As a member of the College of Letters and Science Dean’s Advisory Council, Kirk DeClark is part of a group of civic, business and education leaders drawn from the college’s alumni, donors, emeriti and friends. For DeClark, the role has given him an opportunity to help students and young alumni explore their intellectual curiosity and career prospects.
For Ron Austin of Fairfield, California, this year's commencement will be a moment — and degree — more than 47 years in the making. The 66-year-old is proud he has finally completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in political science.
On May 1, the UC Davis Foundation presented Kevin Bacon ’72 with the 2025 Charles J. Soderquist Award at a celebratory luncheon. Named in honor of the widely esteemed UC Davis alum and entrepreneur who was dedicated to advancing the university, the award recognizes Aggies who demonstrate Soderquist’s legacy of exceptional philanthropy, volunteerism and leadership within the UC Davis community.
In his new book Mysteries of the National Parks: 35 Stories of Baffling Disappearances, Unexplained Phenomena, and More, UC Davis alum Mike Bezemek probes beneath the stunning beauty of National Park System sites to explore hidden history, infamous crimes, strange discoveries, legendary figures and more.
Nitheen Ramalingam, a graduate of UC Davis' Art Studio M.F.A. program, speaks about the growth he experienced during his studies — also his first time in the U.S. — and how the legacy of the caste system back home in India continues to influence his art practice. Ramalingam earned the Keister & Allen Art Purchase Prize at last year's Arts & Humanities Graduate Exhibition.
Shayne Langford, a lecturer in the Department of English in the College of Letters and Science, won the Maurice Prize for Fiction for his unpublished novel, which he's been working on since his days as an undergraduate at UC Davis. John Lescroart, who started the prize, called Langford's manuscript “dark and powerful.”
Alum Michael Norcia discusses his role as cofounder and CEO of Pyka, a company that specializes in designing and manufacturing autonomous electric aircraft for agricultural and cargo purposes.
The 2025 UC Davis Medal will be awarded to Michael C. and Renée Z. Child, who have dedicated themselves to the University of California, Davis, and their communities throughout their lives.
Damien Mitchell made a splash with his innovative, sustainable, thoughtful and stylish footwear designs during his time as a graduate student in the Design M.F.A. program at UC Davis. Now, as a faculty member himself, he is making an impact on design students in his home state of Louisiana.
Recent Letters and Science alumna Celene Aridin joins an elite cadre of 150 scholars from around the world who will study China’s emerging role in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing as a 2025 Schwarzman Scholar.
