Michael Bolden

Notable work and positions

UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism - Dean, effective August 1, 2026
American Press Institute - CEO and Executive Director (2022-2026)
The San Francisco Chronicle - Director of Culture and Operations

Biography

Michael D. Bolden is a journalist and media executive who has been named dean of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, effective August 1, 2026, succeeding Geeta Anand. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alabama and a Master of Liberal Arts from Stanford University, and was a Maynard Media Academy Fellow at Harvard University. Bolden became CEO and executive director of the American Press Institute in February 2022, coming from The San Francisco Chronicle, where he was director of culture and operations and a member of the newsroom's executive team, supervising coverage of business, housing, immigration, race and equity, technology, transportation, and urban design and development while developing support for journalists facing online abuse, cultural trauma and workforce stress. Earlier in his career he was a journalism lecturer at Stanford University and managing director of the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships, advising media change agents worldwide, and served as editorial director for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. He also held senior roles at The Washington Post, where he helped merge the digital and print newsrooms. Bolden is a longtime member of the National Press Club, IRE, NABJ, NAHJ, ONA, SPJ and the Sigma Tau Delta international honor society, and is certified in diversity, equity and inclusion by the University of South Florida's Muma College of Business.