Tom Campbell isn’t the only powerhouse with a connection to UC Berkeley in his family. His wife, Susanne, works as executive director of the UC Berkeley-based Institute of Management, Innovation & Organization. The program is affiliated with the Haas School of Business.

Because of their demanding jobs, the couple split their time among three residences: their home in San Jose, a small apartment in Berkeley and another apartment in Sacramento.

They have managed not only to juggle their respective jobs but also to adapt to unforeseen changes in their lifestyle, such as Tom’s surprise job offer from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“There were personal factors to discuss such as our finances and the logistics of keeping our house, all the driving we would do and renting two apartments,” Susanne said of the offer. “That was the hard part. I thought Tom would be the best person qualified to help California take the difficult and sometimes unpopular steps to fiscal responsibility. I love California, and I want to see the state prosper.

Under Susanne’s leadership the international academic ties between UC Berkeley and Russia’s St. Petersburg University have flourished. When Susanne helped launch the St. Petersburg School of Management in 1993, it had a class of 33 undergraduates, comprised mostly of women. Today, more than 1,400 are enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs.

“We have faculty members visit from the school of management,” Susanne said. “Many are concerned with (improving) their doctoral program, so they come to confer with our faculty, do research and get advice.”

The fact that two of Susanne’s hobbies are studying foreign languages and traveling have driven her interest in affiliating with other countries. She speaks Russian, Spanish, French and Italian.