University News

UC Davis Chancellor May Appoints Mark I. Rosenblatt as Vice Chancellor of Human Health Sciences

James Michael Nash — October 22, 2025

UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May has appointed Mark I. Rosenblatt to the position of vice chancellor of human health sciences, overseeing UC Davis Health, which includes three hospitals: the nationally ranked UC Davis Medical Center and UC Davis Children’s Hospital, as well as the UC Davis Rehabilitation Hospital. It also includes oversight for two nationally ranked schools of health — the UC Davis School of Medicine and Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing — and 17 primary care clinics serving communities across Northern California. He will begin Jan. 19, 2026.

ORG CHART: Institute Directors, Associate Deans

Cody Kitaura — October 21, 2025

In this edition of Org Chart, Dateline UC Davis is sharing news of a number of recent appointments to lead various institutes at UC Davis, as well as leadership positions within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Continuing and Professional Education. Read on to find out more.

University Updates Mailing List Policy

Bill Kisliuk — October 21, 2025

UC Davis has updated its policy governing mailing lists to better align with other University of California and UC Davis policies on uses of proprietary electronic communications. The updates to PPM 310-18, Email Lists and Mass Electronic Messaging cover topics including who may serve as the administrator or owner of a campus mailing list and the �ԹϺ��’s approach to closing mailing lists that are out of compliance with policy.

Among the Academies: A Vision for One Health

Cody Kitaura — October 21, 2025

In recent decades, the global landscape of health has shifted dramatically. Pandemics, climate change, food insecurity and emerging zoonotic diseases have highlighted intricate connections between animals, humans and the environment, underscoring the fact that veterinary medicine is not just about the care of animals — it is essential to the health of people and the planet.

October Crowdfund UC Davis Features 30 Projects Led by Students, Faculty and Staff

Cody Kitaura — October 21, 2025

UC Davis has launched its October Crowdfund UC Davis campaign, offering the community a chance to support 30 projects led by students, faculty and staff. Running through Oct. 31, the campaign highlights initiatives that create meaningful change on campus and beyond.

This year’s projects span four key themes:

Federal Contract for up to $40 Million Fuels Research to Revolutionize Clean Indoor Air and Defend Against Next Pandemic

Andy Fell — October 16, 2025

When a public building catches fire, its built-in systems automatically respond: Smoke alarms blare, sprinklers kick on, and occupants quickly evacuate.

But what if the life-threatening danger isn’t fire but invisible airborne contaminants that can make occupants sick? Could a similar smart-building system monitor and improve the quality of the air indoors, where Americans spend 90 percent of their time?

Checking In With Chancellor May: Cultivating the Future of Agriculture in California and Across the World

Cody Kitaura — October 16, 2025

To the UC Davis community:

UC Davis Gorman Exhibition Spotlights Artworks by a Leader in Contemporary Native American Art

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — October 16, 2025

The Gorman Museum of Native American Art at University of California, Davis, presents a solo exhibition of works by Rick Bartow (1946-2016), a member of the Mad River band of the Wiyot Tribe, indigenous to Humboldt County in Northern California. Bartow primarily created pastel, graphite, and mixed media drawings, wood sculpture, acrylic paintings, drypoint etchings, monotypes and a small number of ceramic works. The installation showcases artworks created from 1979 to 2015.

The exhibition runs through January 18.

What’s at Stake with Federal Research Funding Cuts

Jocelyn C Anderson — October 15, 2025

Federal research funding cuts threaten UC Davis discoveries in health, agriculture and technology that improve lives worldwide.

UC Davis Launches New Phase of From Labs to Lives Campaign to Highlight Value of Federally Funded Research

James Michael Nash — October 15, 2025

The University of California, Davis, has launched the next phase of its campaign highlighting the value of federally funded research, From Labs to Lives, as threats to research funding continue — putting at risk future lifesaving cures, U.S. leadership in technology and innovation and jobs.

Engineers, Neurosurgeons Help Restore Autonomy for People with Paralysis

Cody Kitaura — October 15, 2025

In a world first, a team of engineers, neuroscientists and neurosurgeons at UC Davis and UC Davis Health has demonstrated that brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs, for translating brain signals into speech can also enable control of a computer cursor.

Law Professor Moderates Groundbreaking PBS Series

Jocelyn C Anderson — October 14, 2025

In an era of extreme division, Aaron Tang, law professor at UC Davis, as found a national — and creative — platform to encourage civil discourse.

Astronomers Find Mystery Dark Object in Distant Universe

Andy Fell — October 09, 2025

Using a global network of telescopes, astronomers have detected the lowest-mass dark object yet found in the universe. Finding more such objects and understanding their nature could rule out some theories about the nature of dark matter, the mystery substance that makes up about a quarter of the universe. The work is described in two papers published Oct. 9 in Nature Astronomy and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

These Songbirds Learn More From Siblings Than From Parents

Katherine E Kerlin — October 09, 2025

The powerful role of siblings is highlighted in this UC Davis study of a songbird species with limited parental care.

UC Davis Ranked No. 10 Among Nation’s Public Universities

Julia Ann Easley — October 08, 2025

Correction, Oct. 10: The news release has been corrected to indicate that UC Davis is 10th among public universities in the United States.

The University of California, Davis, is No. 10 among the nation’s top public universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, published today (Oct. 8).

Prescribed Burn on West Campus Oct. 17

Andy Fell — October 07, 2025

The UC Davis Fire Department plans to carry out a prescribed burn on campus reserve land west of County Road 98 on Friday, Oct. 17.

The burn is being coordinated with area fire departments and is being conducted to restore native grasses, remove invasive species and reduce fire risk. There may be some smoke in the area as a result. The burn may be cancelled if weather conditions change.

How to Join Oct. 15 ‘Takeover’ in Support of Federally Funded Research via From Labs to Lives

Cody Kitaura — October 07, 2025

On Oct. 15, the Office of Strategic Communications has requested that all websites and social media accounts across the �ԹϺ�� speak with one voice to highlight From Labs to Lives, to showcase the impact of federally funded research. There are easy ways for everyone to get involved.

IN MEMORIAM: Chancellor Emeritus Theodore L. Hullar

Cody Kitaura — October 07, 2025

Theodore L. Hullar, UC Davis’ fourth chancellor and a biochemist who pushed for major shifts in the �ԹϺ��’s identity, died Sept. 28 at the age of 90.

Hullar came to UC Davis after serving as chancellor of UC Riverside from 1985-87, and jumped headlong into transformational projects like the shepherding of the draft version of the Long-Range Development Plan, a document that sought to guide UC Davis enrollment growth and expansion through the 2005-06 academic year.

WarnMe Test To Include Earthquake Drill Oct. 16

Julia Ann Easley — October 06, 2025

Wanna shake things up some? You can experience a simulated 7.0 magnitude earthquake before the campus tests its WarnMe emergency alerting system during the Great California ShakeOut next week.

The California Office of Emergency Services, or Cal OES, will bring its shake trailer to the West Quad on Monday, Oct. 13, on its tour to promote earthquake safety and the ShakeOut drill coming up at 10:16 a.m. on Oct. 16.

CHANCELL-ING: Harvesting Innovation, Entrepreneurship Through Wine

Cody Kitaura — October 06, 2025

The 2025 wine-grape harvest is underway, and the vineyards and research labs at UC Davis are at peak activity. Wines made in our Teaching and Research Winery prepare the next generation of winemakers for success, giving them hands-on skills to thrive in the wine industry, whether in California or other parts of the globe’s key grape-growing regions.