UC Davis leaders, including Chancellor Gary May and Vice Chancellor of Inclusive Excellence Renetta Tull, met with The California Aggie Editorial Board to discuss campus priorities, challenges and student concerns. During the conversation, Tull emphasized the university’s commitment to its Principles of Community and to maintaining programs that support student success while complying with Proposition 209 and civil rights law. The discussion also addressed issues such as federal funding uncertainty, resources for undocumented students, campus safety and sustainability, with administrators reaffirming UC Davis’ commitment to open dialogue, equitable access and a welcoming campus environment.
UC Davis welcomed poet and author Javier Zamora to the Mondavi Center for an evening of reflection, storytelling and dialogue centered on his critically acclaimed memoir Solito: A Memoir, this year’s selection for the Campus Community Book Project.
UC Davis recognized faculty and leaders advancing global research and education at the 11th annual International Connections Reception, highlighting work that addresses major health challenges and expands international collaboration. Among those honored was Luis G. Carvajal-Carmona, professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine and associate vice chancellor for Advancing Mentoring and the Professoriate, whose collaborative research and training initiatives are strengthening cancer prevention and precision medicine in Latin America. The reception also recognized Sarah Meredith for leadership supporting international programs and honored Ozcan Gulacar and Marc Ishisaka-Nolfi with the Excellence in Teaching for Global Learning Award, reflecting UC Davis’ broader commitment to global engagement, mentorship and community impact.
In May 2026, the Avanza Initiative is preparing to host its annual conference, which supports K–16 students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in higher education. Our mission is to serve our communities by encouraging students to pursue a college degree. In the past, this event has been known as the César Chávez Leadership Conference.
Inclusive Excellence at UC Davis invites faculty to submit proposals through the IDEA Research Collective, for two funding opportunities supporting faculty-led research and scholarly inquiry that advance the UC Davis Principles of Communityas a shared institutional practice.
Vice Chancellor Renetta G. Tull recently delivered the summary report for the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Board of Directors meeting, held in advance of the organization’s annual conference — a reflection of her continued leadership within one of the world’s leading scientific societies.
🌟 Inspiration in the Arts is a partnership with the Mondavi Center
Art has a unique ability to bring people together—to help us pause, reflect, and reconnect with one another through shared experience. For several seasons, Inclusive Excellence has partnered with the Mondavi Center to elevate select performances that reflect the campus’s commitment to equity through artistic and cultural connection — making Inspiration in the Arts a signature collaboration for the UC Davis community.
Serving as a Student Advisor to the Chancellor at the University of California, Davis, Emiliano Nolasco embodies the intersection of student leadership and community engagement. In this role, he meets regularly with Chancellor Gary S. May to bring student perspectives into campus decision-making, championing initiatives that enhance student life for diverse populations across the university.
UC Davis faculty and students are exploring how intentional, community-centered design can help address today’s societal challenges by highlighting Village Homes, a pioneering planned neighborhood that has fostered deep connection, sustainability and shared purpose for more than 50 years. The article showcases how this unique community—characterized by common green spaces, cooperative gardens, safe pedestrian environments and collaborative decision-making—embodies the power of community engagement in shaping environments that support well-being, resilience and belonging.
UC Davis faculty experts are helping advance campuswide dialogue on global migration through the 2025–2026 Campus Community Book Project, which centers on Solito by Javier Zamora. As part of the initiative, scholars affiliated with the UC Davis Global Migration Center convened for a public panel that explored the social, economic, legal and human dimensions of migration, connecting academic research with the lived experiences reflected in the book.
