Lair of the Bear Guest Speakers 2025
We’re excited to introduce our lineup of guest speakers for summer 2025!
Each summer at the Lair, campers are invited to engaging talks hosted at the Blue and Gold stages on Sunday and Tuesday evenings. Our guest speakers represent a wide array of perspectives, offering insights on topics ranging from Cal Athletics and integrative biology to the history of tourism and technology, learning, and justice.
Keep reading to discover the inspiring speakers joining your session this summer—or plan your Lair stay to align with the sessions that pique your interest most!
Week 2: June 14-21
Alex Filippenko, Astrophysicist, UC Berkeley
Exciting Results with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Alex Filippenko, voted by Cal students as the "best professor" a record 9 times, will discuss JWST. The largest telescope in space, it detects infrared (heat) radiation, providing information not available to the Hubble Space Telescope. It allows astronomers to study the birth of stars, newly formed dust in the gases ejected by dying stars, and the atmospheric composition of planets orbiting other stars. Among JWST’s most surprising results so far is the very early formation of galaxies after the Big Bang.
David Riedel, President and Founder of Riedel Research Group
US/China Relations: Past, Present and Future David Riedel is the President and Founder of Riedel Research Group, Inc., an independent equity research service advising hedge funds and mutual funds on investing in emerging markets. Since studying Chinese language, history and culture at Cal in the 1980’s David has lived and worked in China and Thailand. David studied Asian Studies (Chinese) at UC Berkeley and has visited and followed China since the mid-1980s. This wide-ranging discussion will address politics, business, demographics, the lessons Beijing learned from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, global trade and history, as well as personal observations and David's recommendations for governments and individuals.
Week 3: June 21-28
Jessie Gouck, Equity and Strategic Alignment Program Manager at California Department of Public Health
Join Jessie Gouck, a long-time 3rd week camper, for an evening discussion on food systems and the growing influence of ultra-processed foods. Drawing on her expertise in food policy, Jessie will explore ultra-processed food and why it has been challenging to define, where the policy landscape currently stands, and its likely impact on public health. She will discuss the challenges and opportunities for creating sustainable, healthier food environments, and provide thoughts on opportunities for action in our communities. Don’t miss this engaging discussion!
Eugene Whitlock, Chief People & Culture Officer / Associate Vice Chancellor - Human Resources, UC Berkeley
Eugene Whitlock is UC Berkeley’s Chief People & Culture Officer (Associate Vice Chancellor), leading a 100-person HR team across talent, diversity, and organizational development. He serves on multiple HR leadership boards and has championed workplace belonging at Berkeley. Previously, he was Vice Chancellor of HR for San Mateo County Community Colleges and a corporate attorney. A Stanford and Michigan Law graduate, he has worked internationally in law and finance. Eugene's talk will be about the impact of the Trump Executive Orders on Higher Education and UC Berkeley in particular. Since policies may evolve significantly between now and Week 3, specific details are still unfolding.
Week 4: June 28-July 5
Eric Leven, Visual Effects Supervisor at Industrial Light and Magic
Guest Speaker Eric Leven, Emmy-nominated visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light and Magic, will speak about the use of visual effects in today's blockbuster movies and tv shows. He'll show examples from Marvel, Indiana Jones, and the new season of Severance. Come learn a little about the history of VFX, how they're used in modern filmmaking, and find out the answers to, "How Did They Do That?"
Leonard Griffin, UC Berkeley Men's Head Soccer Coach
Leonard Griffin is the head coach for California men's soccer team. With more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience, he was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2023. Leonard will be joining Week 4 to talk about his background and coaching experience and all things California men's soccer.
Week 5: July 5-12
Erin Scharfstein, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Transgender Politics – The Cultural Leverage of (In)Visibility Over the past 25 years, the term “transgender” has shifted from the fringes of social awareness to the heart of national controversy. In this talk, Erin Scharfstein examines the cultural and political leverage of transgender (in)visibility in shaping public discourse—from school policies to campaign platforms. A UC Santa Cruz Women’s Studies alum with a thesis on Race and Transgender Politics, Erin draws on experience in education, advocacy, and public service. Her work highlights how identity, visibility, and power intersect to influence both policy and the lived experiences of transgender individuals.
Mal Pacheco, Advisor to Cal Athletics and the Oski Committee
As a Cal undergraduate, Mal Pacheco spent three years on the Oski Committee, serving as Chair. He graduated in 1983 with a Sociology degree and worked at Bank of America, where he convinced the ASUC to lift its business ban, earning BofA’s President’s Award—the youngest recipient ever. Mal spent 20 years in currency trading before consulting for companies like Experian and Gap. Now, he advises Cal Athletics and the Oski Committee. Mal's talk will focus on Oski: The Struggles of an 84th Year Sophomore. Cute or Creepy? We'll pull back the curtain on how Cal came to have a Golden Bear as the school mascot, the origins of the name and idiosyncrasies of Oski, and take a look at his three lives on campus: as a live animal, as a cartoon strip, and the one who's been on campus for over 80 years. As this lecture is Oski approved, he's provided us with some photos from his private collection for y'all to see!
Week 6: July 12-19
Paul Fine, Professor of Integrative Biology UC Berkeley
Guest Speaker, Paul Fine, UC Berkeley Professor of Integrative Biology, will be speaking on Discovering New Species of Trees in South American Rainforests: The importance of describing biodiversity for the future of rainforest conservation.
Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Science Director, Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley
Guest speaker Emiliana Simon-Thomas, UC Berkeley will be speaking on The Science of Happiness: How social connection, positivity, and resilience improve health and wellbeing.
Week 7: July 19-26
Claire Talwalker, Senior Lecturer, UC Berkeley
Clare Talwalker is a senior lecturer in Global Studies, Political Economy, and the Global Poverty and Practice Minor. She is trained in cultural anthropology, and teaches classes on the history of political economy, economic anthropology, global societies and cultures, and India. Talwalker grew up in Mumbai, India. She earned her B.A. at Dartmouth College and her Ph.D. at Duke University. Clare will share vignettes about teaching undergraduates at UC Berkeley.
Thomas M. Philip, Professor of Education at UC Berkeley
Guest Speaker Thomas M. Philip, Professor of Education at UC Berkeley, will speak on “Technology, Learning, and Justice.” Come think about how technology is reshaping learning and its implications for schools and society, especially issues of educational equity and racial justice.
Week 8: July 26-August 2
Corey Rosen, Moth Host and Author
"A Story for Everything" - Have you ever noticed that the most memorable interactions and experiences you've had either involve a story or become stories unto itself? What if you looked at the world, and every experience you have, as a story waiting to happen? Join longtime Lair camper, Moth Host, and Author, Corey Rosen for an engaging, all-ages presentation where you'll learn tips and tricks for making your own stories powerful, memorable, humorous, and meaningful.
Glynn Washington, Storyteller
Glynn Washington—storyteller, visionary, and a voice that has captivated audiences around the world— is the creator and host of Snap Judgment. With his signature blend of drama, authenticity, and rhythm, Glynn has redefined the way we experience storytelling, making his audience feel every twist, every revelation, and every emotion along the way. This summer at the Lair, Glynn will discuss the world of stories that matter.
Week 9: August 2-9
Scott Frandsen, Head Coach of Cal Men's Rowing
Scott Frandsen has coached at Cal for 13 years, the last seven as Head Coach of Men's Rowing. In the past three years, the team won two national championships, including a historic 2023 IRA sweep. For eight years, they earned the Newmark Award for the highest GPA among large men’s teams. A former Cal rower, Scott won three national titles before competing in three Olympics for Canada in Athens, Beijing, and London. Scott will talk about his athletic journey with stories about all of the challenges, successes, and failures. He will talk about what it is like to coach at his alma mater and what the world of collegiate athletics looks like now with all of the recent changes to conferences and legal rulings surrounding the NCAA, etc.
Donn Viviani, Assistant Professor at Leeward Community College and Affiliate Faculty at University of Hawaii at Manoa
Dangers of Community College Oceanography: Contamination, Diversity, and Secret Agent Sampling Dr. Donn Viviani, Cal graduate, oceanography professor at Leeward Community College, and affiliate faculty at University of Hawaii at Manoa, mentors students in marine research, collaborates with NOAA, and contributes to environmental crisis response, including Oʻahu’s Red Hill fuel spill and Puʻuloa biodiversity studies. Donn's journey from a seagoing oceanographer to tackling public health, water contamination, and coastal biodiversity highlights the unexpected intersections of ocean science. In this talk, he’ll explore the challenges of conducting research at a community college without upper-division courses and how collaborations with universities, museums, and federal agencies create hands-on opportunities for students. Donn will also discuss the vital role community colleges can play in scientific research and crisis response when working alongside major research institutions.
Week 10: August 9-16
Deborah Orel-Bixler, PhD, OD, Professor of Clinical Optometry, UC Berkeley
What to expect and the unexpected: Infant and young children’s vision Dr. Orel-Bixler is a Professor of Clinical Optometry at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry. She is the Clinic Chief of the Infant, Toddler, Children’s clinic and the Special Visual Assessment Clinic. The latter provides vision assessments for patients of all ages with multiple disabilities including vision impairment. This presentation will review the “expected” (how vision develops in infancy and childhood) and the “unexpected” (signs of vision problems).
Solomon Dobrowski, Landscape Ecology Professor, University of Montana
The Big Burn of 1910: The spark of today’s wildfire crisis. On August 20, 1910 hundreds of small fires burning between Idaho and Montana merged in hurricane force winds to become one of the largest fires in US history. Over two days, the ‘Big Burn’ would decimate 3 million acres, kill 87 people, level entire towns, and later shape US policy and approaches to managing wildfire to this day. Solomon Dobrowski will share the story of this event, how its legacy altered the character of forests across the west, and how it continues to shape our ongoing struggle with the wildfire crisis. Solomon, a Cal Forestry alum and landscape ecology professor at the University of Montana, researches climate risks to forests, wildfire, and conservation biogeography. He serves on the USGS Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center leadership team and advises Blue Forest.
Club Lair: Sports, Wine, and Recreation Retreat: June 6-13 & Women's Wellness Weekend: August 20-24
Lok Siu, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Professor of Ethnic Studies, UC Berkeley
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Lok Siu, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Professor of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley, to Club Lair for a fascinating talk titled Chifa: How Chinese Food Became a Peruvian National Treasure. Dr. Siu is the author and editor of several award-winning books and has been featured in major media outlets including CNN and The New York Times. A leading cultural anthropologist and expert on Chinese and Asian diasporas in the Americas, Dr. Siu will trace the evolution of Chinese Peruvian cuisine—from early experimentation to commercialization to its current elevation as Peruvian haute cuisine—highlighting the rich intersections of migration, culture, and culinary innovation.
Annie Campbell Washington, Senior Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and Dean of Students at the Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley
We are delighted to have Annie Campbell Washington join Women's Wellness as our guest speaker.
