For full story, slide show and more: http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/birgeneau/ Robert J. Birgeneau announced he is stepping down at the end of 2012 as chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley. When he leaves office on Dec. 31, he will have served more than eight years as head of the world's premier public research and teaching university. "I am deeply grateful to have been entrusted with the profound responsibility of leading this great institution and its outstanding faculty, staff and students through one of the most challenging periods in its 144-year history," Birgeneau said in a letter today to the campus community. The internationally distinguished physicist plans to remain at UC Berkeley to teach and conduct research. Appointed as UC Berkeley's ninth chancellor in September 2004, Birgeneau initially hoped to serve for seven years, but said he remained in his post longer because of the California economic crisis and the extraordinary challenges posed to the university by "the most extreme disinvestment by the state in UC's history." Birgeneau's leadership enabled the campus to maintain and expand its excellence, preserve its unique public character, develop new sources of funding, improve investment strategies, streamline operations, and launch a groundbreaking middle-class financial aid plan. For full story, slide show and more: http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/birgeneau/

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