Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, and Friends,
It is with deep sorrow that I share the news that our esteemed colleague, mentor, and friend, Professor Emeritus Graham H. Powell, passed away on June 15, 2026.
Graham was born on April 27, 1937, in New Zealand. He received his B.E. (hons.) and his PhD degrees in Civil Engineering in 1958 and 1964 respectively from the University of Canterbury Christchurch, New Zealand.
Professor Powell arrived at UC Berkeley in 1965 and quickly became a foundational pillar of our Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials (SEMM) program. Often affectionately referred to by colleagues and practitioners as "Mr. Nonlinear," Graham spent over 60 years pushing the boundaries of Civil Engineering. He was a global visionary in earthquake engineering, transforming how the profession understands the dynamic, inelastic response of structures under seismic loads.
Through his leadership in developing the seminal DRAIN software series at Berkeley, and his later collaboration on industry-standard tools like Perform3D, Graham achieved what few could: he seamlessly bridged the gap between complex mathematical theory and practical, life-saving engineering applications.
Beyond his extraordinary research, Graham was a dedicated and passionate educator. For decades, he inspired thousands of students, many of whom went on to become leaders in both academia and industry. His relentless curiosity, clarity of thought, and profound mentorship leave an indelible mark on our community.
We extend our deepest condolences to Graham’s family, friends, former students, and colleagues worldwide. He will be profoundly missed, but his monumental impact on the structural engineering profession will endure for generations.