About

Berkeley Changemaker: Mission and Vision

Our mission is to empower students, from all backgrounds and disciplines, to lead with purpose, view challenges as opportunities, and contribute to positive change. We do this through an academically rigorous program that develops actionable skills in critical thinking, communication and collaboration, and embraces the value of innovation, questioning the status quo, and taking action to contribute to purposeful change.

Our vision is to prepare a new generation of leaders and innovative problem-solvers with the intellectual skills, creativity, and courage to tackle complex challenges. By fostering curiosity, resilience, collaboration, and ethical leadership, Berkeley Changemaker is not only promoting academic and career success, but also students’ capacities to contribute to positive social impact—from transformative changes in communities to meeting the growing challenges of a rapidly changing world.

Our Origin

The Berkeley Changemaker(R) codifies what Berkeley has always stood for: an ethos of questioning the status quo and thinking, and acting, beyond oneself. An early inspiration was the course, "Becoming a Changemaker," taught by Alex Budak. He published a book of the same title which is now printed in various languages. This course enrolled roughly fifty students, from 17 majors, and earned a student course evaluation of 6.7 out of 7.0. We are thrilled that Alex Budak brought this same enthusiasm and expertise to the original version of the Berkeley Changemaker gateway course.

Meet the Berkeley Changemaker Team!

Laura Hassner, Executive Director, Berkeley Changemaker

Laura Hassner is the Strategic Advisor to UC Berkeley's Chancellor, Executive Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and leads the Berkeley Changemaker academic program. She helped to create and is a part of the core contributing faculty team for the Berkeley Changemaker gateway course and the new Openness to Opposing Views course. Her course, Berkeley Changemaker: Living with Agency(PDF file)(link is external)(PDF file)(PDF file)(link is external), has been described by students as "my favorite and most valuable course". Previously, Laura was a Lecturer on Leadership at Berkeley Haas in the Executive MBA and Evening & Weekend MBA Programs. An expert in turnarounds, she is a former Big Five consultant and financial advisor. She has also taught in a highly-challenged urban school and spent a decade innovating new products and programs for a national nonprofit. She holds a BA, with honors, from Stanford University and an MBA, with honors, from Berkeley Haas.

Ron Dahl, Faculty Director, Berkeley Changemaker

Professor Dahl has more than 30 years of experience leading interdisciplinary teams working at the interface of research, practice, and policy to improve the lives of children and adolescents. He is a distinguished professor in the School of Public Health. He is a pediatrician and developmental scientist whose research has advanced understanding of child and adolescent development, behavioral/emotional health in youth, adolescent brain development, and the clinical, public health, and policy implications of this work. He served as Director of the Institute of Human Development for 12 years, and was founding director of the Center for the Developing Adolescent.

Roxanne Hernandez, Director, Educational Programs

Roxanne is an experienced director of academic programs with over 20 years of expertise in higher education and international student services. In her previous role, she designed academic programs with a focus on business and experiential learning for U.S.-based and international students, and managed academic and student services teams supporting visiting students from around the world. In this role, she enjoys working with program faculty, supporting Berkeley Changemakers across campus and is proud of the contributions this program makes to preparing students for their careers beyond Berkeley. Roxanne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UC Berkeley and a Master’s in International Studies from the University of San Francisco.

Meet the Berkeley Changemaker Ambassadors

Sinan Ahmed, Film Studies, Class of 2026

At Berkeley, I’ve learned that meaningful change starts with listening, connecting, and uplifting others. Whether through filmmaking or everyday campus experiences, I’ve focused on creating spaces where people feel seen and inspired to collaborate. To me, being a changemaker means finding that golden light in every situation, the quiet spark of hope or creativity that can grow into something extraordinary. What makes the Berkeley Changemaker program so special is that it welcomes everyone, no matter their path or ambition. It complements each person’s goals, helping them turn their passions into purpose. As a Berkeley Changemaker Ambassador, I hope to help students recognize that light within themselves, strengthen inclusivity across our campus, and transform small ideas into lasting impact.

Carly Casanova-Moore (she/her), Conservation and Resource Studies Major, Class of 2027

I was fortunate enough to participate in the Changemaker program and am currently pursuing the Changemaker certificate. I am excited to be an Ambassador so I can tell people about the program and share my experiences. The program has helped improve my leadership and communication skills.

Maddon Hoh-Choi, Economics/Business Administration Major, Public Policy Minor, Class of 2027

Berkeley Changemaker helped me realize that the original major I was accepted for at Berkeley wasn’t the right fit. It inspired me to pursue real estate — especially how transforming public policy and technology can create more effective housing solutions. Through Changemaker, I’ve discovered incredible opportunities and developed my leadership skills within the Cal Innovation & Entrepreneurship ecosystem. Motivated by our principles, I strive to challenge the status quo and, as an ambassador, hope to inspire others to do the same.

Giavanna Molinari, Political Science, Human Rights Major, Class of 2026

I joined Berkeley Changemaker because I was seeking opportunities to enhance my resume and broaden my perspective as a transfer student. Through Berkeley Changemaker, I've developed leadership skills, public speaking skills, and gained a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me. I look forward to continuing to grow these skills and many more, such as communication and collaboration. As an ambassador, I hope to share my knowledge with students from all backgrounds and show them how Berkeley Changemaker can help make them more well-rounded students, employees, leaders, and citizens.

Soph Padua (they/them), B.S. Conservation & Resource Studies, B.A. English, Class of 2028

The Berkeley Changemaker program empowers me with collaborative and influential skillsets to succeed in leadership positions and high-impact teams. Through Berkeley Changemaker, I've widened my perspective to fabricate solutions that encompass varying backgrounds and ideologies, shifting societal powers to include marginalized groups. These fundamentally critical skills of Berkeley Changemaker aid in my personal and professional journey within environmental education and justice, and I yearn to assist other prospective Berkeley Changemakers in their own personal growth!

Amir Rafiei, Statistics, Major Class of 2027

I used to think I had to do everything by myself. But through Berkeley Changemaker, I discovered something transformative: new ideas emerge through collaboration. This realization shifted everything. I no longer saw myself as isolated, but as part of something bigger. As a UC Berkeley student, I'm surrounded by scholars and faculty who regularly face opposing views. We're a community that thrives on intellectual diversity, and there's so much potential in what we can create together. We share the understanding that different perspectives, when brought together respectfully, can spark innovation.

Rameen Rauf, B.A. Economics, Data Science Minor, Class of 2027

As a Berkeley Changemaker, I’ve learned that leadership is less about having all the answers and more about creating the conditions where new ideas can grow. The program has given me the language and confidence to embrace uncertainty, push boundaries, and bring people together across disciplines. I’ve seen firsthand how changemaking is about turning vision into action while uplifting others along the way. As an Ambassador, I hope to inspire students to see themselves not just as individuals navigating Berkeley, but as part of a collective capable of reimagining what’s possible.

Qinglin Ruan (She/Her), Architecture Major, Sustainable Design, Minor Class of 2026

I joined Berkeley Changemaker because its courses have guided me to explore a wide range of topics beyond my major. Through Changemaker classes, I have significantly improved my critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills. I am honored to serve as an Ambassador, helping to share this incredible program with more students and ensuring they have access to the same transformative opportunities. My Berkeley Changemaker journey has also inspired me to think boldly, collaborate effectively, and incorporate new perspectives in my academic and personal growth. I am excited to help others become changemakers in their own communities.

Founding Faculty Team

Rich Lyons, UC Berkeley Chancellor and Founding Faculty Director of Berkeley Changemaker

Rich Lyons currently serves as the 12th Chancellor of UC Berkeley. In his previous roles, he served as the Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship officer for UC Berkeley and is the Founding Faculty Director of the Berkeley Changemaker program. He also served as dean of Berkeley's Haas School of Business (2008 to 2018) and holds the William and Janet Cronk Chair in Innovative Leadership. From 2006 to 2008 he oversaw Goldman Sachs University as chief learning officer. He received his BS with highest honors from UC Berkeley (business) and PhD from MIT (economics). Before (re)joining Berkeley, Rich was for six years on the business faculty at Columbia University. His research and teaching expertise is in international economics and finance and his top applied interest is the “how and why” of setting strong institutional cultures.

Jay Stowsky, Berkeley Changemaker Programs Lead (Ret.)

Berkeley Changemaker program. From 2008 to 2021, he was the Senior Assistant Dean for Instruction at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business; earlier, he served 5 years as the School's dean for strategic initiatives and school affairs. Dr. Stowsky has held several senior positions at UC Berkeley and has taught courses on public sector management, high tech regions, and science policy. During the Clinton Administration, Jay served as a senior staff economist for the White House Council of Economic Advisers, focusing on technology policy.

Our Former Ambassadors

Marlo De La Mora (she/her), Anthropology Major, Disability Studies Minor Class of 2025

I chose to become a Berkeley Changemaker Ambassador because I believe in the power of turning passion into action. The program gave me the direction and confidence to make a real impact in my community, especially by supporting people with disabilities. As an ambassador, I want to inspire others to embrace challenges as opportunities and take meaningful steps toward change. Berkeley Changemakers don’t just dream of a better world, we take action to create it.

Anish Dhanashekar (he/him/his), Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS), Major Class of 2025

Coming to Berkeley as an out-of-state student, I was intimated about entering an unfamiliar environment. However, Berkeley Changemaker quickly became my first community. Taking the gateway course the summer before my first year enabled me to hear from top faculty from around the campus in "Changemaker Chats," allowed me to ideate an impactful project to address food insecurity, and fostered an environment to meet and collaborate with my peers before even stepping foot on campus. Berkeley Changemaker has had a profound impact on my perspective, teaching me to seek discomfort and drive impactful change, and I hope all students view themselves as Berkeley Changemakers, too!

Alanna Le (she/they), Integrative Biology Major, Class of 2025

I became a Berkeley Changemaker Ambassador to inspire students to redefine their narratives and show that anyone can overcome barriers. UC Berkeley is filled with a wealth of opportunities waiting to be explored. As a student, it could be overwhelming and it takes a community to bring change. My Berkeley Changemaker journey started from expanding my horizon beyond Integrative Biology course to engaging in programs like this, where I found a community committed to social impact. As an ambassador, I invite other changemakers to embrace the core pillars and realize their true potential.

Picture of tabling event on UC Berkeley campus