The University of California, Berkeley has announced a $30 million gift from alumni Warren “Ned” (BS ’66) and Carol (BA ’66) Spieker in support of the Haas School of Business.

The largest single gift in the history of the school will expand its two-year undergraduate business program to four years, giving students the option to enter as freshman, beginning in the fall 2024 semester. In addition, the gift will enable the school to endow a new Spieker Scholars program, improve outreach efforts, enhance student support, improve classroom technology and infrastructure, and provide new co-curricular opportunities. In recognition of the support, the undergraduate program will be named the Spieker Undergraduate Business Program.

Spieker is a Haas alumnus, Haas School board member, and founder and former chair and CEO of Spieker Properties. He and Carol met at UC Berkeley.

“A four-year undergraduate business experience will provide remarkable new opportunities for students,” said Spieker. “My hope is that this gift will help build a program that’s second-to-none in the world, cementing Haas as the top undergraduate business school for generations to come.”

(Photo credit: Karl Nielsen, courtesy of the University of California, Berkeley)