Hello Aggies!

Congratulations to the class of 2025! We are so happy to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of our students. Our graduating class always inspires me. This week we celebrate their efforts and incredible achievements. A degree from UC Davis unlocks opportunities and signifies commitment to a higher level of learning and represents a major milestone. We are so proud of all of our graduates and look forward to hearing about their continued success.

Spring is bursting all around us and that same energy can be found across campus in classrooms, labs, auditoriums and other spaces as we all approach the home stretch of the spring quarter.

Spring is in full swing in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and we have already had a full month of activities and engagement with spring break, Picnic Day, the Agave Symposium and several Coffee & Conversations hosted by our development team and departments. All these events give alumni and friends of the college the opportunity to engage with faculty, staff and students and learn more about our research, education and outreach.

Spring has arrived on campus! The trees are blooming and there are vibrant flowers everywhere. The sky is a brilliant bright blue, and the sun finally feels warm. Spring is one of the most tangible examples of change and a reminder that we are firmly rooted in growth and rebirth. As an institution, it is our business to facilitate growth and change in ways that inspire faculty to encourage greater understanding and expanding thought, while creating impactful solutions that educate and support our students and the communities we serve.  

The past few weeks have been marked by unprecedented uncertainty for the future of research and scientific discovery. As a land grant institution, it has always been our mission to educate, research and serve the public. In the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, this is our ethos, the foundational core of our work and the reason we are so dedicated to our students, partnerships and the common good.

Winter quarter is already upon us, and I hope you all had a restful holiday break. The new year has already presented us with some unexpected challenges as we witness the devastating fires in Southern California and their impact on the state and our Aggie community. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. I want remind everyone about the available campus resources.

Season’s Greetings from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences! Every December we create a yearly slideshow to showcase our many incredible efforts and commitment to excellence in education, research and outreach. This year we had several reasons to celebrate the college! Please enjoy the highlights for 2024—a year full of discoveries, awards, research and student engagement. Thank you to our faculty, staff, students, friends, donors and partners for your dedication and commitment to the college and campus.

The campus feels brisk and vibrant this November, with the cold mornings and changing leaves. There are many examples of faculty and students outdoors in action. Students with the Draft Horse and Driving Club have brought joy to many with their horse and carriage rides, giving our community a chance to connect with Olive, a gentle Percheron. At the Student Farm, students taking a course on the biology and conservation of wild birds measured and recorded characteristics and practiced handling golden-crowned sparrows, house finch and yellow-rumped warblers.

Last week we celebrated a successful fundraising effort of over $415 million in the Expect Greater campaign. This is an incredible milestone for our college. Each gift allows us to expand our reach and educational excellence, conduct research that translates into real-word solutions, support students and create experiential learning opportunities to expand their education.