Chancellor names Julie Hooper new vice chancellor for University Development and Alumni Relations
December 15, 2015
UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks has appointed Julie M. Hooper as vice chancellor for University Development and Alumni Relations, following a nationwide search.
Hooper has been serving as interim vice chancellor since October, succeeding Scott Biddy, who held the position for the previous eight years. Hooper joined UC Berkeley in July 2014 as associate vice chancellor for University Relations (now known as University Development and Alumni Relations), having served in a variety of leadership positions at the University of Texas at Austin since 2007.
Julie Hooper
“Berkeley is the crown jewel of public higher education, and its students, faculty, alumni, parents and friends are justly proud of all that this extraordinary institution means to California and the world,” said Hooper. “I am honored to accept this charge and to work together with our entire Cal family to strengthen our engagement and philanthropic efforts now and for future generations.”
In her first year on the job at Berkeley, in her role as the campus’s chief development officer for fundraising, Hooper has been responsible for an enterprise that saw a record $462.5 million raised in private support from alumni, parents and friends across California and around the globe. Alongside Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Claude Steele, she has played a critical role in defining principles for transforming campus fundraising and in helping to lead three working groups proposing solutions that will improve the donor experience.
“Julie Hooper brings both great experience and a visionary perspective to the important work of University Development and Alumni Relations. We are delighted that she will take on this important mission at this critical time, as we extend our academic excellence, our public mission and our global leadership.” said Dirks. “I also look forward to working with her as we strengthen the ties between the campus and our broad community of alumni, parents and friends.”
As vice chancellor for University Development and Alumni Relations, Hooper will provide campuswide leadership on all philanthropic endeavors and manage development programs involving a staff of 240 employees and an operating budget of $43 million. She will also provide oversight and guidance to the activities of approximately 50 different fundraising programs in the schools, colleges and campus units.
Her appointment, announced Dec. 15, is effective immediately.
“Julie Hooper is an extraordinary leader, whose deep knowledge of higher education and proven ability to navigate our complex campus landscape will be enormously valuable to UC Berkeley,” said Jennifer Wolch, dean of the College of Environmental Design. “Also, Julie has led development efforts in partnership with deans as well as provosts and chancellors, giving her insight into the wide range of challenges faced by academic leaders across campus. I am simply delighted by the news of her appointment and look forward to working with her closely.”
She will also be appointed president of the UC Berkeley Foundation, pending approval of the Board of Trustees.
“I have had the privilege of collaborating with Julie Hooper over the last several months, and I have been impressed by her sharp vision and powerful leadership,” said Susan C. Chamberlin, vice chair of the UC Berkeley Foundation Board of Trustees, who participated in the search. “This is a tremendously exciting development for the campus and our extended community of alumni, parents and friends. I look forward to continued collaboration with her to advance the cause of Berkeley.”
Hooper helped lead a $3 billion fundraising campaign at the Texas campus, where she served since 2007, and before that, she held fundraising and executive director leadership posts in the non-profit sector since 1999.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia. She is active in numerous community organizations and has been recognized nationally for her work in fundraising.