Basic Science is Key
Sam Handelman ’77 and Barbara Pettersen support fundamental science
Sam Handelman ’77 fondly remembers his early days living in Santa Rosa Hall, walking to Isla Vista for falafel and spending afternoons browsing the record store. But what stayed with him most was the sense of connection among students. No matter their background, everyone seemed to thrive in what Sam called a microcosm of oneness.
“You know that saying, ‘a rising tide lifts all ships’? I benefited from attending a good school that became even better over time. UC Santa Barbara has become a more selective and prestigious university. After graduating with a B.S. in math, I was able to get into UC Berkeley for my MBA, and from that point on, I believe my path was set,” said Sam.
Sam met his wife, Barbara Pettersen, then a genetic counselor at Kaiser Hospital, when they were both living in San Jose. At the time, Sam was building his career at IBM. His work took him from California to France, then to New York City, before he returned to the Bay Area to apply his skills at startups. Sam and Barbara have been married for 25 years and now live in Bend, Oregon. Sam’s bequest to the Department of Mathematics is one of the department’s first legacy gifts.
“Barbara and I thought long and hard about how we wanted to give,” said Sam. “We felt we could truly make a difference in education and the environment. We also believed strongly in supporting efforts to improve social equity. I see the math department as an essential part of these efforts. I’ve always believed that basic science will be key to solving the problems we face, including sustainability, and math is the most fundamental science.
At UC Santa Barbara, our support aligns with our values, and it’s a perfect fit.”
The UC Santa Barbara Department of Mathematics fosters a strong academic community grounded in inquiry, instruction, and discovery. It is home to more than three dozen faculty members working in subfields that cover a broad spectrum of modern mathematics, along with a vibrant group of graduate students and a growing undergraduate population. Faculty are deeply engaged in both research and teaching, guiding students toward meaningful understanding and long-term impact in their chosen fields.
“The gift from Sam Handelman and Barbara Pettersen is tremendously important because it gives the department flexibility to support our graduate students, which helps them gain visibility and obtain good postdoctoral positions,” said Professor Björn Birnir, department chair. “Planned giving lifts the department’s goals for improved research and education to another level, where we can start thinking about a long term program of research support for graduate students and faculty alike.”
Published November 2025
I’ve always believed that basic science will be key to solving the problems we face, including sustainability, and math is the most fundamental science. At UC Santa Barbara, our support aligns with our values, and it’s a perfect fit.
Sam Handelman '77, pictured with his wife, Barbara Petterson
