Photo by Berkeley Student Wesaam Al-Badry (’20)
On Wednesday afternoon, October 21, the University of California Berkeley announced that Geeta Anand would serve as the new dean of Berkeley Journalism. Anand is the first woman of color to serve as journalism dean.
Anand sent a letter to the Berkeley Journalism community via email on Wednesday. She said she is thrilled to be the first woman of color, and first woman, to serve as dean.
| “After working for nearly 30 years as an investigative reporter, a foreign correspondent and a political reporter—in beats dominated by white men, I know how hard it is to have your work recognized, to be offered equal opportunities for advancement when perceived as other,” Anand wrote in her statement. “I know how hard it is to rise within a system that makes it harder for you and your talents to be truly seen.” |
Anand graduated from Dartmouth University with a B.A. in History, according to Berkley’s website. She worked as a journalist for 27 years, beginning her career at Cape Cod News. She spent several years of her career in India as a foreign correspondent for The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
Anand worked for the Wall Street Journal for 17 years. While at the Wall Street Journal she wrote two of ten stories on corporate corruption that won the paper a Pulitzer Prize in 2003.
In her emailed letter, Anand expressed her desire to provide greater financial, emotional and academic support to Berkeley Journalism students. Her goal is to make journalism school more affordable for all students, especially students of color and first generation college students.
Anand announced that Berkley Journalism intends to raise a $100 million endowment to make the school tuition free.
| “We must reduce the barriers of entry in our profession to ensure first generation students, BIPOC students, the children of immigrants, and gay and nonbinary students can become journalists,” Anand wrote. |
Anand concluded her letter by saying she is “humbled, honored, and excited” to serve as dean.
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