Verónica Martínez Cerdeño is being honored with the Distinguished Scholarly Public Service Award by the UC Davis Academic Senate for her exceptional work connecting neuroscience research with meaningful community engagement. As a professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the School of Medicine, CAMPOS scholar, and a member of the MIND Institute, Martínez Cerdeño studies brain development and neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism, with an emphasis on ensuring that scientific discovery benefits the communities it aims to serve.
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.
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.
On January 13, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors presented a proclamation honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and proclaiming January 19, 2026, as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Yolo County.
At the invitation of Supervisor Lucas Frerichs, Renetta Garrison Tull, vice chancellor for inclusive excellence at University of California, Davis, along with Garth Lewis, Yolo County Office of Education Superintendent, joined the Board meeting to accept the proclamation on behalf of the university.
Among the eleven faculty members selected as this year's Hellman Fellows are two from the Center for Advancing Multicultural Perspectives on the Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities (CAMPSSAH):
On a sunny fall afternoon, the Activities and Recreation Center ballroom buzzed with music, laughter and conversation. A giant balloon arch adorned the entrance and dancers cheered on the more than 100 guests who arrived to celebrate the culmination of the 35th anniversary of the UC Davis Principles of Community.
UC Davis is proud to welcome the 2025–2026 cohort of CAMPOS and CAMPSSAH Faculty Scholars. These programs recognize faculty who advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across the campus, supporting research and teaching that reflect a wide range of perspectives. This year’s scholars represent disciplines from psychology and microbiology to political science, Native American studies, and the arts, bringing expertise that strengthens the university’s commitment to inclusive excellence.
We’re proud to celebrate Dr. Theanne Griffith, CAMPOS Scholar, for being named one of The Transmitter’s Rising Stars in Neuroscience 2025. Dr. Griffith’s groundbreaking research explores how sensory proprioception shapes pathways across the brain, spinal cord, and skeletal muscle—advancing our understanding of how the body senses and controls movement. Her innovative approach, which integrates electrophysiology, behavior, and molecular profiling, has positioned her as a leader in the field.
In the September 2025 issue of the LACCEI bulletin, Vice Chancellor for Inclusive Excellence and LACCEI President Renetta G. Tull takes center stage as the organization highlights its global leadership in engineering education. The piece emphasizes her active participation at key international forums, including the SEFI 2025 Annual Conference in Finland and the WEEF‑GEDC 2025 event in Korea—underscoring how Tull is driving the consortium’s commitment to pedagogical innovation, sustainability, and global competence in engineering.
CAMPSSAH Faculty Scholars Kathleen Cruz, Natalia Duong, and Zinzi Clemmons received the DHI Research Fellowships. The 2025 Faculty Research Fellowship cohort also includes Lilia Soto, whose project examines the experiences of Latinx women in Napa’s wine industry, and Julietta Hua, who studies how insurance and financies shape immigrant labor and life.
At UC Davis, we believe in cultivating an environment where faculty can thrive as researchers, mentors, and innovators. Our programs and actions are driven by a shared commitment to expanding knowledge and discovering solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems.
The Office of Advancing Mentoring and the Professoriate welcomes nine new UC Davis faculty into two programs that are integral to UC Davis’s commitment to inclusive excellence in scholarship and mentoring.
Internal medicine physician Debby Lee has received the 2025 Dr. Ifeanyi Onyeji Resident/Fellow Inclusive Excellence and Equity Award for her leadership in advancing health equity at UC Davis Health. Lee, the daughter of Hmong refugees, has centered her career on addressing health disparities and building trust with immigrant and underserved communities.
