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Articles by Gary May
Chancell-ing: The Arboretum’s legacy of leisure, learning, leadership
It’s impossible to imagine our city without the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. It’s a shared community treasure that’s connected our campus to the region community for nearly a century. For LeShelle and myself, our strolls through the Arboretum offer a welcome retreat from our busy lives. For generations, the Arboretum has strengthened our community’s well-being as a third space for connection. It’s free and open every day, providing exercise and leisure that’s accessible to all.
Chancell-ing: A taste of UC Davis at the Farmers Market
Congratulations to the Davis Farmers Market for reaching its 50th anniversary last month. It’s a proud moment for one of California’s first certified farmers markets — that is, a specific market approved by a county agricultural commissioner. Over the decades, the Davis Farmers Market has transformed into a town square where local residents, students and foodies meet to source fresh foods and connect.
Chancell-ing: Growing our agricultural partnerships
Finding better ways to feed a growing planet has been a core part of UC Davis for more than a century. What began as the University Farm is now a global powerhouse in agricultural science and forestry, home to programs ranked first in the nation and second worldwide. This legacy continues today through the groundbreaking partnerships and innovation taking place here in Yolo County.
Newnan Parkinson’s Support Group earns third straight fundraising win at community walk
The Newnan Parkinson’s Support Group, competing against 14 teams as Team Newnan, finished first, raising $5,574 for the third annual Community Walk sponsored by the Parkinson’s Foundation and hosted by Piedmont Fayette Hospital and Piedmont Physicians Neurology. The amount raised by Team Newnan reflects a 35 percent increase over the prior year.
Chancell-ing: UCD School of Law committed to justice for all
Many of us learned the phrase “and justice for all” before we were old enough to understand how unevenly justice is experienced in this country. In practice, access to legal help is too often shaped by geography, income and circumstance. At the UC Davis School of Law, our faculty and students stand up for those denied equal access to justice, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights protected no matter where they live or what their income is.
Chancell-ing: A United UC Davis advances our region’s health
Some think of UC Davis and UC Davis Health in Sacramento as separate entities that are divided by the Yolo Causeway. The truth is, our collaboration isn’t bound by geography, especially when it comes to health. Together, our campuses join forces to conduct research that leads to medical breakthroughs that benefit not just Davis residents but everyone.
Solving veterinary shortage is crucial for agriculture
Photo by Sharif Aly The future of agriculture depends on investing in bold advances in veterinary medicine and training the next generation of doctors to serve our communities. The University of California, Davis — the nation’s top-ranked veterinary school — is leading the way. With a landmark $120 million gift from philanthropists Joan and Sanford I.
Solving veterinary shortage is crucial for agriculture
The future of agriculture depends on investing in bold advances in veterinary medicine and training the next generation of doctors to serve our communities. The University of California, Davis—the nation’s top-ranked veterinary school—is leading the way. With a landmark $120 million gift from philanthropists Joan and Sanford I.
Ag Alert
By Gary S. May The future of agriculture depends on investing in bold advances in veterinary medicine and training the next generation of doctors to serve our communities. The University of California, Davis—the nation’s top-ranked veterinary school—is leading the way. Gary S. May With a landmark $120 million gift from philanthropists Joan and Sanford I.
Chancell-ing: UCD’s AI research transforming health care
Imagine this scenario: Doctors know a small number of patients will face life-threatening complications after an illness, but they need to scan millions of records to identify the patients in need of intervention. It’s a task that would consume weeks and keep practitioners from other care needs. At UC Davis Health, a team used artificial intelligence to solve this challenge.
Chancell-ing: Students making a difference in Yolo County
UC Davis is home to more than 40,000 students from all walks of life, each striving for success and creating positive change. But it’s not just the sheer number of students that is a hallmark of our college town. Their achievements beyond the classroom contribute to the Davis community while building the necessary skills to make a difference for our future. You’ll find our students caring for animals and restoring local wildlife.
Chancell-ing: UCD builds healthier future for local pets, people
At the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, compassion meets innovation. When Kailana, a joyful Golden Retriever puppy, faced the risk of paralysis, our neurosurgeons, supported by the Compassionate Care Fund, executed a delicate, seven-hour spinal surgery to secure her long-term mobility, showing how our boundary-pushing expertise transforms care. Stories like this happen every day at the nation’s No. 1 veterinary school.
How UC Davis can solve rural California’s veterinary shortage issue | Opinion
The seasonal return of avian flu in California serves as a stark reminder of a challenge facing the state’s agricultural community: a critical shortage of rural veterinarians, the first line of defense against disease outbreaks. Their presence is crucial to mitigate these threats and protect a vital part of our economy.
Building stronger communities: UC Davis’ partnership with Woodland and beyond | Focus on Davis
It’s a pleasure to connect with our neighbors in Woodland as our academic year begins. Our campus is buzzing with students experiencing their first days of college, our world-class faculty gearing up for another year of teaching and researchers working on projects for the public good. This energy comes at an exciting time: The Wall Street Journal has just named us the No. 2 public university in the country, citing how we set students up for success after college.
Opinion: California universities broke the silence of ALS with federal funds - now at risk
The moment Casey Harrell heard his voice again in 2023 was an instant 50 years in the making. Struggling with paralysis caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Harrell feared he would never communicate with his daughter again until research pioneered by California universities gave his voice back.
Chancell-ing: Finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease while forming friendships
The impact of Alzheimer’s Disease touches nearly all of us in some way. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in nine Americans older than 65 is afflicted with the disease. November is and a time to recognize UC Davis’ leadership in research, treatments, and support for people living with the disease in our community and beyond. Some of our students know the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s disease in their families and loved ones.
Chancell-ing: Harvesting innovation, entrepreneurship through wine
The 2025 wine-grape harvest is underway, and the vineyards and research labs at UC Davis are at peak activity. Wines made in our Teaching and Research Winery prepare the next generation of winemakers for success, giving them hands-on skills to thrive in the wine industry, whether in California or other parts of the globe’s key grape-growing regions.
Chancell-ing: Basic research powers breakthroughs for a healthier world
While we’re enjoying the last days of summer, many signs of fall are already here: the UC Davis campus buzzing with staff and faculty preparing for the fall quarter, downtown merchants ready to welcome students from every corner of the world and trucks carrying Yolo County’s world-class produce to grocery stores across the country. Those trucks — especially those overflowing with tomatoes — tell a story about UC Davis research and our commitment to improving lives.
Fighting fire together: UC Davis and Napa County partner to build a safer future
Just six months after the devastating Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires that swept across Los Angeles and with memories of the 2020 fires in Napa County still fresh, it’s increasingly clear that the threat of wildfires is real — and growing. In 2024 alone, California experienced over that burned more than a million acres, an area roughly the size of Rhode Island, across the state. These fires inflicted a massive toll on government budgets, health and the economy — from tourism to agriculture.
Chancell-ing: Forging a fire-safe future together
Just six months after the devastating Palisades, Eaton and Hurst Fires that swept across Los Angeles, and a month after the shocking Oakdale Fire right here in Yolo County, it’s increasingly clear that the threat of wildfires is real — and growing. In 2024 alone, California experienced over that burned more than a million acres, an area roughly the size of Rhode Island, across the state.
Chancell-ing: A highlight reel from a milestone year
The 2024-25 academic year came to a celebratory close last month with cheers and happy tears for our newest graduates. More than 8,000 crossed the stage, and I was pleased to shake their hands or share a fist bump, hand over heart, or heart hands. We reached new milestones, from rankings, fundraising support and success on athletic fields. We faced challenges as well, but through our ingenuity and dedication to partnership, UC Davis is persevering.
Chancell-ing: Aggies excel in academics, athletics
Commencement season is here, one of my favorite times of the year. It’s when we celebrate collectively a major milestone in the lives of our students and their families. With a degree from UC Davis, students are well equipped for success in the next chapters of their lives, whether it’s entering the workforce, graduate school or whatever path comes next. That’s certainly true for our 671 student-athletes.
Chancell-ing: A century of town-gown partnership
We take great pride in knowing that Davis is California’s ultimate college town. With the Davis Chamber of Commerce celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, I’d like to look back at how the city and the university have found constructive ways to work together for our broader community. Our strong partnership with the city of Davis distinguishes us from many college towns.
Newnan Parkinson’s Support Group wins fundraising challenge in Parkinson’s Foundation Community Walk
The Newnan Parkinson’s Support Group, competing against 17 teams as Team Newnan, finished a strong first, raising $4,141 for the second annual Community Walk sponsored by the Parkinson’s Foundation and hosted by Piedmont Fayette Hospital and Piedmont Physicians Neurology. The event was held Saturday, March 29, at Fayetteville City Center Park with goals to increase awareness about the disease, promote the power of exercise to help manage symptoms and raise funds for research.
Chancell-ing: The risks of federal research funding cuts
At UC Davis, one of our defining goals is enabling research that transforms lives and communities, right here in our city and around the world. Federal funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other agencies plays a critical role in strategic preparations for the next generation of leaders, innovators and scientists. However, given the ongoing uncertainty with federal support, much of this funding is in jeopardy.
Chancell-ing: Celebrating our core principles
At UC Davis, we believe in the power of community. For 35 years, our Principles of Community have served as a guiding light, fostering an environment of mutual respect, inclusion and belonging. These values are more than words on a page — they are the foundation of our culture, shaping the way we learn, work and engage with one another.
Opinion: Greater Sacramento's new brand celebrates region's transformation - Sacramento Business Journal
In February, we are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council. A decade ago, we set out to build a thriving, competitive economy for our region. Today, we can proudly say that we’ve not only achieved that vision, but we’ve surpassed it. The Greater Sacramento region was the last place in California to recover the jobs lost during the Great Recession. Hindered by disconnected economic development efforts, the region’s CEOs came together to chart a new course.
Chancell-ing: Collaboration for a more sustainable world
Many of us often talk about the “Davis Difference.” I want to delve into that for my first column of the new year. In a world grappling with increasing pressure to address environmental challenges, from pollution to climate change, the city of Davis and UC Davis partnership offers hope for a more sustainable future. One bike path, one bus ride and one recycling trip at a time, we’re building that future together.
Chancell-ing: Aggies serving the greater good
One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is seeing our Aggies lend a helping hand around Davis. From assisting the city’s unhoused members to supporting food drives and being good stewards of our city’s land, giving back to the community is a hallmark of UC Davis. LeShelle and I saw this up close on a recent morning. We met with members of Lambda Omicron Xi, a community service-oriented sorority, as they helped with weeding, harvesting and planting at Grace Garden on Anderson Road.
UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May: Hello to our Woodland neighbors | Focus on Davis
Greetings to our Woodland neighbors! I’m thrilled to contribute to this “Special Focus on Davis” section and encourage you to visit UC Davis and learn more about us. The academic year started on Sept. 23, and the UC Davis campus is bustling with our academic pursuits, research enterprise and events for the entire community. We are riding the tide of some impressive news about our status.
Chancell-ing: Key step toward equity, student success
Preparing students to succeed in a workforce that’s increasingly diverse and global gets to the heart of our mission at UC Davis. So, it’s incumbent that we remove barriers for students who have been historically excluded from higher education and create additional opportunities for these populations. We are guided by the University of California’s mission to make higher education accessible to all, with campus populations that reflect the state’s wide diversity.
Chancell-ing: Planting roots in Davis after graduation
Two months ago, I had the honor of shaking more than 7,000 hands at UC Davis’ commencement ceremonies. It’s when we celebrate our graduates’ successes and recognize how much the world benefits from their bright minds and compassionate hearts. The class of 2024 joins the more than 310,000 living UC Davis alumni with degrees. They are found in all corners of the world and, in many cases, right here in our backyard.
Chancell-ing: In memory of Mom, my original mentor
My family and I thank the community for the outpouring of condolences following the passing of my mother, Gloria Hunter May, on May 21. Your compassion and kindness have helped ease the burden of our loss. I’m still reflecting on her impact on me and many others. In difficult times, I remember that she expressed how proud she was of me, of who I became, and of the daughters LeShelle and I raised.
Chancell-ing: Fulfilling the promise of Brown v. Board of Education
As we mark the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board decision, what could have been a celebration should instead be a national reckoning. Decades later, we are failing to allow every student from every socioeconomic, ethnic and racial background to succeed. The ongoing debate about college admissions often ignores the reality that educational opportunities are still separate and unequal in the United States.
Chancell-ing: Year of the Eggheads
Everyone who visits the UC Davis campus can’t help but notice the Eggheads. Seven of these sculptures are installed among five spots, such as the beloved “Bookhead” next to Shields Library and the upside-down “Eye on Mrak (Fatal Laff)” near our central administration building. These iconic Eggheads have taken on a life of their own since their debut. They endure as a signature place where students take photographs to commemorate key moments in their college journeys, including graduation.
Chancell-ing: Driving home the importance of partnership
Most of us are familiar with the red buses that wind through the UC Davis campus and surrounding city streets; they are a defining element of Davis life. Whether they are the stylish double-deckers from London that started operating in 1968 or from the newer fleet that runs on electricity, these Unitrans buses are a core element of shuttling students and townspeople around Davis. The numbers tell the story of an impactful town-gown relationship.
Chancell-ing: A look forward to all that’s in store in 2024
Winter Quarter at UC Davis is well underway and we continue to advance our mission of excellence in research, teaching and public service. That mission allows us to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our times, including climate change, feeding a growing world, and bettering the health of all living beings. Also at the core of our efforts is our commitment to being a good neighbor with the city and surrounding region.
Chancellor Gary S. May: Greetings to our Woodland neighbors | Focus on Davis Original
Greetings to our Woodland neighbors! I’m thrilled to contribute to this special section called “Focus on Davis.” The academic year is well underway, and we’ve got a lot to celebrate. Last month, UC Davis was named the No. 6 public university in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. That ranking is based on outcomes for graduating college students, including our success in graduating students from different backgrounds.
Chancell-ing: Safety first, on campus and in the community
With so much strife both in the world and locally, it’s essential that UC Davis and the city of Davis focus on community and safety. At UC Davis, the safety of our students, faculty and staff is an ongoing priority that extends beyond campus boundaries. We strive to create an atmosphere where people can comfortably live, work, learn and play. I continue to listen to the concerns of the UC Davis community regarding their wellbeing.
Chancell-ing: A billion reasons to celebrate
Conducting research and making discoveries that create a better tomorrow get to the heart of who we are at UC Davis. We are recognized for being at the forefront of addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges, driving innovation, and expanding our scholarship. The recent numbers make this clear. For the second year in a row, our annual research awards reached $1 billion dollars — $1.006 billion to be exact. This is a claim that few public universities can claim.
‘Mind, Mood, and Motion’
In lieu of their monthly September meeting, over 40 members of Newnan’s Parkinson’s support group attended a special public event sponsored by the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Chancell-ing: Learning for a lifetime
The academic year at UC Davis starts in just a few weeks, and our college town will be back in peak action. For some students, this will be the first step of their journey through higher education. Others will be moving through their upper-division classes or grad school seminars with their UC Davis degrees in sight. In Davis, it’s a time to remember that learning is a lifelong adventure. It doesn’t stop once you receive a university diploma.
Chancell-ing: The value of veterinary medicine in our community and beyond
Davis is an ideal place for those with beloved pets or those who simply love animals. Some furry friends have even become local celebrities, such as Cheeto the orange tabby cat, who roams near UC Davis’ Department of Physics building. Cori, the black Labrador retriever, has become a regular attraction at Aggie sports events, including football and baseball, and even has her own Facebook page. The animals in our lives are more than pets or livestock. They’re companions and family members.
Chancell-ing: Compassion is the way forward
Over Mother’s Day weekend, friends and neighbors flocked to Community Park for the annual Celebrate Davis event. At the same time, the UC Davis Quad was packed for the Whole Earth Festival. All of this would’ve seemed impossible just a few weeks ago, when tragedies gripped our city. Each passing day is another step toward recovery. Over the years, we have stood together to increase housing, improve transportation, prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and establish Hate-Free Together.
Chancell-ing: Supporting our mental health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. So, I planned to begin this column with a nod to the many challenges we have faced in recent years, both as a community and as a nation, and the toll these challenges have taken on our collective mental health. That was before the past week’s horrific crimes, which have deeply impacted our entire community and shaken our sense of safety and well-being. Mental health resources can help us get through times, like these, of intense stress.
Newnan Parkinson’s Support Group recognizes World Parkinson’s Awareness Day
World Parkinson's Awareness Day, held annually on April 11 (James Parkinson’s birthday), aims to raise global awareness of Parkinson's disease, providing opportunity for people with Parkinson's, their care partners and families, medical professionals, scientists and supporters to come together to tell the story of Parkinson's. The day also provides an opportunity to raise funds for Parkinson’s specific research.
No university is an island: How to foster town gown partnerships for impactful outcomes
In the city of Davis, home to the University of California, Davis(opens in new tab/window), we’ve been intentional in solidifying our town-gown partnership. This has been years in the making, as issues of enrollment growth and student housing had been sticking points between the city, Yolo County and UC Davis. A former Davis mayor once compared our shared relationship to a sliding door with a wheel that’s fallen off track. Yes, the door works, but it needs extra nudging to make it open properly.
No university is an island: How to foster town gown partnerships for impactful outcomes
The days of ivory towers must end, particularly within research universities. Town-gown collaborations are more crucial than ever if we are to solve society’s greatest challenges. When we consider how to prevent or mitigate future pandemics, address climate change or find sustainable ways to feed a growing planet, universities face complex challenges that require collaboration on a global scale.
Chancell-ing: Educating the community
Many of you share with me the positive impact UC Davis has throughout Davis, from the vibrancy and cosmopolitan feel our students bring, to the support for community that our faculty, staff and students carry forward in myriad ways. Another benefit is the university’s positive influence in K-12 schools. Our focus on learning and mentoring is demonstrated regularly through educational field trip opportunities to our campus and UC Davis student-teachers assisting in local classrooms.
Chancell-ing: Education, innovation key to economic growth
One aspect of my role leading a world-class university is paying attention to the tangible contributions UC Davis provides to our local and state economies and to the livelihoods of so many. I’m pleased to say that together with our campus community and partners, UCD is having a measurable, positive impact on our state and regional economy, as pointed out in a UC Davis report that was released in November.
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