President-elect Barack Obama held his first press conference from Chicago today. Standing behind him were two UC Berkeley professors.

Laura Tyson, a professor at the Haas School of Business, and Robert Reich, a professor of public policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy, are serving as members of Obama's 17-person Transition Economic Advisory Board, which is working to ensure that Obama's highest priorities will take effect smoothly and immediately after his inauguration on Jan. 21. But they are not the only faculty involved with the campaign.

Christopher Edley, dean of Boalt Hall School of Law, is a member of Obama's transition advisory board, which will oversee a smooth transition from the Bush administration. Edley was a professor of Obama's at Harvard Law School and worked closely with the Obama campaign as an unofficial advisor.

But Edley said he has no interest in leaving Berkeley for Washington, D.C.

"Early in the campaign, and again as the personnel process was starting in September, I specifically took my name out of consideration," he stated in an e-mail.

That's not the case for other faculty, several of whom are under consideration for positions associated with the coming presidency.

"A number of law school scholars are being considered for those transition teams," said Susan Gluss, spokesperson for Boalt Hall School of Law.

News outlets have reported that Tyson is on a short list for Treasury secretary.

All parties declined to comment on their involvement until Obama publicly reveals his appointments.

Read The Daily Californian Monday for the full story.

Tags: BARACK OBAMA, NATIONAL ELECTIONS 2008