Each year, the Chancellor recognizes students, staff, faculty, and community partnerships that embody UC Berkeley’s proud tradition of public service and commitment to improving our local and global community. Faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, student organizations, and campus-community partnerships are all eligible. Award categories include: civic engagement, community-engaged teaching, research in the public interest, and campus-community partnership.
2023-2024 award recipients
Nominations
- For Civic Engagement Awards (Student, Student Group, Staff) and Rosalie M. Stern Award, click here.
- For Faculty and Campus Partnership Awards, click here.
- For Robert J. and Mary Catherine Birgeneau Awards, click here.
Award Information
The Chancellor’s Awards for Public Service honor individuals and groups for their exceptional commitment to advancing social change through public service, a pillar of the university’s public mission. Annually, thousands of students, staff, and faculty devote hundreds of thousands of hours to direct service to the community, and even more hours to research and partnerships that serve the public interest. If awarded, recipient will serve as a representative of the university (including the Chancellor) at the event and in media. These awards will be presented at the annual Chancellor’s Awards for Public Service ceremony.
Award Criteria
- An important need outside of campus is being addressed.
- The service has a positive, meaningful impact on the individuals and/or community served.
- The person/partners demonstrate(s) meaningful, deep commitment to this issue area and the community they are serving.
- Sufficient information is provided in the nomination to get a sense of the individual’s or program’s accomplishments. The committee will not review material outside the nomination, including links to articles or websites. Instead, please summarize any important points from these external sources.
- The nominator has provided all required information and submitted on time.
- Please note: Award recipients are NOT considered differently based on number of nominations and the selection is not based on number of nominations for an individual. If multiple parties are considering nominating the same person, please submit ONE succinct nomination form from all parties. Winners from the last five years are not eligible. To see the list of past years’ award recipients, click here.
The following information overviews the content nominators will be asked to complete on the nomination form:
- Describe the community being served by the nominee/the nominee’s work.
- Describe the nominee’s public service work (e.g., specific projects, initiatives, strategies) and how it addresses the community issue/need
- Highlight the nominee’s motivation to address this social issue and commitment to their work and community
- Describe the impact of the nominee’s public service and how the community benefits.
- Has the nominee received other awards for their public service work? If yes, please specify.
- Explain roles played by each partner (e.g. financial, in-kind, and volunteer contributions) – for nomination of Campus-Community Partnership award.
Award Descriptions
Chancellor’s Awards for Civic Engagement
These four public service awards honor the work of an undergraduate student, a graduate student, a student group, and a staff member for their contributions to the community.
Mather Good Citizen Award
Selected from the nominees for the Chancellor’s Awards for Civic Engagement, this award recognizes a graduating senior for their service and awards $1,500 to the recipient.
Chancellor’s Award for Community-Engaged Teaching
This award honors leadership by faculty in developing or teaching community-engaged courses or in engaging students in community-based research.
Chancellor’s Award for Research in the Public Interest
This award honors research by faculty that addresses critical needs and issues affecting local, state, national, or global communities.
Chancellor’s Award for Campus-Community Partnership
This award honors campus-community partnerships and University-sponsored programs that improve the quality of life in our community.
Rosalie M. Stern Award
This award honors a woman graduate of UC Berkeley who has demonstrated significant contributions to public service (at the local community, state, or national level).
Robert J. and Mary Catherine Birgeneau Recognition Award for Service to Undocumented Students
This award honors an undergraduate or graduate undocumented student, or student ally, who has performed exemplary service pertaining to undocumented communities. Recipients are awarded $1,500 in recognition of their work. Award information and criteria for nomination.
Robert J. and Mary Catherine Birgeneau Recognition Award for Service to Underrepresented Students
This award honors an undergraduate or graduate underrepresented student, or student ally, who has performed exemplary service pertaining to underrepresented communities. Recipients are awarded $1,500 in recognition of their work. Award information and criteria for nomination.
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Civic Engagement Awards (Student, Student Group, Staff) and Rosalie M. Stern Award |
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Faculty and Campus Partnership Awards |
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Robert J. and Mary Catherine Birgeneau Awards |
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2024-2025 Chancellor’s Awards Ceremony |
May 12, 2025 |
Chancellor’s Award Committee
serviceawards@berkeley.edu
List of Past Years’ Award Recipients
2023-2024 Award Recipients and Bio
2022-2023 Award Recipients and Bio
2021-2022 Award Recipients and Bio
Vice Chancellor Dania Mato, Robert J. and Mary Catherine Birgeneau with 2023-2024 Birgeneau award recipients