UC Davis reached new levels of prestige and impact in 2023. We rose to No. 6 among the nation’s top public universities — a significant achievement driven by our research, teaching and service mission. Faculty and students continued to make groundbreaking discoveries in science and sustainability, surpassing $1 billion in external research funding for a second consecutive year. We were also recognized as the No. 1 greenest campus in the U.S. and the world’s fifth most sustainable university.

Golden retrievers are one of the most popular breeds, but research shows they have up to a 65% chance of dying from cancer. UC Davis researchers set out to find if certain factors could help their survival rate and found a gene associated with longevity in the breed. Dogs get many of the same kinds of cancers as humans, which could make this discovery important for humans as well.

Although it has been widely believed that a single African population gave rise to all Homo sapiens, scientists have long been uncertain how branches of human evolution diverged and how people migrated across the continent. UC Davis research, published in the journal Nature, revealed new genetic evidence for a model suggesting Homo sapiens instead arose from multiple closely related populations.

UC Davis was recognized for its crisis management in the response to the stabbing tragedy in spring 2023. This article is one of several updates posted in late April and early May during the series of incidents and police investigation that led to the arrest and prosecution of a suspect.

Water is essential to life. College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences faculty, researchers and students across disciplines work alongside state regulators, industry experts, growers and communities to protect and enhance water resources. We’re studying precision irrigation and cover crops to reduce water use and fertilizer runoff while maximizing crop health, yield and value, conserving and replenishing groundwater, supporting aquifer recharge and safeguarding the environment.

The College of Biological Sciences continued to deepen our understanding of life on Earth. From a breakthrough in rice breeding to help feed a global population, to using glowing fish to understand how pesticides affect human fertility, our work spanned the living world. Record-breaking donor support totaled $18.4 million, with a largest-ever single gift of $8 million. Finally, professors of plant biology Luca Comai and Venkatesan Sundaresan were elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

The Graduate School of Management expanded access to management education, launching a Master of Management in 2023 — the first of its kind in the UC system. It’s offered both online and on-campus for young professionals to accelerate their careers as collaborative leaders. We are also now the proud higher education partner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. The Kings’ dynamic lion mascot, Slamson, visited Gallagher Hall to meet, team up and celebrate the partnership with graduate business students.

UC Davis Law fosters diversity, equity and inclusion. Students of color compose 61% of the first-year class, and nearly one-third are first-generation college graduates. The school also has a world-class, majority-minority faculty.

2023 marked many successes for our School of Medicine. We ranked among the nation’s top 10 for diversity, family medicine and primary care, and continued to be a national model in training diverse physicians. Following the Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action in college admissions, we received coverage in the New York Times, CNN and JAMA about how we tripled our enrollment of students who are underrepresented in medicine over the last 15 years with a race-neutral, holistic admissions model.

Living on the streets or in shelters makes it tough to stay healthy. Refugees face health care challenges too. The new Integrative Nurse-Led Mobile Clinic at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis brings equitable care to vulnerable populations. Funded by a $4 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, the school’s advanced practice provider faculty improve health outcomes and fulfill the school’s vision of optimal health and health care equity for all.

Demand for UC Davis Health’s services continued to grow in 2023. The health system has hired and trained hundreds of new providers. Classes in the School of Medicine are larger and classes in the School of Nursing are more diverse than ever. UC Davis Health is charting a course for others to follow, as we’re discovering solutions to previously untreatable conditions, transforming health care delivery, and doing so with kindness, trust and inclusion, to deliver tomorrow’s healthcare today.

The School of Veterinary Medicine launched its 75th anniversary in April 2023 with a weekend of celebrations including a community “75” drone photo. The university established a Division of Veterinary Science in 1901, so when the school launched in 1948, it was positioned to transform veterinary education and provide enduring leadership that is reflected to this day in its No. 1 ranking. With local and global reach, the school improves health for animals, humans and the planet.

DEI plays a key role in elevating the voices and visibility of all members of our UC Davis community. We engage all to participate in generating ideas and taking action. We equip stakeholders to embed the structure, values and resources for DEI in their work, and we serve as a hub for DEI innovation. We empower people to launch DEI practice for their work, learning, growth and community spaces. We elevate the contributions of our DEI champions through recognition, awards and dissemination. 

Believed to be first in the nation for a university, AggieEats is an innovative food truck addressing food insecurity for students. 42% of UC Davis students have experienced times of low to very low food security. Through a partnership with the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center, Student Dining Services and the Division of Student Affairs, and funding from a $400,000 lead gift by an anonymous donor, the truck serves freshly prepared meals daily to 500 students utilizing a pay-what-you-want model.

The Professors for the Future hosted its 30th anniversary celebration in the Graduate Center at Walker Hall. Part of the GradPathways Institute for Professional Development, PFTF is a competitive, leadership-development program helping outstanding doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars launch into fulfilling and socially impactful careers.

Global Affairs released its new Strategic Plan, and UC Davis released its inaugural Global Strategic Plan. These plans outline strategies and objectives for advancing global engagement over the next five years to develop solutions to our most pressing global challenges and prepare all students to become collaborative and inclusive leaders. We made important strides to inspire and advance global curiosity, understanding and engagement.

Athletics introduced its multiyear strategic plan IGNITE: The Pursuit of Excellence.

Conference champions were crowned in gymnastics, equestrian, and men’s tennis, along with Sierra Atkins and Brianna Weidler of women’s cross country.

Football attendance grew by 10% with a new student record of 13,090 set on Sept. 23.

The fourth annual Champions Achieve Challenge garnered 725 donors, contributing $260,207 and propelling 13 teams past their annual goals.

UC Davis published an ambitious roadmap to move the university toward a future without fossil fuels. The Fossil Fuel-Free Pathway Plan aims to slash 95% of UC Davis 2019 fossil fuel use by 2040. Developed collaboratively by students, faculty, staff and community members, the plan targets both on-site and purchased utilities emissions. This forward-thinking initiative showcases the university’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable operations.

The numbers speak for themselves. 2023 was a year of great diversity and growth.