Texas Southern University Brings Tiger Chat to UC Berkeley for First Time

Texas Southern University’s signature conversation series, Tiger Chat, expanded beyond Houston for the first time with a special event at the University of California, Berkeley. Hosted by Texas Southern University President James W. Crawford III and UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons, the September program invited a select audience to hear directly from two university leaders who both stepped into their roles in 2024.

The event took place at Berkeley’s Alumni House and was designed to offer a candid, fireside-style conversation about leadership, student success, and the future of higher education. Moderated by Reza Sirafinejad and Shannette Prince, the evening followed a structured run of show with a welcome by  board member of the Cal Alumni Association Board of Directors, Ahmad Anderson, a dialogue between the two presidents, and a Q&A session.

Tiger Chat Comes to Berkeley

Tiger Chat is Texas Southern’s flagship conversation series, launched earlier this year in Houston with a student-centered inaugural discussion featuring President Crawford and Texas Southern student leaders. The series offers audiences rare access to national thought leaders in intimate settings that highlight Texas Southern’s mission, values, and voice.

At Berkeley, the conversation centered on leadership journeys, early achievements, and shared challenges. Crawford and Lyons reflected on how their roots shaped their leadership, the role of values in guiding decision-making, and opportunities for collaboration between a historically Black university and a world-renowned public research institution.

A key theme throughout the evening was student success—how institutions can best support students to persist, graduate, and contribute meaningfully to society through research, innovation, and service. Both leaders emphasized that building pathways for success requires openness, creativity, and a willingness to reimagine solutions.

“Put your “if” conditions on the table. What do you think is hard? Why shouldn’t we do this? I want to hear your opposition, and then we’re going to bring out creativity to mitigate or eliminate those “if” conditions. And we’re going to land at yes,” noted UC Berkeley Chancellor Lyons.

President Crawford’s Vision

Since his appointment as the 14th President of Texas Southern University in 2024, Crawford III has led the university through a period of strategic transformation. Under his leadership, Texas Southern  has surpassed a $100 million endowment, secured historic legislative and philanthropic support, and launched a comprehensive university-wide assessment in preparation for Texas Southern’s 2027 centennial.

Crawford’s background spans higher education, public service, and national security. A retired Vice Admiral and the 43rd Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Navy, he has served as president of Felician University and held leadership roles that shaped national policy, including the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

With the success of this event and its inaugural Houston program, Tiger Chat is quickly becoming a platform for conversations that inspire change and collaboration across higher education.