Dear Undergraduate Education Division staff,
After a successful national search, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Aileen Liu has been appointed to serve as the executive director of Berkeley Discovery and Berkeley Connect, effective July 29, 2026. These critical programs enrich the undergraduate experience by connecting students to independent, student-led research and immersive learning experiences, and by building community within their chosen path of study.
For the past five years, Aileen has served as the Director of Curricular Engagement Initiatives in the College of Letters & Science at UC Berkeley, and she will bring extensive experience in collaborative program development and operational management to this role. In her previous role, Aileen provided outstanding leadership, policy direction, and implementation for cross-divisional undergraduate programs that serve thousands of students annually, including Freshman and Sophomore Seminars, Big Ideas Courses, L&S First-Year Pathways, Brilliance of Berkeley, Openness to Opposing Views, and On the Same Page. Her deep commitment to student belonging and academic engagement makes her uniquely qualified to lead Berkeley Discovery and Berkeley Connect into their next phase.
Aileen earned her Ph.D. in English from UC Berkeley and has a dedicated history in higher education. While pursuing her graduate studies, she served firsthand as a Berkeley Connect Fellow, mentoring cohorts of undergraduates and helping them connect to vital campus resources.
Her leadership reflects a blend of strategic vision, collaboration, and a people-centric approach. Aileen's ability to build consensus across organizational boundaries has allowed her to manage complex program budgets and champion initiatives that ensure a broad range of students see themselves reflected in the university's academic community. Aileen's excellence has been repeatedly recognized by the campus community. She is a recipient of the Chancellor's Outstanding Staff Award (2025) and the Excellence in Management Award (2025)—a testament to her supportive, empowering leadership style as nominated by her own direct reports.
I would like to thank the members of the search committee, and the faculty directors and staff of Berkeley Discovery and Berkeley Connect for their thoughtful service throughout this process.
Please join me in congratulating Aileen on her appointment and in welcoming her to this new leadership chapter in the Division of Undergraduate Education.
Sincerely,
Oliver O’Reilly
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
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