A Message from the Dean - January 2026
Happy Birthday, Aggies!
On January 5, 1909, the University Farm School, which became UC Davis, officially opened with 18 students and a mission to provide hands-on training in agricultural science and farming. After 117 years, CA&ES continues its impactful teaching, research and extension mission, earning recognition as the nation’s top agricultural college and a global leader in the field. With more than 8,500 graduate and undergraduate students, 27 majors and 22 graduate programs, the legacy of this institution is phenomenal. As I think about the future of our college, I’m inspired as we continue to educate the brightest minds and innovate incredible solutions!
We also are celebrating the golden anniversary for our landscape architecture program where students are putting their creativity to work building new and creative structures that will soon find a home in the City of Davis. In this month’s Field Notes, I watched the students in action and experienced firsthand how they have transformed various parts of our campus. This is just one of the many examples of how our students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world, gaining critical career experience through education, leadership and teamwork.
We have several stories to highlight this month including an exciting change at the UC Davis Olive Center. I am pleased to announce the appointment of Selina Wang as our new faculty director. Selina is a professor of Cooperative Extension in the Department of Food Science and Technology and a a trusted leader in her field with extensive connections within the olive industry and beyond. We are thrilled for her to take the lead on this important work.
Our researchers are also tackling post-wildfire recovery through a new project that uses decades of data to better predict when tree cones ripen, strengthening the state’s public seed bank for reforestation. A recent study of the devastating 2021 Caldor Fire in the Tahoe region found that early preparation and targeted forest treatments helped limit damage in parts of Christmas Valley and Meyers. We also have a study that finds monarch caterpillars change how they respond to predators depending on temperature, but that these adjustments can break down under extreme heat.
We are in the process of planning our 3rd annual College Symposium, where we get to hear from our faculty, connect with industry leaders, policy makers and community partners, and celebrate our excellence. Make sure to save the date for April 22!