In this edition of Laurels, Dateline UC Davis is presenting news on honors presented to faculty members, a professional school and a dean.

Dateline UC Davis welcomes news of faculty and staff awards, for publication in Laurels. Send information to dateline@ucdavis.edu.

Poets&Quants Dean of the Year

H. Rao Unnava, Michael and Joelle Hurlston Dean and Professor of Marketing at the Graduate School of Management, has been named dean of the year by the graduate business education publication Poets&Quants. The outlet cited his “naturally calming presence while leading a revolution in innovation” at UC Davis, including new programs and promoting the thought leadership of faculty members.

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Leadership Academy

Lorena V. Márquez, chair of the Department of Chicana/o Studies, has been named to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, or HACU, Leadership Academy, or La Academia de Liderazgo.

“The HACU Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo has a proven record of advancing diverse leaders within a wide range of higher education institutions, demonstrating the value of the program in expanding representation at the highest levels of college and university administrations,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “We are proud of our previous cohorts in how they have moved into the upper ranks of academia with speed and fully expect this current cohort to match if not exceed our alums in successfully breaking into leadership roles across the nation.”

Márquez is one of 45 new fellows from around the nation, and one of eight who received a Carnegie Mellon scholarship as part of their election to the academy. 

C. Bryan Cameron Distinguished Chair in International Economics

People who arrive from other countries to build a new life have immediate and lasting impacts on the local economy. While those impacts are the subject of some of today’s most contentious political debates, research can ground those debates in objective fact.

Giovanni Peri, a professor of economics and leading expert on the economics of migration, has been appointed the C. Bryan Cameron Distinguished Chair in International Economics. The appointment will support Peri’s research, his support for undergraduate and graduate student research and events that are open to the UC Davis community.

“This is a truly well-deserved honor,” said Estella Atekwana, dean of the College of Letters and Science. “Giovanni is internationally recognized for his research on the economics of immigration. His record of classroom teaching and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students is extraordinary, and his service has elevated his department, the college, campus and even the University of California system.”

Excellence In Diversity Award

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine received the 2024 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity, or HEED, Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

“We are so proud to receive this award,” said Mark Stetter, dean of the school. “UC Davis is known as one of the top veterinary programs in the world. To obtain and maintain that recognition, we lead with progressive, innovative, and impactful initiatives that bring the best students from all backgrounds to the school.”

California is a diverse state, but the veterinary profession generally does not reflect the state’s demographics. Insight Into Diversity magazine selected UC Davis because of its programs designed to introduce students from low-income and rural areas to the veterinary profession, and to create a welcoming, supportive environment.

Informs Fellow

Graduate School of Management Professor David L. Woodruff, renowned for his work in business analytics, has been named to the 2024 class of Informs Fellows, one of the highest honors in the field of operations research and analytics.

Informs, the premier international association for the decision and data sciences, names a new class of fellows each year. They are leaders in the field whose innovative contributions have transformed industries and improved lives worldwide.

California Japanese Language Teacher of the Year

Junko Ito, continuing lecturer of Japanese, has been named the 2024 California Japanese Language Teacher of the Year by the California Association of Japanese Language Teachers.

The California Japanese Language Teacher of the Year Award recognizes and celebrates exceptional teachers who exemplify teaching excellence, continuous learning through professional development, leadership, and advocacy for Japanese language education. A representative is chosen for each of the two categories: K-12 level and college level.

Ito has taught in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures in L&S since 2010.