University News

California Special Election: Drop Off Your Ballot, Cast Your Vote on Campus

Cody Kitaura — October 28, 2025

Election day for the statewide special election is next Tuesday (Nov. 4), but you don’t need to wait until then to cast your vote.

A Yolo County ballot drop-box is open 24/7 on Tennis Court Lane, adjacent to the Memorial Union Bus Terminal. Similar to dropping your ballot in the mail, deposit any California ballot in the box and it will be forwarded to your home county, even if you don’t live in Yolo County.

Día de Muertos Celebrations Planned On and Off Campus

Jose Antonio Vadi — October 28, 2025

Día de Muertos, the annual day of the dead that honors those that have passed, returns this Saturday (Nov. 1). These events offer participatory experiences for attendees at Woodland's TANA (Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer) and on campus at Sproul Courtyard and the Mondavi Center. They include several ofrendas, or altars, that honor loved ones through written notes and photography. Get in the spirit and learn more about each free opportunity below:

Employees Get Free Tickets to Saturday’s Football Game

Cody Kitaura — October 28, 2025

Hot off a road win that extended its undefeated streak in conference play, the UC Davis football team returns home to say thank-you to all UC Davis employees by offering two free tickets per person to this weekend’s football game.

IN MEMORIAM: Kevin Copley

Cody Kitaura — October 28, 2025

Kevin Copley, a member of the Transaction Support Services Team in Supply Chain Management, died peacefully on Sept. 21. He was 55 years old.

California Schools Are Losing Tree Canopy

Katherine E Kerlin — October 27, 2025

About 85% of elementary schools studied in California experienced some loss of trees between 2018 and 2022, found a UC Davis study.

Bezos Earth Fund Grants $2M ��Ƶ and American Heart Association to Advance AI-Designed Foods

Andy Fell — October 24, 2025

The Bezos Earth Fund has announced a $2 million grant to the University California, Davis, the American Heart Association and other partners to advance “Swap it Smart” as part of its AI for Climate & Nature Grand Challenge. The funding will support research that could help redesign foods, for example optimizing for flavor profile, nutritional properties and lower costs and environmental impact.

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 university’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.

University News

California Special Election: Drop Off Your Ballot, Cast Your Vote on Campus

Día de Muertos Celebrations Planned On and Off Campus

Employees Get Free Tickets to Saturday’s Football Game

IN MEMORIAM: Kevin Copley

California Schools Are Losing Tree Canopy

Bezos Earth Fund Grants $2M ������Ƶ and American Heart Association to Advance AI-Designed Foods

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

ORG CHART: Institute Directors, Associate Deans

University Updates Mailing List Policy

Among the Academies: A Vision for One Health

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

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

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

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

What’s at Stake with Federal Research Funding Cuts

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

Engineers, Neurosurgeons Help Restore Autonomy for People with Paralysis

Law Professor Moderates Groundbreaking PBS Series

Astronomers Find Mystery Dark Object in Distant Universe

These Songbirds Learn More From Siblings Than From Parents

Bezos Earth Fund Grants $2M ��Ƶ and American Heart Association to Advance AI-Designed Foods