Following a comprehensive executive search, the College of Chemistry is pleased to announce the appointment of Janny Manasse as the new Senior Assistant Dean of College Relations and Development, effective immediately.
Manasse has served as the College’s Interim Senior Assistant Dean of Development since April 2025. Her permanent appointment marks a continuation of her tenure at the University, which began in 2022 when she joined UC Berkeley’s Principal Gift and Strategic Initiatives team as Senior Director of Development.
“Janny brings a depth and breadth of expertise in chemistry-centered fundraising and a proven ability to align philanthropic goals with academic excellence,” said Anne Baranger, interim dean of the College. “We are confident that her strategic vision will be instrumental in helping to fuel our next generation of discovery.”
Prior to her arrival at Berkeley, Manasse established herself as a leader in higher education development. At the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), she served as Senior Director of Development for the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the Resnick Sustainability Institute. During her time there, she played a pivotal role in the largest fundraising campaign in the Institute’s history, a campaign that surpassed its $2 billion goal by 70 percent, ultimately raising $3.4 billion. Her career also includes leadership roles at the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
In her new role, Manasse will oversee the College’s fundraising strategies, as well as alumni relations, communications, and development efforts. She will work closely with academic leadership and colleagues within the College and across the University, advising on long-range strategic planning to support the College’s research and educational mission.
Manasse holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and International Business and a Master of Education in Instructional Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education Administration, both from the University of Illinois at Chicago.