Aggie Black Excellence

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Aggie Black Excellence
Aggie Black Excellence Listening Sessions

Celebrating history, future and culture

Aggie Black Excellence celebrates Black history, Black futures, and the contributions of those connected to the African diaspora at UC Davis. It affirms that Black excellence is integral to the university’s past, present, and future — while also creating opportunities for allies and the wider campus community to learn, connect, and grow.
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A collage of four portraits, each depicting a different person with varied expressions and backgrounds.Clockwise from top left: Olufemi Vaughan, Bettina Ng'weno, Abosede George, and Jemima Pierre
Past AAS Lecture Series Speakers. Clockwise from top left: Olufemi Vaughan, Bettina Ng'weno, Abosede George, and Jemima Pierre

Roots in Scholarship

Aggie Black Excellence connects with the Department of African American and African Studies (AAS) to elevate the history and culture of communities of African descent on campus and around the world.

The Department of African American and African Studies (AAS) is central to Aggie Black Excellence, advancing scholarship, teaching, and public engagement connected to the African diaspora. As the academic home for this work at UC Davis, AAS prepares students to think critically about Black history, culture, and futures while contributing to broader conversations that strengthen the university community.

Through its Lecture Series, AAS extends this mission beyond the classroom, creating an open forum where students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members can come together to learn, reflect, and dialogue. These gatherings echo the spirit of Aggie Black Excellence — spaces built by community and for community, where shared inquiry and cultural celebration benefit everyone.

Learn more about the Department of African American Studies

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Resources

Aggie Black Excellence brings together campus and community resources designed to support those connected to Black history, culture, and the African diaspora — as well as their allies. These resources strengthen academic success, community belonging, wellness, and professional growth for the entire UC Davis community.
Aggie Black Excellence Resources
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Built by Listening

Aggie Black Excellence grew out of a series of listening sessions where students, staff, faculty, and alumni shared their experiences, challenges, and aspirations. From these conversations came the vision for a centralized hub of resources, events, and information that could foster ongoing community engagement rather than one-time efforts. They also highlighted the importance of celebrating Black history, Black futures, and Black excellence while welcoming allies to learn and contribute, with the understanding that these efforts strengthen the entire UC Davis community. These sessions were not an endpoint but a beginning, and Aggie Black Excellence continues to be shaped by community voices with future opportunities to listen, reflect, and grow together.
Read about the Listening Sessions
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Staying connected

Aggie Black Excellence is about community and connection. Read stories that highlight leadership, scholarship, and impact. Stay connected through our newsletter and social media.
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Learn about AAFSA
Submit an AAFSA Aggie Acknowledgement
AAFSA Aggie Acknowledgements Summer 2024

AAFSA Aggie Acknowledgements

The African American Faculty and Staff Association (AAFSA) at both the Davis and Health campuses created Aggie Acknowledgements program to uplift and celebrate accomplishments across our community. This initiative recognizes that when one of us succeeds, we all benefit.

Aggie Acknowledgements provide a space to:

  • Highlight professional achievements, awards, and milestones
  • Celebrate personal accomplishments and community contributions
  • Show appreciation for colleagues and allies who are making a difference

By submitting an acknowledgement, you help weave together stories of Black excellence and allied support that inspire the entire UC Davis community. This is not limited to any one identity — it’s about sharing pride, gratitude, and celebration in ways that build stronger connections across campus.

You can see an example of acknowledgements in action here: AAFSA Aggie Acknowledgements Summer 2024.

And when you celebrate someone on social media (or even humblebrag about your own accomplishments), don’t forget to tag #AggieBlackExcellence so the community can celebrate with you!

Submit an acknowledgement

Our commitment to action

We aim to empower action and strategic planning for long-term success and efficacy of groups and individuals doing this important work to shape the future of education and opportunity at UC Davis. In order to align with the campus strategic plan our commitment to these efforts encompasses a four-pronged approach.
RESEARCH
Connect research and practice by bringing together people, projects and partnerships to highlight excellence and innovation, study pressing problems and identify evidence-based solutions.
ACTION
Research, support and scale-up interventions that establish/expand access to opportunities, increase visibility of scholarship and practice, and establish campus-wide accountability measures
ADVANCEMENT
Explore research and evidence-based approaches to facilitate the advancement of students, faculty, and staff to thrive, succeed, and achieve their full academic and professional potential through the establishment/enhancement of strategic internal and external partnerships.
DISSEMINATION
Share research results broadly; internally within campus; externally to the broader network of stakeholders, including but not limited to academic, corporate, government, non-profit, and neighboring communities.
Learn about The IDEA and its framework Donate to our work