"The endowed chair has allowed me to explore and support research directions that I could not have done without it. It has been especially important to supporting new field studies (e.g., secretive black rails in the foothills of the Sierras), which are always hard to get supported at first.
"I have been able to leverage chair support by using the results to submit more competitive proposals and get them funded. It also provides a cushion of support that I have been able to extend to graduate students and postdocs to pursue projects with me. I also used it to hire a lab assistant to help me process GIS and other data that we have been collecting."
Peter Berck
S.J. Hall Chair in Forest Economics
"The SJ Hall Chair in Forest Economics has enabled me to take on a completely new line of research in the financial aspects of private versus public forest ownership. I was able to bring an expert on privatization and finance to the campus for a month this summer.
"Ultimately, when I finish all the things that I have promised to editors and agencies, the chair will allow me to put all of my effort into this new research program and at least very temporarily be free from the constant need to raise additional funds. The Chair has also been a very important source of funding for students who want to go into the field of forest economics, providing funding for their Ph. D. research. Without this type of kind and thoughtful assistance from our donor community, Berkeley would be a much duller and poorer place."
Reginald Barrett
George R. and Wilhelmina M. Goertz Distinguished Professorship in Wildlife Management
"The Goertz Chair has allowed me to take students in my classes on field trips that would not otherwise be possible due to never getting any funds from the ESPM for field trips. I have been able to bring outside speakers to classes that would not otherwise be possible. I have supported a major study of tule elk at Point Reyes National Seashore for the past two years, including the support of one Ph.D. student. Field trips include going to Point Reyes, Coyote Point, Grey Lodge, Yolo Bypass, Hawk Hill etc. Speakers include mostly agency professionals talking about real world wildlife management case histories.
Gordon Rausser
The Class of 1934- Robert Gordon Sproul Chair in Agricultural Economics
"The major advantage of any endowed chair is that it creates an opportunity for pursuing risky research endeavors that would not be supported by extramural grants. It also provides the basis for supporting graduate students. In my case, this was particularly important since serving as Department Chair and as Dean of the College of Natural Resources, I would not have been able to maintain even a minimal research program without the support of funding from my endowed chair. It has proved to be a godsend with regard to maintaining at least some research activities while actively engaged in administrative responsibilities.
