uc davis large group tour

2023-2024 General Catalog

Visiting the campus.

UC Davis Welcome Center ; 530-752-2971

During campus closures, see http://visit.ucdavis.edu .

Welcome Center normal operating hours:

• Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (PT)
• Saturdays 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (PT)
• Closed Sundays except for Apr 1-Apr 30 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (PT)

Campus Tours

Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. & 1 p.m. (PT) | Saturdays 11:00 a.m. & Sundays, Apr 1-30 11:00 a.m. (PT). Register at http://visit.ucdavis.edu .

UC Davis Virtual Tours can be accessed at https://www.ucdavis.edu/about/visit/campus-virtual-tour .

• Plant Growth Facilities
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YOU ARE HERE » BOTANICAL CONSERVATORY » TOURS

How to schedule a tour.

(See below for updated guided tour costs from Jan 1, 2023)

SELF GUIDED VISITS FOR SMALL GROUPS ARE ALWAYS FREE. Please look through our current calendar of scheduled tours, below, to see when we have an opening that works for you and for us. Once you have chosen a date or alternate dates, please send us an email at [email protected] . Call the Conservatory at 530-752-0569 for any clarification after reviewing the information below.

Touring the Conservatory

We're normally open from 9am-5pm weekdays and sometimes on weekends for special events and scheduled tours. Drop in visitors and self guided "tours" are free and welcome. Our staffing is limited so call ahead 530-752-0569 or check our Tours calendar above to avoid those times or to schedule a tour. Guided tours are available by appointment only. Weekend tours are scheduled at the discretion of staff availability. Details for group tours are further outlined below.

How long are the tours?

Tours are about an hour long for most groups. We recommend a minimum of 45 minutes. Evening and weekend tours are possible if tour guides are available. During the warm summer months, we recommend morning tours to minimize exposure to the "tropical climate" within the greenhouse (warm and humid).

How much do tours cost?

As of January 1, 2023 the rates for Conservatory tours are:

• Minimum charge for groups of 12 or fewer = $96
• Groups of 13 or more = $8 per person
• Set-up only event (no docent) = $18
• Minimum charge for groups of 9 or fewer = $99
• Groups of 10 or more = $11 per person
• Set-up only event (no docent) = $24

Payment may be made by cash or check payable to UC Regents or via campus recharge. We are unable to take credit card payments. Payment should be presented before the tour unless prior arrangements are made, and a receipt will be provided.

What is included in the tour?

Content is adjusted for age, experience, and interest. We convey the amazing diversity of plant adaptations via a multisensory hands-on tour through the 3,600 sq ft greenhouse. Form and function of plants from the world’s deserts, tropical forests, and carnivorous habitats are emphasized, along with plant interactions with insects and other organisms.

A note from a Teacher.

How many people can we accomodate?

A maximum of 40 participants divided into 2 or 3 docent-led groups can be accommodated at one time. Smaller groups allow for more interaction. Disabled access is limited to the main aisle and entrance of the smaller rooms.

Comfort on the tour

Participants will be standing much of the time. To maximize the learning experience, we ask that visitors be well hydrated and have healthy blood-sugar levels. The greenhouses are warm and humid, so visitors will be more comfortable by dressing lightly or in layers and leaving coats and sweaters behind. Also, some aisles are narrow, so participants should leave behind large purses and backpacks for their own comfort as well as for the safety of the collection.

Directions and parking

Directions to the Conservatory and parking information may be found on our maps page .

• University of California, Davis
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We offer scheduled tours of Shields Library throughout the year. See our events calendar for upcoming tour dates.

We can also arrange a group tour or a custom program for UC Davis departments, student groups or campus visitors that want to learn more about library resources. Please fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch shortly.

Request a Tour of Shields Library

Contact information, group information, preferred date(s)/time, first choice date/time, second choice date/time, third choice date/time.

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Enrollment Management

Springing into Aggie life: Navigating UC Davis’ welcome events

• by Isabella Beristain
• March 14, 2024

Quick Summary

• Starting this month, thousands of admitted students and their families will visit the UC Davis main campus. Staff, faculty and current students can expect large crowds, excited new faces and months of celebrating Aggies and UC Davis’ wonderful community.

Each spring, UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions invites the newly admitted first-year and transfer classes to participate in a series of in-person events designed to welcome and introduce them to Aggie life. The Undergraduate Admissions team works closely with campus partners to plan a range of different celebratory and informative events so admitted students everywhere can access the important information they need before making the decision to commit to UC Davis

“I see students grow so much by the end of an event. It’s amazing getting to see the connections and relationships that come out. I’ve even seen students find their future roommates.”

​​— Brooke Whiting, events manager

Types of admit events

Through May, admitted students will visit campus (or their hometowns, in the case of Meet-and-Greets  events) to meet faculty, staff and students, learn about their majors or potential options, talk with housing and dining representatives, chat with financial aid advisors, connect with cultural and identity-based groups and more.

Fly-in programs

These invite-only programs are all-expense paid trips for students who are unable to visit campus due to financial reasons. UC Davis’ fly-in programs include Aggie Senior Weekend for high school students, led by the Student Recruitment and Retention Center and Experience UC Davis for both first-years, transfers, and their one accompanying guest. Students who attend this type of event get to experience both UC Davis and the town of Davis in an overnight setting. The event team creates unique opportunities such as set dinners and trips to Davis staples like Davis Creamery, in addition to specially curated academic, housing and finance presentations and meetings, all geared towards connecting attendees while fostering a profound sense of belonging.

Hometown meet-and-greets

Meet-and-Greets events are carefully designed to simulate smaller versions of on campus events to welcome and connect campus partners with incoming students and their families. These gatherings target underrepresented groups and offer an inclusive space amongst various locations within California, for attendees to engage, create connections and get all their questions answered in a warm and inviting atmosphere close to home.

On-campus festivities

UC Davis’ flagship Aggie Day (held for both first-year and transfer students on different days) is campus’ biggest admit event with crowds reaching over 10,000 people. On Aggie Day, admitted students and their families are invited to explore campus. The agenda for each day features open houses for the colleges and different majors, structured tours for housing and the general campus, personal financial aid appointments with real advisors, exciting cultural performances, club fairs and so much more. The campus is open for personalized interactions and the event is built for students and attendees to shape their own experience and discover unique facets to kickstart their UC Davis journey.

Melanie Koch, senior events manager for Undergraduate Admissions, plans for students and families to celebrate their acceptance and receive what they need to say yes to UC Davis.

“It is so important, now more than ever, to set foot on campus or have access to in-person information. A lot of new students are coming out of pandemic style learning and were online for so many years. Fostering a sense of belonging is crucial for decision making,” Koch said.

She also said staff can expect energetic and interactive environments at each event. Staff play a vital role in guiding new students through UC Davis’ in-person events. Both students and families rely on the information that staff, representatives and current students share to understand how they fit within the UC Davis community.

“As the campus comes alive, be ready to showcase not only the university’s merits but also your own experiences and reasons for working here,” Koch said. “We all have different answers as to why we chose Davis and they are all powerful testimonies needed to grow our amazing community.”

Primary Category

Take a Tour

If you visit the UC Davis central campus, chances are you'll walk past one of  artist and UC Davis Professor Robert Arneson's   Egghead  bronze sculptures. Since they began appearing on campus in 1991, the works of art have caught the attention — and often hit the funny bone — of visitors as well as the campus community.

Use our campus map to get to UC Davis and then, from Interstate 80, take exit 71 toward UC Davis.

Head north onto Old Davis Road. At the traffic circle, continue straight.

Just past the bright orange Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Studies on your right (the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts will be ahead of you on the left, and the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art across the way), turn right on Hilgard Lane and park in Gateway Parking Structure or in the parking lot behind.

There is a fee for parking .

According to his widow, Sandra Shannonhouse, people viewing Arneson’s work should look beyond what seems to be “edgy, naughty or funny” to find more serious comments about political, social and economic issues. In the case of  The Egghead Series , created by one of our most famous professors specifically for UC Davis, the fun is to figure out for yourself what Arneson was saying about life at the university.

Arneson's  Egghead  series is scattered across the UC Davis campus; some of the sculptures are tucked away and difficult to find. Use this tour to help you track them down.

Also, read about  the first  Egghead  Music Walk , held March 15, 2013, with members of the St. Louis Symphony performing music by UC Davis composers, each of whom wrote a piece for a particular Egghead or two.

Ready to start your tour?

1. See No Evil/Hear No Evil

After leaving the Gateway Parking Structure, walk north on Mrak Hall Drive, passing the Mondavi Center for Performing Arts on your left and the Buehler Alumni Center on your right. Cross over the Arboretum Waterway, and you will see a grass circle on this street with two  Eggheads  trying to communicate. This is  See No Evil/Hear No Evil.

Reinstalled:  November 2009

Description:  Two  Eggheads  face each other on adjacent grassy knolls speaking out of the corners of their mouths, but both lack ears.

Factoid:  Originally installed across the street in May 1994, the sculptures were moved to the grassy circle in front of Mrak Hall to make room for the law school  expansion.

2. Eye on Mrak (Fatal Laff)

Just north of  See No Evil/Hear No Evil  is the campus's main administration building, Mrak Hall. If it is open, cut through the building to the north entrance, where you'll see a single, unblinking eye staring at you from the bald head of  Eye on Mrak (Fatal Laff) . Don't forget to look at the sculpture from the other side once you've walked past it on Mrak Mall.

Installed:  May 1994

Description:  The upside-down head points away from the administration building, laughing. On the back of the head, a single eye stares at Mrak Hall.

Factoid:  By far, this is one of the most popular  Eggheads that people choose to photograph, often with themselves in the picture.

3. Bookhead

Continue down the long, grassy corridor to Hutchison Drive. Cross it carefully, looking out for bicyclists, and you'll find yourself at Shields Library , where  Bookhead  is prominently displayed on the entrance patio. If you're here during finals week, you'll see many students doing their best impression of the ceramic scholar.

Installed:  October 1991

Description:  The head is face-down, with a furrowed brow and its nose buried in an open book.

Factoids:  Bookhead  is the only sculpture of the five that is painted a different color (a light blue); it was made from a slightly tougher enamel. Students kiss the sculpture, or rub its head, for good luck during exams, in particular.

4. Yin & Yang

Now, turn around and head back to Hutchison Drive where you will turn left. After walking east about 150 yards, on the south side of the street you'll come upon the Art/Music/Theatre complex, with the colorful Wright Hall and Main Theatre in the center.  Yin & Yang  is located in the front courtyard.

Installed:  1992

Description : Two  Eggheads —  one, with eyes closed, is speaking. The other head is lying on its ear with the back of its head facing the speaker.

Factoids: Yin & Yang  lend themselves to many photos and as being a background for performance art.

5. Stargazer

To reach the final  Egghead , head north from Wright Hall. Cross Hutchison Drive and follow the sidewalk that runs past a bike parking area to the west and Olson Hall to the east. You'll end up at a bike circle at the intersection of East Quad and Shields Avenue. Cross Shields Avenue (again watching out for bicyclists) and continue north on East Quad, passing the brown shingled South Hall. Immediately after South Hall, turn right into a courtyard with a circular fountain and look to your left.  Stargazer  will be about 30 yards ahead of you.

Description:  The head is staring straight up with a slight smile on its face.

Factoid :  Stargazer , with its idealistic gaze toward the heavens, is located close to East Gate (look to the east on the same lawn for a brick wall), the original entrance to UC Davis in 1908.

Well done! You've finished the tour. Now you can head over to East Quad down the path north of  Stargazer , cross the street and make your way to the  Coffee House  to grab a snack before heading home.

Tour the UC Davis College of Engineering

Event Date Fri, Apr 26, 2024 @ 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Visit UC Davis and tour the college with an Engineering Ambassador. Our ambassadors will showcase the college's cutting-edge centers and laboratories and talk about why they chose to study at UC Davis. 

Registration for tours is required due to the limited spots available. Please register by 8:00 a.m. on the day of the tour.

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Winter Career Fair — March 27, 2024

Student Housing and Dining Services is conducting on-site interviews for specific positions. Submit an application in advance of the Career Fair for each desired position to participate in interviews. Additional information about the process will be provided following an RSVP.

Location and Time

The Career Fair is in the Wall Hall Lounge on March 27, 2024 from 10 AM–4 PM.

• 637 La Rue Road, Davis, CA 95616
• Park in Visitor Parking Lot 47

RSVP for the Career Fair

RSVP now for the Career Fair .

Available Positions

Go to the Career Employment Opportunities webpage to see all of our open positions.

The following positions are available. Positions will start in fall 2023 (approximately the first week of September).

• Senior Custodian (Day/Swing Shift)
• Senior Custodian (Graveyard Shift)
• Limited Term Senior Custodian
• Food Service Worker
• Senior Food Service Worker
• Catering and Concessions Lead
• Per Diem Cook
• Per Diem Food Service Worker
• Per Diem Senior Food Service Worker
• Principle Food Service Worker

Positions include the following benefits:

• Retirement/Savings Plan
• Vacation and Sick Leave
• Competitive Starting Salary
• Development Opportunity/Opportunity to Grow

Group Admission

Group dining is available at the tercero dining commons and various retail dining locations during summer 2023., group dining is available at the dining commons and various retail dining locations during the 2022-2023 academic year..

Reservations for group dining are now available.

Group dining at the Segundo Dining Commons is only available Tuesday through Thursday.

Planning a meal for a large group?

The dining commons provide a unique dining experience where small or large groups can choose from eight different dining platforms .

• Purchase admission to the dining commons in advance with meal cards
• Purchase Aggie Cash+ cards for your large group to redeem at retail dining locations including food trucks and coffee locations
• Pre-pay for your group in advance with a department recharge

Planning a trip to the dining commons for a large party? You can purchase admission to the dining commons in advance.

Enter a Group Admission Form

Enter a Group Admisison Form

Purchase Group Admisison to the Dining Commons

How it Works

Submit your request online . Please anticipate an emailed response within the next two business days after the submission of your request. Please note most dining locations require two weeks' advance notice for all groups of 10 or more guests. On the day your group is dining with us, check in at the cashier station.

Request Group Admission

Please have the following information ready when you submit your online request:

• Group or Event Name:
• Reservation Date (s):
• Group Arrival Time:
• Guest Count:
• Preferred Dining Location(s) :
• Purchaser Name:
• Payment Method:
• Department or Organization:
• Phone Number:
• Email Address:
• Special Comments:

Payment Options

• Pay ahead of time at the Meal Card Office with cash, check, or credit/debit card. We also accept credit/debit card payment over the phone. (530) 752-6335.
• Pay at the door with credit/debit card on the day of your event
• Pay via Aggie Travel – Campus Departments only; please include the account information and the purchaser's employee ID in the request under special comments

Dining Options

• Academic Year: 9/22/2021–6/9/2022
• Custom Aggie Cash Amount
• $1 increments
• Summer: 6/21/2020–9/22/2020

For additional questions or support, contact our Dining Office at 530-752-6335.

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UC Davis men and women fall in Big West championship games, missing NCAA Tournament bids

U C Davis’ hopes of sending one of its basketball teams to the NCAA Tournament came to a frustrating end in Nevada on Saturday night.

The No. 2-seeded UC Davis men lost to upstart No. 4 Long Beach State 74-70 in the Big West Conference Tournament championship game at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nevada, in a game televised by ESPN2. Earlier in the day, the fifth-seeded UC Davis women fell to second-seeded UC Irvine 53-39 in the tournament final, looking the part of a tired group playing its fourth game in four days.

Tournament MVP Deja Lee led Irvine with 21 points while fifth-year senior guard Evanne Turner finished her Aggies career with 18 points. She bows out as the third-leading scorer in program history. Turner was the only UCD player to reach double figures in scoring. She also had seven rebounds and led all player with 38 minutes played.

The Aggies shot 26%, attempted only six free throws and were outrebounded by 10. They trailed 21-19 at the half before getting outscored 23-4 in the third quarter.

UCD (20-14) was in its seventh conference title game under longtime coach Jennifer Gross. The Aggies beat top-seeded and two-time defending champion Hawaii 51-48 in a semifinal. Turner and teammate Tova Sabel were selected to the all-tournament team.

The UCD men were seeking their second Big West Tournament crown, the last coming in 2017. The Aggies faced a Long Beach State program in its 14th Big West final.

UCD guard Ty Johnson scored a career-high 30 points. Aggies all-time scoring leader and Big West Player of the Year Elijah Pepper had 21 points in his final contest.

The Aggies started the game cold, missing 12 of their first 13 shots, but they led 32-27 at the half. Long Beach State used a 13-2 run to take a 62-59 lead with 5:12 remaining and never lost it.

UC Davis finished 20-14, the most wins for the program since 2018.

Long Beach State staged a spirited run in the tournament. After closing the regular season with a five-game losing streak, including at home to UCD a week earlier, the school on Monday announced that 17-year coaching veteran Dan Monson would not be retained at the end of the season.

Monson was allowed to coach through the tournament. Now, he’s taking the Beach back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.

Long Beach State’s leading scorer is Marcus Tsohonis, a guard who had 25 points against UC Davis, including three free throws in the final 30 seconds. Teammate Lassina Traore muscled inside for 25 points on 12-of-17 shooting. The Beach’s roster includes two Sacramento-area players in reserves Varrick Lewis of Monterey Trail and Isa Silva of Jesuit, a transfer from Stanford.

©2024 The Sacramento Bee. Visit sacbee.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Campus Recreation

Group exercise studio.

Designed to accommodate large group classes, the Group Exercise Studio is the perfect place to pursue your fitness goals with other motivated members. This studio is not open for informal recreation. 

Group Exercise Studio Features And Dimensions

• 61’ x 44.5’
• Full-length mirrors
• Floor by Robbins Sport Surfaces

Schedules are posted at the CRU Member Services Desk, in ARC display cases, outside of the Group Exercise Studio and online. For the online schedule and information about Group Exercise passes, please click  here .

Weekender: Take a (Gallery) Road Trip Through the Manetti Shrem Museum

• by Karen Nikos-Rose
• August 27, 2019

UC Davis Athletics

Baseball 3/23/2024 8:00:00 AM

Aggies Hosting UC San Diego For First Home Big West Series

Players mentioned.

#4 Alex Gouveia

#24 Bryan Green

#22 Nick Leehey

#33 Mark Wolbert

#27 Braydon Wooldridge

#2 Joey Wright

#29 Riley Acosta

#28 Tyler Howard

#11 Noel Valdez

#30 Jason Hanson

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Get an Aggie’s perspective on life at UCD

Hear what it’s like to be a UC Davis Aggie from one of our enthusiastic and engaging student tour guides! They can help you discover what’s different about UC Davis, from the obvious (our bike-friendly campus ) to the outlandish (the Walt Disney World fire hydrant near our law school).

Read some of their stories below, then connect with an Aggie Tour Guide in real time by registering for one of our online admission presentations .

Student Ambassador Chairs

Riley Cisneros-Mann

Pronouns: he/him

Major: Sociology, Communication

Favorite thing about UC Davis? My favorite thing about UC Davis is the dynamic of being such a large university (in population and size) while also providing a comforting home due to the inclusive community and plenty of chances to see friendly faces as you get around campus.

Joseph Sweeney

Major: Wildlife Fish & Conservation Biology

Favorite thing about UC Davis? My favorite thing about UC Davis is the arboretum! I love studying in the Redwood Grove, going to office hours by the pond or just walking along the path with friends.

Student Ambassador Council

Jack Crandall

Major: Economics and Tech Management

Favorite thing about UC Davis? My favorite thing about UC Davis is the collaborative culture. Every professor, TA, and student is willing to help out and help you succeed academically, even if you're complete strangers.

Missy Zepeda

Pronouns: she/her

Major: Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning

Favorite thing about UC Davis? One of my favorite things about UC Davis is how green the campus is. My favorite spot on campus is the Redwood Grove because in just a few steps it can feel like you are not even in the city anymore. Besides being green I love how friendly the community is. Walking through the quad or even through town you can always find familiar faces to say hello.

Ryan Taylor

Major: Civil Engineering

Favorite thing about UC Davis? My favorite thing about UC Davis is the people, everyone is very friendly here and open to helping you out.

Zoe Brumbaugh

Major: Marine and Coastal Sciences

Coral Pongsuwan

Major: Human Development

Favorite thing about UC Davis? My favorite thing about UC Davis is the collaborative spirit a majority of the study body has!

Favorite thing about UC Davis? I love how there is always something to do at Davis! Even though it is on the smaller side, you will never get bored here!

Jojo Carusa

Major: Nutrition Science and Psychology

Favorite thing about UC Davis? The people. Davis is full of unique, friendly, and helpful people that will blow you away. They are the easiest people to make friends with, whether you sit next to each other in a class or just bump into each other in the quad. The people of Davis are what make the campus such a vibrant and happy place.

Izzy Engler

Major: International Relations

Favorite thing about UC Davis? The community! The people here are amazingly supportive and I love the warm atmosphere of acceptance!

Senate and Federation Honor 15 Top Academics

• by Dateline Staff
• March 19, 2024

The Academic Senate and Federation have presented their top academic honors for 2024, and the faculty recipients are being showcased not just for their expertise, but also for their teaching, mentorship and public service.

In all, 15 faculty members have received awards from the two groups at UC Davis.

The Academic Senate and Academic Federation’s joint awards reception is scheduled for May 13: More information is forthcoming.

Honorees this year include Distinguished Professor Walter Leal, of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, who received the Faculty Distinguished Research Award from the Academic Senate; and Health Science Clinical Professor Kirsten Gilardi, of the School of Veterinary Medicine, who received the James H. Meyer Distinguished Achievement Award from the Academic Federation.

The full list of winners, with profiles submitted by awards committees from the senate and federation, follow:

Academic Senate

Faculty distinguished research award.

Distinguished Professor Walter Leal, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Sciences

Distinguished Professor Walter Leal has made groundbreaking discoveries in entomology that have significantly transformed the science of insect olfaction and chemical ecology. These include discovering the mode of action of the insect repellent DEET, which has since paved the way for the development of better repellents that help to protect populations worldwide from insect-born illnesses. Leal is widely praised for advancing knowledge in his field, and for his creativity in designing new approaches to basic research and the sustainable management of agriculture. He exhibits passion as a researcher and is a highly valued leader in entomology. He is a fellow of the Entomological Society of America, an honorary fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, and an inductee to the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. He is a champion of research excellence at UC Davis and is known across our colleges for his generous and active support of faculty, emeriti and campus researchers overall.

Distinguished Scholarly Public Service Award

Associate Professor Frances Moore, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Professor Frances Moore specializes in assessing the social cost of carbon to evaluate climate change policy. She has consulted multiple times with the Government Accountability Office regarding the quantification and management of climate risks. Prior to the formal Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, rule-making processes that integrated Moore’s work, she consulted with the National Center on Environmental Economics at the EPA regarding damage functions. She was an author of the Fifth National Climate Assessment, one of the most visible agenda-setting documents for U.S. climate change policy. In recognition of her expertise, Moore served as senior economist in the Council of Economic Advisors in the Executive Office of the President from September 2022 to 2023.

Professor Courtney G. Joslin, School of Law

Professor Courtney G. Joslin is one of the leading U.S. legal scholars on the rules governing the parent-child relationship. Based on her expertise, Joslin was chosen to serve as the primary drafter for the 2017 Uniform Parentage Act, or UPA. Joslin has been actively engaged in passing the 2017 UPA in several jurisdictions, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, New York and Rhode Island. Moreover, Joslin was chosen to serve as the liaison from the Association of American Law Schools to the Joint Editorial Board on Uniform Family Laws.

Distinguished Teaching Award – Undergraduate Teaching

Professor Tobias Menely, Department of English, College of Letters and Science

Professor Tobias Menely teaches a diverse range of courses, including 18th century literature, environmental humanities and climate fiction. Students appreciate how he makes challenging concepts like literary theory relevant and understandable. He spearheaded the creation of a new climate fiction course for nonmajors, expanding the reach of humanities-based learning. One student highlighted that Menely met the challenges of virtual teaching and supported his students by creating a space for dialogue. Menely has mentored some of the department’s most outstanding students, guiding them to success in competitive scholarships and graduate programs.

Professor Louie Yang, Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Professor Louie Yang engages, inspires and challenges his students. His nominators spoke to his ability to cultivate lifelong learning through meaningful lectures, exercises and one-on-one feedback. Professor Yang shows respect for the unique needs and interests of each student and helps them transition from consumers of knowledge to producers of it. As noted by his nominators, Yang demonstrates an ongoing commitment to learn from his students, a characteristic that makes him highly deserving of this award.

Associate Professor of Teaching Ozcan Gulacar, Department of Chemistry, College of Letters and Science

Professor Ozcan Gulacar, through scholarship and practice, strives to ensure that every student can succeed in chemistry, regardless of prior experience. He leverages an innovative pedagogical toolkit in the teaching of large-enrollment general chemistry classes, where he also mentors undergraduate student researchers in the study of problem-solving and knowledge structures. Gulacar created UC Davis’ first-ever preparatory chemistry course (CHE 001V) and a series of first-year seminar classes to help students with little prior chemistry experience develop interest in the topic and build the skills necessary for their future success. His passion for teaching is celebrated by his students and faculty colleagues alike.

Distinguished Teaching Award – Graduate and Professional Teaching 

Professor Erkin Seker, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

Professor Erkin Seker has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to graduate student education through service, scholarship, teaching and mentorship. He has served as graduate advisor and chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Group and recently helped create a popular National Science Foundation-supported Designated Emphasis in Neuroengineering. He created and taught the course “Navigating Graduate School” to help first-year students transition to graduate school. Mentees laud Seker as a “mentor for life” who “leads by example.” Collectively, his work creates a nurturing environment for personal and professional growth that aspiring scientists need at all levels in their training.

Associate Professor Margaret Ronda, Department of English, College of Letters and Science

Professor Margaret Ronda’s mentoring is described by her students as “multifaceted,” “inspiring” and “kind.” She is a scholar and practitioner of poetry; students praise her ability to illuminate both the history and the practice of poetry to mixed classes of Ph.D. and MFA candidates. She mentors many, including first-generation, underrepresented and female students, placing them at their ease while upholding rigorous standards. Her diverse teaching strategies and personal generosity have been transformative. As one student wrote, her demeanor in class is “a purified form of encouragement, all contained in a look.”

Professor Elisabeth Krimmer, Department of German and Russian, College of Letters and Science

Professor Elisabeth Krimmer is outstanding for using her own prestige in the field of German literature to help graduate students innovate in the discipline. Students describe her ability to translate new approaches to research to other senior scholars, such as using autobiography as a relevant site for analysis. She’s included students as co-authors in ways that expand the idea of authorship. Professor Krimmer’s work as a mentor enables her graduate students to explore the multifaceted links between successful teaching of undergraduates and the work they do as researchers. She is known within and beyond her department for her exceptional generosity.

Academic Federation

James h. meyer distinguished achievement award.

Kirsten Gilardi, director, Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center; and health sciences clinical professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine

Health Sciences Clinical Professor Kirsten Gilardi has been part of the UC Davis Community since 1989. She is currently the director of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, a research, service and teaching center of excellence. In 2005, she founded the California Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Program, which hires experienced commercial scuba divers to remove gear and other marine debris from near-shore waters in a safe and environmentally sensitive manner. This program continues to help reduce the potential impact of losing fishing gear and marine debris on living marine resources and underwater habitat. Beyond her significant accomplishments in her field, her colleagues around the world highlight her passion for her position at UC Davis “that expects her to protect wild animals and wild places.”

Distinguished Service Award

Professor in Cooperative Extension Kali Trzesniewski, Department of Human Ecology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Professor in Cooperative Extension Kali Trzesniewski’s research examines the development and contribution of growth mindsets in children, adolescents and young adults to school achievement. Using this expertise, she has worked across departments, colleges and units on the UC Davis campus to implement PERTS’s (Project for Education Research That Scales) “Social Belonging for College Students” intervention at orientation. Trzesnienwski has evaluated program outcomes and has continued to enhance the intervention, aiming to improve the undergraduate experience through belonging. The efforts she began in 2017 and continues today are estimated to have positively impacted over 60,000 undergraduate students. 

Excellence in Research Award

Professor in Cooperative Extension Pramod Pandey, Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine

Professor in Cooperative Extension Pramod Pandey’s exceptional research on manure management has significant impact in rural areas across California. Pandey’s research addresses contemporary issues including the impact of livestock on global warming and antibiotic resistance. His innovative and risk-taking approach to control waste in agricultural production has provided a leading edge for his research program. Pandey’s multidisciplinary applied research in manure and water has secured consistent significant external funding. He was also able to develop an impressive research and outreach program with significant social impact.

Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching or Mentoring

Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor April Choi, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine

Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor April Choi is a gifted teacher with a continuously stellar record of clinical teaching and resident evaluations. Her accomplishments are exceptional. A mentee describes her: “You stand out as a mentor — in a very strong group of mentors — for being so incredibly engaged in our learning curve.” Choi’s commitment to creating deep learning experiences generates high praise: “Her grasp of all diagnostic aspects of the case is remarkable, and so supports deep and useful discussions with integration of all clinical and pathogenesis material.” She is collegial, positive, and described by her department chair as “an emerging leader in our service, department, and professional curriculum… a quintessential professional, with her eye focused on the very best she can do for her colleagues and students.”

Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Continuing Lecturer Katie Arosteguy, University Writing Program, College of Letters and Science

Continuing Lecturer Katie Arosteguy is recognized for 13 years of excellent teaching practice and pedagogical contributions. Students describe Arosteguy as exceptional because she fosters an intellectually stimulating and engaging learning environment. Her stellar teaching evaluations confirm she is an impactful teacher. Arosteguy’s commitment to excellence extends beyond her own classroom and into the Writing Across the Curriculum Program, where she works with instructors across campus to improve writing instruction in their courses.

Continuing Lecturer Christopher Froh, Department of Music, College of Letters and Science 

Continuing Lecturer Christopher Froh is a world-class percussionist who stands out for his ability to engage students in musical theory, history and performance. His teaching across the pedagogical spectrum from large lectures to small studio lessons to performance groups is consistently met with effusive praise and outstanding evaluations. Froh’s enthusiastic and approachable instruction not only underpins the academic engagement of his undergraduate students, but also epitomizes the pedagogical mission of his department and the university community.

Media Resources

Cody Kitaura is the editor of Dateline UC Davis and can be reached by email or at 530-752-1932.

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