Five faculty members have been selected for a 2025 Chancellor’s Fellowship recognizing their work to, in the words of the organizers, “foster a learning environment where all students can develop the skills to be successful.”
Chancellor Gary S. May told recipients he was proud to highlight their “commitment to reducing opportunity gaps for underrepresented students and/or students from underserved communities.”
The recipients, as named by Chancellor Gary S. May and the Academic Senate, are:
- Raquel E. Aldana, School of Law
- José Arenas, College of Letters and Science
- Gwen Arnold, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
- Alejandro Naranjo Sandoval, College of Letters and Science
- Luis M. Peña-Lévano, School of Veterinary Medicine
Arenas and Peña-Lévano are members of the Academic Federation; the others are members of the Academic Senate.
The recipients will receive $5,000 in Academic Enrichment Funds.
Michelle Ko, an associate professor in the School of Medicine and chair of the Academic Senate selection committee, praised the recipients for their “outstanding mentorship of underrepresented students and/or students from underserved communities.”
Here’s how the committee described the contributions of the College of Letters and Science winners:
José Arenas
Academic administrator, Department of Chicana/o Studies
Academic Administrator José Arenas demonstrates his dedication to art and education daily through his leadership as director of Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer, or TANA. He actively engages UC Davis students and community members and UC Davis students in exploring art as a form of healing and empowerment. By creating inclusive, culturally rooted art experiences, Arenas fosters belonging, uplifts marginalized voices and helps dismantle barriers to expression and well-being in educational and community settings.
Alejandro Naranjo Sandoval
Assistant professor, Department of Philosophy
Assistant Professor Alejandro Naranjo Sandoval has dedicated his research career to making philosophy studies more accessible to historically minoritized populations. As demonstrated through his research and coursework, Naranjo Sandoval centers the voices of underrepresented groups and topics to better meet the diverse landscape and needs of students. His outstanding mentorship efforts include serving as faculty advisor for the UC Davis chapter of Minorities and Philosophy, or MAP.
This article originally appeared on the UC Davis News website.
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