Two College of Letters and Science at UC Davis faculty members and one affiliated research center were honored with awards from the UC Davis School of Medicine Office of Wellness Education for their pioneering work in the wellness space.
Associate Professor of Communication Drew Cingel received the Office of Wellness Education Award for Excellence in Research, Associate Professor of Chicana/o/x Studies Susy Zepeda received the Office of Wellness Education Award for Excellence in Advocacy and the California Lighting Technology Center received the Office of Wellness Education Award for Excellence as a Center.
The awards were presented at a ceremony held at the School of Medicine’s Matsui Hall on Oct. 12.
The Office of Wellness Education aims to advance prevention, well-being and resilience in healthcare through innovative approaches that support long-term well-being rather than solely disease response.
To transform healthcare to meet this goal, the university and its myriad research threads in health, disease and wellness need to unify and synergize, said Dr. Scott Fishman, the executive director of the Office of Wellness Education.
“The system is jammed and it’s jammed because we don’t prevent the preventable illness that occurs much earlier,” Fishman said.
“Our office is really about the bridge and we’re really focused now on this idea of whole person health with this bridge because you can’t really do it without looking at the whole person,” he added. “The whole person is not just our molecules and our cells, it’s the systems in which we live.”
Learn more about College of Letters and Science awardees below.
Drew Cingel
Associate Professor, Department of Communication
Award for Excellence in Research
Drew Cingel was presented with the Office of Wellness Education Award for Excellence in Research for his research on children and adolescents’ media use.
Cingel currently serves as co-editor of Media Psychology and is also a member of the Human Development Graduate Group. His research focuses on the intersection of human development and media effects, with emphases on social media use and adolescent mental health, as well as children's media use and moral development. Through his research, teaching, and applied collaborations with media companies and policymakers, Cingel contributes to a deeper understanding of how media can be designed and used to positively impact children, families, and communities.
Susy Zepeda
Associate Professor, Department of Chicana/o/x Studies
Award for Excellence in Advocacy
Susy Zepeda was presented with the Office of Wellness Education Award for Excellence in advocacy for her work engaging with students for healing the mind, body and spirit.
Zepeda’s scholarship is transdisciplinary and grounded in community-centered, decolonial and feminist approaches. Her research and teaching focus is on Xicana Indígena studies, decolonization, feminist of color methodologies, oral and visual storytelling, and intergenerational healing. She has developed courses such as “Decolonizing Spirit” and “Food Justice,” which engage students in critical and culturally grounded frameworks. Through her research, teaching, and community engagement, Zepeda advances scholarships that center cultural knowledge, identity and healing practices.
California Lighting Technology Center
Award for Excellence as a Center
California Lighting Technology Center, or CLTC, was presented with the Office of Wellness Education Award for Excellence as a center for their innovative work using lighting technology to improve well-being.
Under the leadership of current Director Jae Yong Suk, professor of design, and former Director Michael Siminovitch, professor emeritus of design, the CLTC has demonstrated leadership in advancing energy efficiency, lighting innovation and human-centered design. Through its full-scale research and demonstration laboratories, CLTC conducts applied research, technology development, and product testing in collaboration with designers, manufacturers, utilities, and government agencies, helping translate research and innovation into real-world practice. Increasingly, CLTC’s work focuses on the connection between the built environment and human health and well-being. These efforts are advancing our understanding of how lighting and the built environment can support both physiological and psychological well-being.
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