Dear Friends,
I am saddened to report that Professor Joan Bieder has passed away. Emeritus faculty member of the UC Berkeley School of Journalism, Joan Bieder died on Sunday, Oct. 26. She was 83.
During her 26-year tenure at Berkeley Journalism, Professor Bieder was a senior lecturer who taught core courses and electives in television reporting and producing. She also served as associate dean from 2008 until she retired in 2016. Professor Bieder was one of the first women to join the Berkeley Journalism faculty. She came to Berkeley after a career with ABC News from 1966 to 1976, and as an associate professor at Columbia Journalism School from 1976 to 1986.
Her Berkeley graduate students traveled widely in pursuit of stories, throughout the United States and to Afghanistan, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, India, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Uganda, the West Bank and New Zealand.
Her book, “The Jews of Singapore (2007),” traces the roots of Jews in Singapore from Mesopotamia thousands of years ago. She lectured widely on the topic and continued to research aspects of other Jewish communities in Asia.
When I met Joan, shortly after I arrived on campus in 2013, she was still serving as associate dean at the J School. While I admit I was initially intimidated by her title and stature, she was so down-to-earth, and she loved to talk, making me feel like we were fast friends and as if I'd known her forever.
We had the opportunity to partner on a series of talks between HDI and Journalism. That excellent series, moderated by Joan, included Aluf Benn, Ari Shavit, and Janine Zacharia. Joan also served on our faculty executive board, and contributed to the Helen Diller Institute's growth in so many tangible and intangible ways.
Joan was warm, funny, and incredibly generous. She was also sharp, witty, and direct, the attributes of a great interlocutor. I am going to miss her so much. May her memory be a blessing.
With warmest regards,
Rebecca
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