Dr. Michael Burawoy
Oakland police reported that Burawoy was walking in a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Park View Terrace near Lake Merritt when he was hit by a dark-colored SUV around 7:10 p.m. The driver fled the scene, leaving Burawoy critically injured. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Police are investigating whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.
"Like many others, I am reeling from the news of Burawoy's death," said Dr. Raka Ray, UC Berkeley's Dean of Social Sciences. "This is a tremendous loss for me personally, to our Social Sciences community, UC Berkeley, and to sociologists worldwide, from England to South Africa and from India to Brazil."
Burawoy's academic journey at UC Berkeley began in 1976, and over the next 47 years, he would become one of the institution's most influential scholars. His research took him across the globe, from copper mines in Zambia to machine shops in Chicago and Hungary, and industrial facilities in post-Soviet Russia. His innovative approach to sociological research and dedication to understanding working-class experiences earned him international recognition.
Throughout his career, Burawoy held several prestigious positions, including serving as president of the American Sociological Association from 2003 to 2004 and leading the International Sociological Association from 2010 to 2014. He was also the founding editor of Global Dialogue magazine and served as co-chair and secretary of the Berkeley Faculty Association from 2015 to 2021.
His scholarly impact was profound, with his published works receiving over 50,000 citations. In recognition of his contributions to the field, UC Berkeley's sociology department received a $100,000 gift in 2023 to establish an endowment in his honor following his retirement.
