​Back to School

Working at Cal comes with some delightful perks: borrowing art from the Graphic Arts Loan Collection, swimming in the Strawberry Canyon pool in the summer, already having a parking spot when going to see a concert at The Greek. But hands down, my favorite benefit has been taking classes. Last spring, I dipped into Life Drawing (available to the public via the UC Berkeley Art Studio)), and this fall, I’m auditing the MBA Financial Accounting course.

Now, I get it — the thought of taking Accounting as an elective might make you say, “Huh?!” But I had two solid reasons. First, the instructor is Omri Even-Tov, the newly-named Faculty Co-Director of the Center where I’ve been interim-ing, CSSL. Omri’s won the Cheit Award for teaching excellence at Haas — twice — while teaching accounting. I’ve long believed that a great teacher can make just about anything interesting, and this seemed like the perfect test of that theory.

Second, I’ve been thinking about joining a for-profit board, and while I’ve always been comfortable with Balance Sheets and P&Ls, I wondered if being self-taught, and mainly focused on nonprofit financials, might leave some gaps. So, here I am, diving into the deep end of debits and credits.

We’re now in week 6 of 7, and I’m happy to report that the experience has far exceeded expectations. Reason one? Omri himself. Watching him teach has inspired me to up my own game — it’s like that moment in As Good As It Gets when Jack Nicholson says, “You make me want to be a better man,” except in my case, it’s “a better teacher.” Reason two? The whole experience has turned out to be an unexpected empathy exercise. Immersing myself in the world of first-year Haas students has been both fascinating and humbling.

Admittedly, I’ve always liked school. I was good at it. But being back in a classroom, even as an auditor, can still stir up stress. I may not be taking this course for a grade, but there I was, sitting down to take the first quiz, heart racing, as if it would be graded. I’ve got a full-time job and some consulting clients, and sometimes I don’t get to the homework until the night before class (I see you, EWMBA students). The anxiety in the room was real, and it’s been a valuable reminder of what our students experience day to day.

There’s also something wonderful about feeling more connected to the Haas community. I recognize people in the courtyard, say hello, and it feels like I’m just a little bit more plugged in. Universities can be siloed, and post-pandemic hybrid work schedules haven’t exactly helped that. So, this class has given me something unexpected — a stronger sense of belonging.

As for Omri’s teaching, I can’t help but gush. He uses the Socratic Method, sure, but in a way that’s less “gotcha!” and more “let’s work through this together.” The class is impeccably organized, with weekly emails that are clear and concise. There’s a rhythm to the course — read the slides, do the practice problems, finish the homework — that makes everything feel seamless. And while Omri does cold-call, it doesn’t feel scary because the class is set up to make you succeed, not to trip you up.

And then there’s the entertainment factor. Omri brings in quirky guest speakers, samples of random products, even unlikely music — all peppered with a healthy dose of Dad jokes and NBA references (as a basketball fan, I’m here for it!). His humor keeps the class fun, and his deep understanding of his students — from referencing their former employers in examples to weaving in shared interests — makes it clear that this is a student-centered experience.
What’s really struck me, though, is how Omri and his GSIs create an environment where it’s safe to say, “I’m lost.” From sharing his own story about learning English as a non-native speaker to offering extra study sessions, quizzes with answer sheets, and frequent office hours, Omri has built a support system that shows his unwavering belief in every student’s ability to master the content.

​My mom, who’s 87, has been taking classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) in DC, and we often chat about what she’s studying and her instructors. OLLI is this amazing resource that not only delivers engaging content but also builds community — and I’ve realized through my experience this Fall that Omri’s class offers the same. It’s a beautiful reminder of how transformative learning can be when it’s done right, and what a gift it is to be able to be a lifelong learner.

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