from classes 2007 through 2017 celebrate before the Bears’ victory over Ole Miss at the 2017 Young Alumni Tailgate.
CAA’s time-honored athletic traditions bring together Cal friends and family at football tailgates and basketball hoops parties—I hope you’ll join us at the latter this coming January. As we cheer on our Golden Bears, these simple events hold the power to unite us in one place, for one cause; and through the unifying voice of Cal spirit renew our hearts to continue fighting for and protecting each member of our Cal community.
Fiat Lux,
Clothilde Hewlett ’76, J.D. ’79
Executive Director
