To the UC Davis Community:
The past few months have been challenging for all of us. We are navigating a complex national political landscape, budget constraints, operational challenges and, consequently, a period of deep uncertainty. Many members of our community have told me about the anxiety they are feeling — I feel it too.
Yet, I want to assure you that, “we remain committed to our students, staff, faculty, patients and one another.”
These challenges are real, but we will face them together. We will continue to train the next generation of innovators and problem solvers, develop life-saving research and make the world we share more sustainable. We will continue to serve the people of Ƶ and beyond. That is the UC Davis way — that is who we are.
Even amid uncertainty, one thing remains clear: We will stay true to our values. UC Davis has long lived by its Principles of Community, established 35 years ago, and we will continue to honor and uphold them. We will support and celebrate every community that is part of our university.
Because these challenges extend beyond UC Davis and affect universities nationwide, my fellow chancellors and I believe the Ƶ must speak with one voice.
Federal support has meaningful outcomes
We have a long history of working alongside the federal government to bring transformative research to the people of Ƶ and beyond. That longstanding commitment has yielded incredible dividends for all, and it must continue. Since World War II, the government has supported research at universities like UC Davis to power local jobs, drive American innovation and empower faculty and entrepreneurs to bring their ideas from basic research to market.
This federal support makes critical breakthroughs by UC Davis researchers possible. For example, support from the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense is helping UC Davis scientists to cancer patients. At the same time, a grant from the Department of Defense between UC Davis researchers at the College of Engineering, the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Ƶ Raptor Center as they study birds in flight to design the next generation of uncrewed aerial systems.
The Office of Research published a useful article explaining what is at stake — . The Office of Research also developed a .
Across the country, these partnerships between government and universities — all conducted under strict accountability — make transformative research that can take decades to become profitable possible.
from the Association of American Universities demonstrates the vital economic importance of this support and explains how university research programs are funded. While these programs have fueled the American economy for generations, they are under threat today, potentially undermining our national competitiveness, public health and transformative research.
Just as that partnership has supported innovators and entrepreneurs at UC Davis since the 1950s, we plan to expand them at our new development at Aggie Square once the innovation district officially opens in early May. Students working side-by-side with researchers and private industry partners will be empowered to seamlessly transfer their ideas from the classroom to the lab to the market.
The power of entrepreneurship
Across UC Davis, we know that education extends beyond the classroom. We empower our students to become innovators, problem-solvers and agents of change. For many of our students, this entrepreneurial journey begins the moment they arrive on campus. Our location near Silicon Valley, the state capital and the growing tech sector in the Sacramento region provides students with invaluable opportunities to transform their work from concept to practice before graduation.
This entrepreneurial spirit reflects a powerful national trend among young people, who increasingly envision their futures as business creators. A recent survey illuminated this trend, finding that . They see entrepreneurship as a career path for self-expression, creativity and social change.
That passion for serving communities drives students like Ijeoma Uche, whose research focuses on serving expecting mothers and their families.
The second-year Ph.D. and M.D. student developed , the first comprehensive tool for connecting mothers and healthcare providers in the confusing and fragmented healthcare landscape. The app focuses on serving Black women, who still experience maternal mortality rates .
Ijeoma chose UC Davis because, from the start, her mentors enthusiastically supported her entrepreneurial efforts to improve the health of Black women. She says that at other institutions, students are told to reach a certain status before commercializing their work, but at UC Davis, innovation is supported at every step.
Our university strives to nurture this ambition. Our students aren't simply chasing profits; they're driven by a deeper sense of purpose. They are launching ventures that tackle local and global challenges, from developing sustainable agriculture practices to creating cutting-edge medical technologies.
Supporting campus entrepreneurs
We support this culture of entrepreneurship across UC Davis in programs for undergraduate and graduate students.
This fall, backed by strong student and community interest, we are launching our undergraduate . The major will connect students with local businesses for practical, hands-on experience directly transferring into jobs and startups.
The new major builds on our longstanding culture of supporting the power of commercializing UC Davis innovations and sharing them with the