Nicholas Dirks Explained

Nicholas Dirks
Order1:10th Chancellor of the
Office1:University of California, Berkeley
Term Start1:June 1, 2013
Term End1:June 1, 2017
Predecessor1:Robert J. Birgeneau
Successor1:Carol T. Christ
Birth Date:14 February 1950
Birth Place:Illinois, U.S.
Education:Wesleyan University (BA)
University of Chicago (MA, PhD)
Nationality:American
Spouse:Janaki Bakhle
Module:
Child:yes
Thesis Title:Little kingdoms of South India: Political authority and social relations in the southern Tamil countryside
Thesis Url:https://search.proquest.com/docview/303040499/
Thesis Year:1981
Main Interests:British colonial rule
Notable Works:The Scandal of Empire (2006)

Nicholas B. Dirks (born February 14, 1950) is an American academic and a former Chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley. Dirks is the author of numerous books on South Asian history and culture, primarily concerned with the impact of British colonial rule. In June 2020, Dirks was named president and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences.[1]

Early life and education

Dirks was born in Illinois but grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, where his father, J. Edward Dirks, was a professor at Yale University. When the latter received a Fulbright Scholarship in 1963 to teach at the Madras Christian College, the Dirks family relocated to Madras, where Nicholas developed an interest in Indian culture. He completed his undergraduate education at Wesleyan University, where he received a B.A. in African and Asian studies in 1972.[2] Thereafter, he attended the University of Chicago, where he earned an M.A. in history in 1974 and a Ph.D. in history and anthropology in 1981.[3]

Career

After teaching at the California Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan, Dirks moved to Columbia in 1997, where he dramatically altered the direction of the anthropology department, championing postcolonial and multidisciplinary approaches, and making a variety of strategic appointments. He was named vice president in charge of Columbia's Faculty of Arts and Sciences as of September 2004.[4]

In November 2012, Dirks was selected as the Chancellor-Designate of the University of California, Berkeley.[5] On November 27, 2012, the Regents of the University of California confirmed Dirks as UC Berkeley's next Chancellor.[6] He took office on June 1, 2013.[7] [8] Dirks announced his resignation from the position on August 16, 2016 following controversy related to a longstanding budget deficit, improper spending, and his handling of sexual harassment claims at the campus.[9] He remains a full professor of history and anthropology at the institution.[10]

From 2018 to 2020 Dirks was chancellor and vice-chairman of Whittle School & Studios, a global network of independent schools serving children from 3 to 18.[11]

In June 2020, Dirks was named president and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences.

Berkeley Chancellorship

During his tenure, Dirks aspired to enhance the undergraduate experience, including the formation of a new undergraduate residential college,[12] the creation of an undergraduate program in data science,[13] the formation of a task force examining student housing,[14] and efforts to improve the experiences of intercollegiate athletes at Berkeley.[15] Dirks spearheaded new interdisciplinary programs including the Berkeley Arts + Design Initiative,[16] and regional multi-institution research efforts such as the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative,[17] and global research and exchange partnerships.[18] [19]

Dirks was also a highly successful fundraiser,[20] including overseeing the completion of the Campaign for Berkeley.[21]

Under Dirks's leadership, the UC Berkeley administration was severely criticized. The most vocal criticism focused on decisions regarding sexual harassment by faculty and administrators. In particular, he presided over decisions to punish astronomer Geoffrey Marcy and then-incumbent Boalt Hall dean Sujit Choudhry.[22]

Dirks was also the subject of intense criticism for his handling of UC Berkeley's budget.[23] Other contentious matters were the size of the fence around the on-campus mansion provided for him by the university,[24] an emergency door installed in California Hall at university expense,[25] [26] an investigation for use of public funds for a personal trainer,[27] and a wrongful termination claim filed by the former manager of University House.[28] The fence and the emergency door were security measures, recommended by the University police, to address an increase in incidents in and around the chancellor’s home.[29] The so-called University House has had a history of violent incidents.[30] [31]

Dirks convened a special committee in 2016 to review and make recommendations for improving campus services, policies and practices related to sexual violence, harassment and assault against students, staff and faculty that resulted in a major review of all campus procedures around sexual harassment and assault.[32]

On August 16, 2016, he announced his intent to resign after less than four years as chancellor.[33] [34]

In 2017, Dirks and his chief of staff, Nils Gilman, dealt with the aftermath of the Trump election, and various political clashes on the university's campus.[35]

Personal life

Dirks is married to Janaki Bakhle, an alum of Columbia, an associate professor of history at UC Berkeley. She is the former director of the South Asia Institute at Columbia University.[36]

Selected works

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dirks. Nicholas. June 1, 2020. Letter to the Community. June 6, 2020. nyas.org.
  2. http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2012/11/15/dirks/ Dirks ’72, Chancellor-Designate, U.C. Berkeley, “Embraces Opportunity”
  3. Little kingdoms of South India: Political authority and social relations in the southern Tamil countryside . 1981 . . Ph.D. . Dirks . Nicholas Bernard . . subscription . 28781512.
  4. Laura Butchy . Master Multitasker . . May–June 2006 . 2012-11-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160728233450/http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct_archive/may_jun06/cover.php . 2016-07-28 . dead .
  5. Web site: . UC Berkeley to Pick Columbia Dean as New Chancellor . November 9, 2012 . 2012-11-27 .
  6. Web site: Dirks Confirmed as UC Berkeley's Next Chancellor . . Gautham Thomas. November 27, 2012. 2012-11-27.
  7. Web site: Newly selected UC Berkeley chancellor described as strong academic . November 8, 2012 . 2012-11-27 . Dan Kwak . Daily Californian.
  8. Web site: Berkeley Sees Dirks Claiming Place as Ivy With Public Mandate. https://web.archive.org/web/20130331041822/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-03-28/berkeley-sees-dirks-claiming-place-as-ivy-with-public-mandate. dead. March 31, 2013. Businessweek. Oliver. Staley. March 28, 2013. March 28, 2013.
  9. Web site: Chancellor Dirks announces he will step down. Public Affairs. 2016-08-16. Berkeley News. University of California, Berkeley. 2016-08-21.
  10. Web site: Nicholas Dirks | Department of History.
  11. News: Former UC Berkeley chancellor finds new position in global school system. 2018-02-13. The Daily Californian. 2018-07-12. en-US.
  12. News: UC Berkeley's Bowles Hall 'castle' reopens as select dorm, for $19,000 a year. 2016-08-23. The Mercury News. 2017-10-11. en-US.
  13. News: UC Berkeley pilots data science class The Daily Californian. 2015-09-02. The Daily Californian. 2017-10-11. en-US.
  14. News: UC identifies 9 potential sites for student housing in Berkeley. 2017-01-31. Berkeleyside. 2017-10-11. en-US.
  15. News: Task Force on Academics and Athletics report details recommendations to address student-athlete challenges The Daily Californian. 2014-09-26. The Daily Californian. 2017-10-11. en-US.
  16. News: Exposure to arts central to undergraduate experience The Daily Californian. 2015-11-20. The Daily Californian. 2017-11-01. en-US.
  17. News: UC Berkeley to collaborate with UCSF, Stanford in Chan Zuckerberg Biohub The Daily Californian. 2016-09-22. The Daily Californian. 2017-11-01. en-US.
  18. News: Campus establishes exchange programs with Peking University, Free University of Berlin The Daily Californian. 2016-10-04. The Daily Californian. 2017-11-01. en-US.
  19. News: Berkeley-Tsinghua Joint Research Center receives $5 million donation The Daily Californian. 2017-01-19. The Daily Californian. 2017-11-01. en-US.
  20. News: Campus sets new records for fundraising. 2016-07-14. Berkeley News. 2017-11-01. en-US.
  21. News: Campus, donors celebrate success of Campaign for Berkeley The Daily Californian. 2014-04-13. The Daily Californian. 2017-11-01. en-US.
  22. Web site: UC Berkeley has history of tolerating sexual harassment. San Francisco Chronicle. 14 March 2016.
  23. Web site: UC Berkeley chancellor faces skeptical Academic Senate. San Francisco Chronicle. 4 May 2016.
  24. Web site: Fence and its costs rising at UC Berkeley chancellor's home. San Francisco Chronicle. 29 August 2015.
  25. News: UC Berkeley denies chancellor built an 'escape hatch' to flee student protests. Wong. Julia Carrie . Julia Carrie Wong . 2016-08-03. The Guardian. 2017-10-11. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  26. Web site: Campus builds escape hatch for Dirks' office in California Hall. Haruka Senju | Senior. Staff. 29 July 2016. The Daily Californian.
  27. Web site: UC Berkeley chancellor under investigation for alleged misuse of public funds, personal use of campus fitness trainer. Los Angeles Times. 13 July 2016.
  28. Web site: Dirks' former house manager allegedly instructed to lie on tax forms. 21 June 2017.
  29. Web site: Staff . Senior Editorial Board . 2015-09-04 . In defense of the chancellor's fence . 2022-04-27 . The Daily Californian . en-US.
  30. Web site: 12.12.2009 - Protesters attack Berkeley chancellor's home . 2022-04-27 . www.berkeley.edu.
  31. News: Gross . Jane . 1992-08-26 . Police Kill Protester at Berkeley In Break-In at Chancellor's Home . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-04-27 . 0362-4331.
  32. Web site: Affairs . Public . Berkeley . U. C. . 2016-04-05 . Chancellor announces new committee on sexual violence, harassment and assault . 2022-04-27 . Berkeley News . en-US.
  33. News: After 4 years in the spotlight, Dirks leaves the stage. 2017-05-01. The Daily Californian. 2018-02-08. en-US.
  34. Web site: UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks announces resignation. San Francisco Chronicle. 17 August 2016.
  35. Web site: How the UC system is bracing for an escalation of political clashes ahead of Trump. . 16 January 2017.
  36. Book: Bakhle, Janaki. 2005. Two Men and Music: Nationalism in the Making of an Indian Classical Tradition. Oxford University Press. 978-0195166118.

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