Congratulations to Fumi Okiji for becoming the 2026 co-recipient of the David Blackwell Award!
From the award notification:
The Blackwell Award is given annually to a recently tenured professor in the College of Letters & Science who embodies the values and aspirations of the College in scholarship, teaching and mentorship, and service, and who serves as an inspiration to others in the campus community.
James Schamus (UC Berkeley ’82 BA, ’87 MA, ’03 Ph.D) is an award-winning screenwriter (The Ice Storm), producer (Brokeback Mountain), and former CEO of Focus Features (Dallas Buyers Club, Lost in Translation, Milk, The Pianist). His feature directorial debut, the critically-acclaimed adaptation of Philip Roth's Indignation, premiered at the Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals, and was released by Roadside Attractions.
Ramona Naddaff has been awarded the Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. Distinguished Chair in Writing in recognition of her immense contributions to the teaching of the art of writing across the campus over the past decade and in anticipation of successes in the years to come.
Winnie Wong will discuss her new book, The Many Names of Anonymity with Marci Kwon, associate professor of Art History at Stanford University and co-directer of Stanford's Asian American Art Initiative, at Clio's Books in Oakland on Tuesday, March 24th at 7pm (doors open at 6:30pm). Ticket and event information is available via
Samera Esmeir, Associate Professor and Head Graduate Advisor & Admissions Chair, has been awarded the 2026-2028 Distinguished Faculty Fellowship in Rhetoric for her outstanding record of research, teaching, and service.
The award was established in 2024 by the generosity of Rhetoric alums, above all Bettina Duval and Dana Slatkin, and by the tireless efforts of the L&S development team and Dean Guyer. The award provides two years of funding to pursue research projects.
The Rhetoric department graduation will take place on Tuesday, May 19 at 2-5pm in Pauley Ballroom. More information will be forthcoming.
The UC Berkeley Spring Commencement will be on May 16, 2026 at 10:30am in the California Memorial Stadium. More information can be found on the official university commencement site: commencement.berkeley.edu
Ramona Naddaff and the Art of Writing program received a "Reimagining Higher Education" grant to expand the Art of Writing Fellows program across campus. Writing Fellows serve as embedded tutors in undergraduate courses.
Rhetoric undergraduate students involved with the UC Berkeley Art of Writing program had the oportunity to interview pioneering computer scientist Jaron Lanier, who visited campus last April to engage in conversation with students about the effects of artificial intelligence on writing and other creative practices.
An interiview with Dr. Ramona Naddaff was recently featured on the Division of Arts and Humanites website. In addition to being an Associate Professor in the Department of Rhetoric, Dr.
The Many Names of Anonymity: Portraitists of the Canton Trade (University of Chicago Press) by Winnie Wong will be available in January 2026.
A new book by Fumi Okiji, Billie’s Bent Elbow: Exorbitance, Intimacy, and a Nonsensuous Standard was published in January 2025 and was featured in a Townsend Center for the Humanities's Berkeley Book Chat recorded on February 12, 2025 with Fumi Okiji in conversation with Stephen Best (English).
From the publisher:
Rachel Kushner, Commencement Speaker for the 2025 Rhetoric and Film & Media Commencement Ceremony, reflected on her commencement address and her time as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley in a June 30, 2025 New York Times opinon piece.
Nadesan "Nad" Permaul has been awarded a Berkeley Citation for 2025.
Here is the link for the Rhetoric and Film + Media commencement livestream.
Please note, this is only available today, Tuesday, May 20 at 7pm.
A warm and enthusiastic welcome to the exceptional individuals joining our newest cohort of Rhetoric Ph.D. students this fall! We’re excited to have you bring your unique voices, talents, and ambitions to our vibrant community at Cal. Your presence promises to deepen and energize our shared intellectual environment. Here's to a rewarding and inspiring journey ahead - full of discovery, creativity, and academic achievement!
Rachel Kushner is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Mars Room, The Flamethrowers, and Telex from Cuba, the short story collection The Strange Case of Rachel K, and a book of essays, The Hard Crowd. Her new novel, Creation Lake, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and longlisted for the National Book Award, the Pen/Faulkner Award, and the Carol Shields Award.
