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Berkeley goes to London
In the English department, Wang's skill as a writer drew praise from former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass, who noted her "fresh, meticulous clarity and eloquence." She interned in the decorative arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she immersed herself in the artifacts of New York opulence, and later researched the historical and social significance of the Vanderbilt home on Fifth Avenue. She also worked as a staff member of the University's War Crimes Study, and plans to pursue her interest in international crimes and humanitarian law at the London School of Economics in the fall. Wang's grandparents, who lived through the Japanese occupation of China, and her study in the history of mass atrocities influenced her decision. Wang is one of only 44 American students and one of only seven in California to receive the Marshall Scholarship this year. The prestigious awards were begun in 1953 as a counterpart to the Rhodes Scholarships to promote intellectual and cultural exchange between the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Wang almost didn't apply-- "I'd never tried for a scholarship before," she says--but was encouraged by her professors, including her history advisor, David Hollinger. "Lisa has a refreshingly independent mind and a voracious appetite for ideas," he says. He might have added that she is a critical thinker not easily impressed by the usual trappings of success. The daughter of two lawyers from Napa (her mother lectures at Boalt), Wang attended Exeter preparatory school in the East, where her English teacher was Dan Brown, the now-famous author of The Da Vinci Code. "He gave us CDs of his New Age music and talked constantly about himself," she shrugs. Wang is modest about her own achievements. "I just never thought of myself as one of those people who would get such an honor," she says. "But I'm really grateful and excited." --Kerry Tremain
Boalting the Beltway
Edley has an ecumenical view of this polarizing issue. "There are plenty of principled reasons to oppose race-sensitive affirmative action," he says. He refuses to demonize opponents of the policy; some are close friends. Tom Campbell, the dean of the business school, has known Edley since their days working together on the Harvard Law Review, but disagrees with his friend about affirmative action. According to both, Campbell helped convince Edley to take the job. So did UC regent and affirmative action opponent Ward Connerly. "Ward was a big supporter of mine in getting this job and worked hard persuading me to accept it," Edley says, "despite the fact that we've disagreed sharply and debated each other from C-Span to the Oval Office." Connerly told the Boston Globe that Edley is simply the best man for the job. Edley, who will take over as dean on July 1, envisions an important but limited role for Boalt in political disputes. "The University should take a stand on issues that directly affect its mission," he says."Beyond that limited set of issues, our role is to illuminate policy debates." In fact, Edley agreed to take the reins at Boalt in part because he had wearied of Beltway-style politics. "Call it a midlife crisis," he says. "I was looking for a way to get out." Edley wanted to simplify his life. For years, he'd commuted to Harvard from Washington. His wife Maria Echaveste, Boalt '80, whom he met when she worked as chief counsel in the Clinton White House, helps direct a high-powered consulting firm in D.C. Echaveste will join Boalt as a lecturer, in addition to her consulting work. The couple also has two toddlers. ("I didn't think I'd be changing diapers at age 50," says Edley, laughing.) Last summer, after being heavily recruited for the Boalt job, and repeatedly saying no, Edley unexpectedly underwent triple bypass surgery and was recuperating when search committee members called again. This time he accepted. Despite leaving Washington, Edley is as ambitious as ever. He plans to start a West Coast counterpart to his Harvard Civil Rights Project at Boalt. He hopes to expand on the school's strengths in technology and intellectual property law, environmental law, and social policy, while deepening the school's involvement in issues related to Latin America and Asia. But Edley is most animated when talking about the opportunities for interdisciplinary work here. "Berkeley's openness to multidisciplinary work is dramatically different from Harvard, where such activity is difficult and undervalued," he says. Campbell envisions several opportunities for joint projects between Boalt and the business school, and expects Edley to flourish here. "Chris is publicly spirited and academically brilliant," Campbell says. "We're lucky to have him." --KT
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