After 36 years at UC Berkeley, AnnaLee (Anno) Saxenian, professor and former dean of the School of Information, will retire from her roles at the Department of City and Regional Planning and the School of Information.
Saxenian first joined the university’s Department of City and Regional Planning in 1989 before taking on a joint appointment with the School of Information in 2000. Throughout the years, she has taught courses on the politics of information, the information and services economy, and entrepreneurship.
In 2004, Prof. Saxenian was selected to lead the I School as its dean. During her 15-year deanship, she facilitated the hiring of numerous talented faculty members; she secured a $15M grant that established the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity; and, she led the charge for the creation of the school’s online degree programs — the Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) and the Master of Information and Cybersecurity (MICS) — as well as the Graduate Certificate in Applied Data Science.
Saxenian is also known for her groundbreaking research into the growth of Silicon Valley and the globalization of the technology workforce. Her internationally acclaimed book, Regional Advantage: Culture and Competition in Silicon Valley and Route 128 (1994), has been cited over 16,000 times and is renowned for its insights into how Silicon Valley’s infrastructure has supported rapid information exchange and information. Another widely respected book, The New Argonauts: Regional Advantage in a Global Economy (2006), discussed how foreign-born, technically skilled entrepreneurs who travel back and forth between Silicon Valley and their home countries have transformed the global economy.
A retirement celebration was held on May 6, 2025, bringing together faculty, staff, and friends of Professor Saxenian.
At the event, Dean Eric Meyer began with an anecdote about meeting Saxenian 15 years ago at the Oxford Internet Institute. He spoke about her generosity and her unwavering willingness to guide and mentor what was a small institution at the time.
“Anno, your legacy is woven into the very fabric of the School of Information. Your leadership, scholarship, and unwavering dedication have set a standard of excellence that will inspire generations to come, and your commitment to fostering an inclusive, interdisciplinary environment has left an indelible mark on our community,” he stated.
Professor Deirdre Mulligan then took the stand, thanking Professor Saxenian for her years of service to the I School and for her mentorship. “For many years, you’ve been the first person I turn to for advice on anything Berkeley or academic,” said Mulligan. “You always share your wisdom and your perspective while leaving space for me to form my own opinion and chart my own path.”
“You’ve provided me sound advice on everything from writing and publishing a book, to navigating campus bureaucracy, to helping the school navigate the early days of Covid, to keeping the school’s mission and vision strong and clear and our community together during tumultuous times on campus...You have been the defining element of the school’s success,” she continued.
Jenny Collins, Chief Administrative Officer, conveyed her gratitude towards Saxenian for taking a chance on hiring her.
“The I School literally wouldn’t be the I School if it weren’t for Anno. I wouldn’t be standing here giving this speech if Anno hadn’t taken a risk on me, and I’m so glad she did. Thank you, Anno, for your decades of scholarship and leadership, and for your wisdom, guidance, and friendship,” she remarked.
“Anno, your legacy is woven into the very fabric of the School of Information. Your leadership, scholarship, and unwavering dedication have set a standard of excellence that will inspire generations to come, and your commitment to fostering an inclusive, interdisciplinary environment has left an indelible mark on our community.”
Professor Alex Hughes recalled meeting Saxenian as a postdoctoral researcher in 2015, when then-Dean Saxenian personally interviewed Hughes for a position at the I School. After his hiring, he couldn’t help but notice Saxenian’s dedication to leading and fostering connections as she led monthly postdoctoral meetings and invited them to her house for dinner multiple times.
“I think that she is simply one of the finest humans many of us will have interacted with: a visionary leader, a path-breaking researcher, and a mentor and friend,” Hughes explained.
He added, “Anno has created, seemingly from whole cloth, a career path for me to continue to be with the school and start a family here in Berkeley [and] witnessed the growth of the school’s student body by nearly tenfold from about 150 students to more than 1,000 by doing things the right way…”
Ph.D. student Sarah Barrington similarly thanked Saxenian for her role in shaping her graduate experience, remarking, “Anno has had a profound impact on my entire time at the school, from even before day one. I remember talking about her incredible work during my interview, and then when I finally got to meet her, she was the most wonderful professor in person.
“Since that day, she has continually mentored me and my peers, gone above and beyond to support our ideas in and out of the classroom, and been an absolute joy to be around.” she concluded before opening the floor to other event participants.
Others, including Emeritus Professor Michael Buckland, Paul Duguid, colleagues from the College of Environmental Design, and friends, followed up with remarks and shared anecdotes along similar themes: her commitment to meaningful connections and relationships, her vision and trailblazing leadership, and dedication to the community.
The I School thanks Professor Saxenian for her dedication and contributions to the School of Information and wishes her all the best in this new chapter in her life and career.
