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.

October has been a very challenging month on our campus and around the world. Here in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, we echo the message Chancellor May shared last Friday. Hate has no place at UC Davis. I see the resilience of our college, the compassion we have for our colleagues and students, and the strength and kindness shown for our community. I see brave people standing up for others, and I stand together with them.

Welcome to fall quarter! It is always a joy to witness the campus come alive when the students come back to Davis. The quiet productivity of summer is replaced with the busy hum of bikes and scooters, colleagues catching up and the quick upswell of our community. Dorm move-in weekend was busy, and our college gave its usual warm welcome to thousands of incoming first-year and transfer students during College Welcome and at our ice cream social.

Congratulations to the class of 2023! We are so happy to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of our students. This year, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is graduating approximately 1,850 undergraduates and 176 graduate students. Undergraduate commencement will be held June 16-18 at the Golden 1 Center. Our graduating class always inspires me and it is a joy to watch them grow from first-year and transfer students into future leaders ready to move forward onto new paths of opportunity. Our graduates embody dedication, commitment and so much potential.

There is no way around the fact that May has been a difficult month for our community. The violent attacks on three of our community members have left us shocked and horrified. We are still grappling with the heartache we feel over the loss of UC Davis student Karim Abou Najm and Davis resident Henry Breaux whose mission in life was to define compassion. We also hold space for the third victim, Kimberlee Guillory, and hope that she is recovering well. Karim was a beloved and exceptionally bright student and he is missed dearly.