The City of West Sacramento honored the Avanza Rising Scholars Conference during its annual Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation, recognizing the conference's contributions to expanding educational opportunity for students and families throughout the Sacramento region.
As we begin a new academic year, I find myself thinking about what it means to be part of a public university at this particular moment.
UC Davis is a remarkable community, one that stretches from our campuses in Davis and Sacramento to communities and partners across California. We come to this work with different experiences, perspectives and responsibilities. What connects us is a shared commitment to creating a university where people can learn, work, contribute and thrive.
After more than 24 years of advancing health equity and belonging, Dr. Hendry Ton, associate vice chancellor for Health Equity by Design for Inclusive Excellence (HEDI) will retire on Oct. 1. Through his leadership within the broader division, UC Davis Inclusive Excellence, health equity became more deeply embedded in the institution’s culture, programs and partnerships, creating a foundation that will continue to shape work for years to come.
The IDEA presents the 2026 AAFSA Aggie Acknowledgements, a space to share the outstanding accomplishments of our faculty and staff. Through Aggie Acknowledgements, the African American Faculty and Staff Association (AAFSA) at the UC Davis and UC Davis Health campuses invites the community to recognize and celebrate one another.
Inclusive Excellence shares the following letter written jointly by the Muslim Faculty and Staff Association (MFSA) employee resource groups on the Davis campus and UC Davis Health. In moments of profound grief, our Principles of Community remind us to “strive to build and maintain a culture based on mutual respect and caring.”
Arnulfo Herrera, a staff member at UC Davis who now works at the front desk in Mrak Hall, has spent years in different roles across campus. From earlier work in Student Housing Dining Services to his current position in a more public-facing role, his experience reflects a shift from behind-the-scenes support to direct interaction with students, families, and visitors.
After 33 years of dedicated service to University of California, Davis, Mikael Villalobos, Ed.D., associate vice chancellor for campus community relations, will begin his retirement on July 1, 2026.
The UC Davis Division of Inclusive Excellence has released its 2024–25 Annual Impact Report, highlighting a year marked by institutional milestones, community engagement and a renewed commitment to the Principles of Community.
The report documents progress across seven impact areas — including student empowerment, faculty advancement, health for all, community engagement and expression and understanding — and reflects the breadth of work led in partnership with units across UC Davis and UC Davis Health.
