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Women & Philanthropy's Speaker Series Presents: From Plant Pathologist to Dean: Nurturing Growth & Inspiring Change

VIDEO: From Plant Pathologist to Dean: Nurturing Growth and Inspiring Change

Hala Kurdi Cozadd facilitated a conversation with Dr. Helene Dillard, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Blossoming beyond her childhood curiosities of plants, mold and mildew, their discussion explored her journey of collaboration and commitment from plant pathologist to distinct, multi-faceted community leader and retiring dean. 

Learn more from this 'spore'tacular conversation as Dr. Dillard shares insights, challenges and triumphs that have led to her legacy of positive impact on the UC Davis community and women in her field. 

LeShelle May presents Colleen E. Bronner, associate professor of teaching, with the 2023 Women & Philanthropy Impact Award on Sunday (Nov. 5).

Engineering professor wins 2023 Women & Philanthropy Impact Award

  • by Courtney Tompkins

At commencement, she congratulates every student by name — then they ask for a hug.

She spearheaded the drive to establish an undergraduate environmental engineering major at UC Davis, knowing women are drawn to the field.

And in the words of her department chair: “She cares passionately about creating opportunities for others and institutionalizing the change needed to allow women and other underrepresented persons to thrive in engineering.”

Misty Copeland smiling wearing black top and crossing arms in front of yellow background

Ballerina Misty Copeland to speak at UC Davis

  • by Clémentine Sicard
American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland will headline a public symposium on women, philanthropy and mentorship on Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, University of California, Davis. The event will also feature a panel discussion with notable UC Davis alumnae Tickets are on sale now.
Diane Bryant ’85 cuts the ribbon to open the Engineering Student Design Center that bears her name as Chancellor Gary S. May, mechanical engineering major Tichada Tantasirikorn and Dean Richard Corsi look on. (José Luis Villegas/UC Davis)

An engineering center for all

  • by Cody Kitaura

UC Davis students now have expanded access to advanced engineering equipment, in a space all their own, largely because of a woman who looked beyond the career paths her parents laid out for her.

Chancellor Gary May, Deb Neff, Dean Mark Winey and Kimberly McAllister pose for a photo outside in front of a university campus building with a green lawn.

Alumna Deb Neff gives $8M to biological sciences

  • by Clémentine Sicard
Life sciences industry expert Deborah Neff ’76 is giving $8 million to the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences for two endowments, one for the deanship and the other for the Center for Neuroscience for research into Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The gift is the largest by an individual in the college’s history.
A shiba inu with shaved fur poses for the photo while on a leash. The dog is in a veterinarian's office.

Bringing cures to complex cases

  • by Clémentine Sicard
In 2019 Gayle Brock brought her dog, Kitsune (Kit), to her local veterinarian in Nevada because the seven-year-old Shiba Inu had been acting lethargic. Brock knew something was wrong when Kit, who was typically very energetic, was too tired for her favorite activity: playing at the park.
historical photo of Katherine Esay in 1977. She has her hands folded and is leaning on lab-grade equipment at a plant biology lab.

A gift grows on

In 1988, a 90-year-old alumna and former faculty member gave $648,000 to UC Davis to establish an endowment that would fund plant research fellowships in perpetuity. Still driving discovery today, her gift demonstrates the power of an endowment to benefit the world for generations.
Professor Leigh Ann Simmons accepts the inaugural impact award at the podium.

Professor Leigh Ann Simmons wins 1st Women & Philanthropy impact award

  • by Clémentine Sicard
Leigh Ann Simmons, professor and chair of the Department of Human Ecology, has won the inaugural Women & Philanthropy Impact Award at the University of California, Davis, in recognition of her work in mentorship and leadership, and efforts on behalf of women’s health.
A Conversation with Glennon Doyle event graphic

‘Untamed’ Author Glennon Doyle to Speak at UC Davis

  • by Ashley Han

Glennon Doyle, activist and bestselling author of Untamed and other works, is coming to the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at the University of California, Davis, headlining a public symposium on women, philanthropy and leadership, 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16. Tickets are on sale now.

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Women & Philanthropy's Speaker Series Presents Immigration and Refugees: A Closer Look

VIDEO: Immigration and Refugees: A Closer Look

The Women & Philanthropy Speaker Series eighth event, Immigration and Refugees: A Closer Look with Raquel E. Aldana, Martin Luther King Jr. professor of law facilitated by LeShelle May on September 14, 2022.
Women & Philanthropy's Speaker Series Presents Untangling DEI: Starts with the 4A's

VIDEO: Untangling DEI: Starts with the 4 A’s

The Women & Philanthropy Speaker Series seventh event, Untangling DEI: Starts with the 4 A’s with Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Renetta Garrison Tull, Ph.D., facilitated by LeShelle May on June 7, 2022.
getting unstuck: the positive side of negative thinking

Getting Unstuck [VIDEO]

The Women & Philanthropy Speaker Series’ sixth event, Getting Unstuck: The Positive Side of Negative Thinking with Dr. Alison Ledgerwood, facilitated by LeShelle May on March 3, 2022.
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