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.

Welcome to fall quarter! The season is changing, and a hint of fall is in the morning air, even if the afternoon sun and heat try to tell us otherwise. I enjoy watching the campus swell to capacity as students head back to town. The influx of students brings an abundance of energy that is both invigorating and inspiring. 

May has been an absolute whirlwind of activity—the college is thriving and full of people teaching, conducting cutting edge research, and engaging with communities. I have had the pleasure of speaking at several events this month. We welcomed admitted transfer students at Aggie Day, celebrated members of our community at the Walker Advising Awards and Bradford Rominger Award ceremonies, met with current and potential donors and attended and hosted several events on agriculture innovation and sustainability.

April was a busy month for our barn managers and student residents! We can’t get enough of all the baby animals being born this spring. New life brings so much joy to campus and unparallel hands-on learning for our students who are assisting with the births. Take a look at the photo reel above for a peek at students in action. Our photographer managed to attend the birth of a new foal at midnight, caught several new kids on film at the goat barn, and captured students in action with baby chicks at Picnic Day. 

Springtime on campus brings a renewal of life and energy that is hard to miss. The baby boom of animals in our barns is a testament to the season's new beginnings. Meanwhile, the Arboretum is a canvas of color and activity, with paths lined by blooming redbuds that seem to herald the warmer days ahead. This vibrant landscape serves as a living classroom, offering countless opportunities for learning and relaxation amidst the beauty of nature. I enjoy slipping out at lunch for a quick walk amongst the spring flowers to check on the foals at the Horse Barn nearby.

It’s that time of year when several of our staff, faculty and students travel to the Central Valley for the World Ag Expo. This event is always a great opportunity for our college experts to connect with industry leaders and prospective students. This year, Associate Dean of Agricultural Sciences Jason Bond, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Academic Programs Sue Ebeler and I had the pleasure of attending the expo and meeting with UC Davis supporters.

Welcome to winter quarter! We hope you had a warm and relaxing holiday break. That quiet period between Christmas and New Year’s is always a nice time to slow down and think about the new beginnings, new projects and preparation for the second half of the school year. I appreciate this time because it gives me the opportunity to clear out the cobwebs, both figuratively and literally, as we prepare for the new year and all it has to offer.

Happy holidays from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences! Every year I enjoy looking back on all that we’ve accomplished, and I am so proud of our collective work. Your contributions continue to make our campus a place of excellence and a beacon of light across California, the nation and around the world. Thank you to our faculty, staff, students, friends, donors, partners and stakeholders for your dedication and commitment to the college and campus.

Fall always feels like the most vibrant seasonal reminder of change, with the colors shifting and the temperatures cooling as we prepare for the cold and quiet of winter. This fall, in the spirit of change, I have announced my plan to retire as dean next year after 10 wonderful years at the helm of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. You can read the official announcement here. This decision is bittersweet for me.