Recent Initiation Speakers

Spring Initiation 2025 – May 8, 2025
Chancellor Rich Lyons

Spring Initiation 2024 – May 2, 2024
Professor Sara Guyer, English

Spring Initiation 2023 – May 4, 2023

Spring Initiation 2022 – May 5, 2022
Professor Raka Ray, Sociology and South Asian Studies

Spring Initiation 2021 – May 6, 2021
Professor R. Jay Wallace, Philosophy
R. Jay Wallace Remarks

Spring Initiation 2020 – May 6, 2020

Spring Initiation 2019 – May 9, 2019
Professor Kinch Hoekstra,  Political Science and Law
Kinch Hoekstra Remarks

Spring Initiation 2018 – May 3, 2018
University Librarian Jeffrey MacKie-Mason

Spring Initiation 2017 – May 3, 2017
Professor Carol Christ, Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Carol Christ Remarks

Spring Initiation 2016 – May 5, 2016
Professor Panayiotis Papadopoulos, Mechanical Engineering
Panayiotis Papadopoulos Remarks

Spring Initiation 2015 – May 7, 2015
Professor Bob Jacobsen, Physics, Interim Dean of Undergraduate Studies in the College of Letters & Science

Spring Initiation 2014 – May 8, 2014
Professor Randy W. Schekman, Molecular & Cell Biology, Nobel Laureate

Spring Initiation 2013 – May 9, 2013
Professor William J. Drummond, Journalism

Spring Initiation 2012 – May 3, 2012
Professor Shannon Jackson, Theater, Dance & Performance Studies

Spring Initiation 2011 – May 3, 2011
Professor Andrew Stewart, History of Art

Spring Initiation 2010 – May 12, 2010
Professor Kristie Boering, Chemistry and Earth & Planetary Science

Spring Initiation 2009 – May 12, 2009
Provost and Professor of Political Science George W. Breslauer

Spring Initiation 2008 – May 14, 2008
Professor Marian C. Diamond, Integrative Biology

Spring Initiation 2007 – May 10, 2007
Professor Richard A. Muller, Physics

Spring Initiation 2006 – May 11, 2006
Professor Daniel F. Melia, Rhetoric and Celtic Studies

Spring Initiation 2005 – May 12, 2005
Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau

Spring Initiation 2004 – April 27, 2004
Vice-Provost and Professor of Psychology Christina Maslach

Spring Initiation 2003 – April 29, 2003
University Librarian Thomas C. Leonard

Spring Initiation 2002 – April 25, 2002
Director of the American Studies Program and Professor of English Ron Loewinsohn

Spring Initiation 2001 – April 26, 2001
Former Chancellor I. Michael Heyman

Spring Initiation 2000 – May 10, 2000
Chancellor Robert M. Berdahl

Spring Initiation 1999 – April 22, 1999
Dean of Arts and Humanities and Professor of Comparative Literature Ralph J. Hexter

Spring Initiation 1998 – April 23, 1998
Director of the Doreen Townsend Center and Professor of History Randolph Starn

Spring Initiation 1997 – April 24, 1997
Professor Kenneth Jowitt, Political Science

Spring Initiation 1996 – April 16, 1996
University Librarian Peter Lyman

Spring Initiation 1995 – April 25, 1995
Dean Herma Kay, Boalt School of Law

Spring Initiation 1993 – April 20, 1993
Professor Eric Gruen, History

Spring Initiation 1992 – April 21, 1992
Professor Emeritus William Brinner, Near Eastern Studies

Spring Initiation 1991 – April 23, 1991
Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien

Spring Initiation 1990 – April 17, 1990
Chancellor Ira Michael Heyman

Spring Initiation 1989 – April 27, 1989
Professor James Cahill, History of Art

Winter Initiation 1989 – February 28, 1989
Dean Thomas Goldstein, Graduate School of Journalism

Spring Initiation 1988 – April 28, 1989
Professor Aaron Wildavsky, Political Science

Winter Initiation 1988 – February 23, 1988
Dean of Humanities Carol Christ

Spring Initiation 1987 – April 30, 1987
President of University of California David Gardner

Winter Initiation 1987 – February 24, 1987
Professor Earl Cheit, Business Administration

Spring Initiation 1986 – April 24, 1986
Professor Robert Brentano, History

Winter Initiation 1986 – February 27, 1986
Professor Milton Chernin, Social Welfare

Spring Initiation 1985 – April 25, 1985
Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Affairs Watson Laetsch

Winter Initiation 1985 – February 28, 1985
Graduate Division Dean William Shack

Spring Initiation 1984 – May 2, 1984
School of Education Dean Bernard

Winter Initiation 1984 – March 8, 1984
Provost and Dean of College of Letters and Science Leonard Kuhi

Spring Initiation 1983 – May 26, 1983
Chancellor Ira Michael Heyman

Winter Initiation 1983 – March 3, 1983
Dean of Humanities Donald Friedman

Spring Initiation 1982 – May 19, 1982
Professor Alan Dundes, Anthropology

Winter Initiation 1982 – March 24, 1982

Spring Initiation 1981 – May 21, 1981
Professor Robert Brentano, History

Winter Initiation 1981 – April 3, 1981