Joyce Souza

Joyce Souza has been promoted from lieutenant to captain in the UC Davis Police Department. She was sworn in Aug. 1, on the 21st anniversary of the day she became a UC Davis police officer.

She was promoted to sergeant in 1993 and lieutenant in 1999, with responsibility for patrol on the main campus, the traffic unit, the patrol fleet and special event security. In 2004 her duties switched to administration with responsibility for investigations, evidence, training, and hiring and recruitment. Also in 2004 she attended the FBI National Academy.

Chief Annette Spicuzza said of Souza: "Joyce's service to the university and the law enforcement profession has been nothing short of exemplary, and I am proud and very happy to be promoting her to captain. She is community-minded and works hard to make sure this community is well taken care of."

Thomas Tomich

Thomas Tomich, an agricultural economist with a doctorate in food systems research, has been selected to lead UC Davis' new Agricultural Sustainability Institute and the statewide UC Agriculture and Natural Resources' Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. In connection with his appointment, he has been named professor and first holder of the UC Davis W.K. Kellogg Endowed Chair in Sustainable Food Systems.

Tomich is currently the global coordinator of the Alternatives to Slash-and-Burn Programme, which is hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. He will be based at UC Davis and will transition to his new duties in January. In his new position, he looks forward to working with California growers, consumers and nonprofits.

SAREP, a UC statewide program, is housed at UC Davis and provides leadership and support for research and outreach on sustainable agricultural systems for farmers, farmworkers and consumers.

Annik Hirshen

Annik Hirshen has joined the Office of Graduate Studies in the capacity of assistant dean. Hirshen comes to Davis from the UC Office of the President, where she had worked since 2001 as an analyst and special assistant to Vice President of Student Affairs Winston Doby.

Prior to that, she held management positions in the Residential and Family Living offices at UC Berkeley. Annik holds a law degree from the UC's Hastings College of the Law and a bachelor's in psychology from Connecticut College. In her new position, Hirshen will have overall responsibility for the management and operation of the Office of Graduate Studies.

Walter Leal

Walter Leal, a professor of entomology who is internationally known for his research on chemical ecology and how insects detect smells, is the newly appointed chair of the Department of Entomology. He will serve a five-year term.

Leal joined the entomology department in 2000 as an associate professor and advanced to professor in 2002. Before coming to UC Davis, Leal served as research leader of the Science and Technology Agency of Japan, among other positions. He is best known for his research on the identification and synthesis of insect sex pheromones and on the chemical ecology and chemical communication of insects and potential applications for pest control.