Carol Christ announced Thursday she will step down from her role as UC Berkeley Chancellor with plans to retire at the end of June 2024.

After recently creating a new data science college and battling a construction lawsuit in People’s Park, Christ has made headlines for several projects this year, which have sparked both controversy and support. However, Christ noted in an email to the campus community that her plans to retire were long in coming. 

“My time in office has been meaningful and rewarding beyond compare,” Christ said in the email. “I will sorely miss the challenges, the opportunities, and the daily interactions with the members of Cal’s amazing extended family.” 

Christ started her term as campus’s 11th Chancellor in July 2017. At that time, she expected to serve in the role for only three to five years, according to her email to campus. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges for colleges and institutions worldwide, Christ said she “could not imagine parting ways with so much left to do.”

Six years later, Christ has finally decided to step down. Now, the UC Office of the President will begin the year-long national search for Christ’s successor, according to the email. 

“Whoever that may be, I will surely share with them what a wonderful privilege it is to serve and lead this campus, to have an opportunity to further fortify and evolve our incredibly strong and vibrant university, to be a part of a community unlike any other,” Christ stated in the email. “There is no place I would ever rather be.”

Until then, Christ noted she will continue to advance campus projects, including the Light the Way campaign, Gateway building, student housing and bolstering campus finances, noting there is “much work left to be done.”