Economics Graduate Student Services
The Economics Student Services Mission is to advise our students holistically by providing a high standard of service in a supportive and collaborative environment. Professional and peer advisors work as a team to provide accurate information in a timely manner. We partner with faculty to assist students in engaging with the campus and the global economic community. We value fairness, diversity, and the important roles our students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Economics play at the University of California, Berkeley.
Meet the members of the Economics Graduate Student Services advising team!
Janene C. Vernard
Assistant Director of Graduate Student Services
Education
Bachelor of Arts in History and Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley.
Cal Start
As an undergraduate student, originally from the LA county area, and started as a staff member in 2007 as a Graduate Advisor in the College of Engineering, then in the School of Public Health. My career in student services spans over 10 years, I truly enjoy being a guiding light to students as they navigate the campus and their graduate degree. I am always happy to help, Go Bears!
Isabel Burle
Assistant Director of Course Management, Graduate Advisor
Blair Van Tassel
Curriculum and Enrollment Coordinator, Graduate Advisor, GESEP Coord.
Education
BA in Linguistics and Southeast Asian Studies from UC Berkeley, MA in International Education from NYU
Cal Start
As an Undergrad student and left for Manhattan shortly afterward. I missed Berkeley so much I came back to work as an International Student Advisor with the International Office for 2 years before joining the Economics dept.
Michelle X. Fong
Director of Student Services
Education
Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology - Organizational Studies from UC Davis.
Cal Start
I started my employment at UC Berkeley in January 2017 as the Scheduling Coordinator in History, and I joined Department of Economics in 2018 as the Undergraduate Advisor/Scheduler. From 2019 to 2021, I moved to a new role (still with Econ) as the assitant director of course management and graduate advisor, and oversaw the course logistics and ASE hiring/training. Prior to Berkeley, I worked nine years at the School of Medicine UCSF as the curriculum analyst. Now as the director of student services (still with Econ), I'm excited to work with the student services community even closer. With over 15 years of experience working in higher education, my goal is to provide high quality service to students to help them achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals.