FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee to Speak at UC Berkeley for 2026 Barbara Boxer Lecture
History-making mayor and Berkeley alum to join Former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer for a candid conversation on women in leadership, Oakland's future, and the state of American democracy
BERKELEY, CA — April 1, 2026 — The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies will host Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee in conversation with former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer for the 2026 Barbara Boxer Lecture, taking place Tuesday, April 7 at UC Berkeley.
Titled “City, State, and Nation,” the event will bring together two of California’s most influential political leaders for a wide-ranging discussion on public service, leadership, and the evolving relationship between local, state, and national governance at a moment of heightened political uncertainty.
Mayor Lee, who made history as the first Black woman elected mayor of Oakland after more than three decades in Congress and state government, will reflect on her transition to city leadership and the challenges facing Oakland and cities nationwide.
The annual Barbara Boxer Lecture, which is presented by the Institute of Governmental Studies and The Bancroft Library, focuses on women in leadership and public life, convening leading voices to explore the future of governance and democracy. This event is co-sponsored by the Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service, the Goldman School of Public Policy, and the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science.
Event Details
- What: 2026 Barbara Boxer Lecture: City, State, and Nation - A Conversation with Mayor Barbara Lee
- Who: Mayor Barbara Lee in conversation with former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
- When: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 | 4:00–5:15 PM
- Where: Banatao Auditorium, Sutardja Dai Hall, UC Berkeley
- Format: In-person and livestream (free, registration required)
A light reception will follow the program.
Why This Matters
At a time when the cities across the nation are navigating overlapping crises from homelessness and affordability to public safety and federal-state tensions, this conversation will explore how leadership across levels of government can respond to rapidly shifting political and social conditions.
With Oakland at the center of many of these challenges, the event offers a rare opportunity for the public to hear directly from Mayor Lee on her vision for the city, and how her distinguished career has informed her approach to governing in a complex political landscape.
About the Institute of Governmental Studies
The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies is California’s longest-standing public policy research center, dedicated to advancing nonpartisan research, civic engagement, and public service leadership.
Media Contact
Ezra Hom-Bristow
Director of Communications & Events
Institute of Governmental Studies, UC Berkeley
ezrabristow@berkeley.edu | 973-536-9235