Hello Aggies!

It has been six weeks since I began my tenure as dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and I am so thrilled to be here leading such an amazing team of faculty, staff and students! Already I have had the pleasure to meet many members of our college community, take tours of facilities and fields, engage with students and connect with our partners, donors and alumni. I am truly amazed at the excellence, dedication and commitment everyone brings to this institution, and I am so honored to be a part of this community! You all bring so much inspiration to your work, and I am excited to continue learning about all the ways the college inspires excellence in the classroom, research spaces, and throughout California and the world.

In this month’s Highlights, we see several examples of that excellence! We highlight stories that show how researchers used artificial intelligence to help plants better recognize and fend off bacterial threats, and ways researchers are using innovative methods to simulate rising night temperatures to characterize how caterpillars respond to a warming climate. We learn how the Phaff Yeast Culture Collection is helping to pave the way for new eco-friendly cleaning products, and additional discoveries demonstrating disposable e-cigarettes can be more toxic than traditional cigarettes.

Our faculty and staff are the best in the world across our areas of excellence. We applaud Gwen Arnold, a professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, who was named a 2025 Chancellor’s Fellow in recognition of her dedication to advising and mentoring, and Joanna Chiu, professor and chair of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, who was just elected as an Entomological Society of America Fellow for her outstanding contributions to entomology research. And a fun shout out goes to our beloved Sheep Barn team, who just welcomed a new security llama charged with protecting the flock. We hear she is taking her job very seriously! Help them with suggestions for her new name.

Thank you all for the warm welcome to campus and for sharing your insights and spaces. I look forward to more tours across California and opportunities for connections on campus in the coming months. Keep an eye out for our new monthly video, “Field Notes,” where we highlight a different area of the college each month. This month we feature the Student Farm! I am looking forward to working with you all, and I know that together we will continue do great things that make a difference in the lives of Californias and beyond!

Go Ags!