AggieXtra Spring 2014

aggiextra

for members of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association • Always an Aggie. Connect for Life.

SPRING 2014 VOLUME 17 NO. 2

Toni Alejandria ’08 Cal Aggie Alumni Association Life Member

INSIDE: $1 billion and counting: UC Davis reaches fundraising goal Meet the 2014 Cal Aggie Alumni Association award winners

PG. 3 PG. 4

UPDATE: THE CAMPAIGN F

ON THE COVER n Nov. 1, UC Davis officially launched a new marketing campaign called One World, One UC Davis. The new brand is being prominently featured around campus on banners, on the UC Davis homepage and billboards throughout the Sacramento region.

The premise of the new campaign is to highlight the global network of people connected to UC Davis and to celebrate that connection by sharing the stories of our unsung heroes, imaginative research teams and innovative thinkers. It tells the stories of UC Davis alumni like TONI ALEJANDRIA ’08. Toni is a Cal Aggie Alumni Association

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life member who is the cofounder of Complement, a San Francisco startup that connects innovators and ideas to investors, entrepreneurs, and specialists.

You can join this campaign by sharing your story through the “Tell us your story” link through the One UC Davis website or use the #OneUCDavis social media hashtag whenever you post something that is uniquely UC Davis or that captures the inspiring spirit of the campaign.

Through the One World, One UC Davis campaign, we tell the stories about how we are changing our world for the better, together at UC Davis.

FOR UC DAVIS

$1 BILLION

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o the sound of the UC Davis Band-Uh! and the cheers of the campus community, this past fall UC Davis announced it successfully reached its goal to raise $1 billion from more than 100,000 donors through its first comprehensive fundraising campaign, The Campaign for UC Davis. UC Davis alumni contributed in a big way in helping the university achieve this goal by giving a total of $95.6 million to UC Davis since the campaign began in 2006. The largest gift from an individual came from UC Davis alumnus Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr. ’71 and his wife Marcia, to name the home of the UC Davis Graduate School of Management.

“As an alumnus, I know firsthand the power of a UC Davis education. That’s why I’m so proud to be part of this university-wide effort to help ensure all deserving

(and counting) students receive a top quality education and that UC Davis’ vision of excellence will continue,” said Gallagher who is the Campaign Cabinet co-chair along with Margrit Mondavi.

Donors directed more than $120 million for student support. This enabled the university to fund 1,481 scholarships, fellowships, awards and other activities for UC Davis students, of which 1,051 are newly created.

The accomplishment of raising $1 billion, which was achieved more than one year ahead of the original December 2014 end date, was made all the more impressive considering that the majority of the fundraising for the campaign was done during the nation’s most significant economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Having successfully raised $1 billion, UC Davis is now among the top 2 percent of higher education fund-

raising programs in the United States.

“This is an exciting day for our university and shows the enormity of what can be accomplished at UC Davis when we work together as one team,” said Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi. “This achievement would not have been possible without the involvement of our entire university community and the generosity of a very large network of strong supporters. I am thankful to each and every

one of them for helping us reach our goal.”

While the $1 billion was reached this past fall, The Campaign for UC Davis is not over. The university will continue to raise funds for its students, faculty, staff and programs now through May 31, 2014. As of the beginning of February, the university raised $1.071 billion from more than 106,125 donors. To each and every one of those donors, we say thank you!

CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT:

The Cal Aggie Band-Uh! Chancellor Linda Katehi addressing the crowd.

A student cheers during the announcement.

Margrit Mondavi and an undergraduate student.

alumni.ucdavis.edu

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UC Davis celebrates seven distinguished alumni and friends

C Davis and the Cal Aggie Alumni Association will recognize the outstanding achievements of our alumni and friends at our Alumni Awards Gala on Friday, Feb. 28 in Napa. And the awards go to ...

2014 ALUMNI AWARDS GALA FRIDAY, FEB. 28 SILVERADO RESORT AND SPA 1600 ATLAS PEAK RD., NAPA BLACK TIE OPTIONAL RECEPTION: 5:30 P.M. DINNER AND AWARDS CEREMONY: 6:30 P.M. TICKETS: $150 FOR CAAA MEMBERS, AND $185 FOR NONMEMBERS WEBSITE: ALUMNI.UCDAVIS.EDU/ALUMNIAWARDS INFORMATION: JENNIFER THAYER AT 530-754-9098 OR JSTHAYER@UCDAVIS.EDU THE SILVERADO RESORT AND SPA IN NAPA.

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Jerry W. Fielder Award

Pam Fair ’80 This award honors a UC Davis graduate in recognition of service to the Cal Aggie Alumni Association, the UC Davis Foundation and the university. The award was established in 1973 to perpetuate the lifelong interests of one of the university’s most esteemed and supportive alumni, Jerry W. Fielder ’39 (1915-1972).

P

AM FAIR’s leadership

style is one centered on giving. It started when she served as student peer advisor for the College

of Engineering and president of its joint council, where she worked alongside campus administrators on a variety of projects to promote the college.

Early in her career, Fair was recognized for her leadership and management potential and quickly moved up the ranks at Procter & Gamble and then at Sempra Energy’s California utilities, Southern California Gas Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). She recently retired after 19 years as a utility executive. Throughout her career, she showed leadership in community responsibility, including leading efforts to assist

Former Fortune 500 executive’s leadership foundation began at UC Davis people affected by the major wildfires of San Diego County in 2003 and 2007, and spearheading award-winning environmental sustainability initiatives at SDG&E. As an alumna, Fair is currently chair of the Davis CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE

One thing that’s been rewarding about giving to UC Davis is that there is really a clear line of sight to where the money is going.”

alumni.ucdavis.edu

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Pam Fair ’80

Distinguished Friend of the University Award

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Chancellor’s Club and former chair of the UC Davis Foundation. She has helped fund Cystic Fibrosisrelated research and also led the effort to create an endowed scholarship in honor of professor emeritus Alan Jackman, by providing the initial funding for the scholarship and soliciting support from other chemical engineering alumni. Additionally, she established an undergraduate scholarship for leadership in engineering.

“I wanted to recognize students who are both academically strong and very involved in community service,” said Fair.

Fair said she supports UC Davis because its faculty are at the forefront of research in their fields and its students are the leaders of tomorrow.

“One thing that’s been rewarding about giving to UC Davis is that there is really a clear line of sight to where the money is going — you can see the faculty member whose research you are supporting and the students who you are helping get a top notch education,” said Fair, who received scholarship support when she was a UC Davis student. “It feels good to know what the money is going toward and that it’s making a difference.”

Jerome “Jerry” Lohr This award recognizes a non-alumnus(a) whose extraordinary service has advanced the university and made significant and lasting contributions to the campus. The honoree’s professional, personal, civic and philanthropic pursuits must reflect the high standards and values associated with UC Davis, the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and higher education. This award is given only in years when a deserving recipient is identified.

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ERRY LOHR, an

engineer and founder of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, is the recipient of the the Distinguished Friend of the University Award for his extraordinary service and significant and lasting contributions to the university. Lohr was raised on a South Dakota farm and learned at a young age about the importance of soil quality, the environment and

sustainable farming practices.

His enterprise now sells a variety of wine and other beverages across the United States and worldwide.

He holds the positions of Director and Chair of the Wine Institute, Chair of the Marketing Committee for Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association, and the Co-Founder of Wine Vision, a strategic planning initiative to expand global market for U.S. wine.

LOHR STANDS IN HIS FERMENTATION ROOM AT UC DAVIS.

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Lohr is a strong supporter and friend to the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology, and now serves on its Board of Visitors and Fellows. He has been a key contributor in the design, planning and fundraising efforts for UC Davis’ winery, brewery and food processing teaching and research complex in the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science.

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Distinguished Achievement Award

Francis Lee ’74 This award honors a graduate of UC Davis whose entire lifetime LUCASH WITH HIS WIFE RYAN FUSSELL ‘06.

since graduation reflects exemplary and outstanding performance and achievements.

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RANCIS LEE is the recipi-

ent of the Distinguished Achievement Award for exemplary conduct and achievement. He was only 16 when his family moved from Hong Kong to Sacramento and enrolled him into high school without his knowing English.

That did not deter him.

He was accepted into UC Davis and held three jobs concurrently while earning his degree. He graduated with honors and went to work for Synaptics, Inc., a

Santa Clara-based company that develops gesture-based computing sensors that are used in such products as laptop touch pads and smartphones touch screens.

After two decades, Lee became the company’s Chief Executive Officer in 1998 and built the company to be a worldwide leader of touch screen technology.

Lee returns regularly to the UC Davis campus to mentor students and serves on the College of Engineering’s Dean’s Executive Committee.

Young Alumnus(a) Award

Jason Lucash ’06 This award honors a graduate of UC Davis who has received his or her first degree within the past 10 years and has made outstanding contributions professionally, to the community or to UC Davis.

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ASON LUCASH launched

his first business selling candy in front of his parents’ home when he was in the third grade.

Now, thanks to his UC Davis education — including a degree in managerial economics and internships — and his continued entrepreneurial spirit, he is the co-founder of OrigAudio, a premium audio products company that offers innovative solutions for music portability. Time magazine called the company’s origami-style

speaker one of 2012’s “50 best inventions.” After being featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, the company’s products are now sold in 5,000 stores worldwide.

Lucash lectures to university students around the country and helps support several local charities. His successes garnered him the Young Alumnus Award that honors outstanding professional contributions to the community or to UC Davis within 10 years of graduation. alumni.ucdavis.edu

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REDENBACH WITH HER HUSBAND KEN GELATT ‘67, CRED. ‘68.

John Chuck ’89

This award honors a UC D

mid-point of his or her car

outstanding achievement, p

made outstanding contribu

community and to UC Dav

A Aggie Service Award

Sandi Redenbach ’72, Cred. ’73 This award honors a UC Davis graduate who, during the previous year, demonstrated exemplary Aggie pride and dedication to UC Davis through personal commitment of time and energy, volunteerism, and leadership, which had the purpose or effect of furthering the CAAA and the University of California, Davis.

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ANDI REDENBACH,

a retired teacher and current national consultant who overcame a tumultuous adolescence, is awarded the Aggie Service Award for her dedication of time, energy, volunteerism and leadership in support of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and UC Davis.

She was a teacher for more than 35 years. In 1988, she established “The Independent Learning Center, a drop out

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recovery, independent study high school in California, which still operates serving at-risk youth. She authored numerous articles and books on discipline, responsibility, emotional intelligence, and leadership.

Through her consulting and publishing firm, “Esteem Seminar Programs and ESP ‘Wise’ Publications,” she has held several workshops worldwide that focused on selfesteem and personal growth.

Futhermore, Redenbach has made a planned gift to the School of Education that created a perpetual scholarship for students committed to improving education for those at risk of not succeeding in school. She is also a financial supporter of the Mondavi Center and the UCDHS Mini-Medical School.

Redenbach is recognized for her exceptional volunteer leadership and support of philanthropy at UC Davis.

fter completing his residency in 1989 at UC Da School of Medi JOHN CHUCK became a board certified family pr doctor and is currently a faculty member at the UC Davis School of Medicin He is presented with the Outstanding Alumnus Award for displaying outstanding achievemen promoting innovative ch and making professional contributions to the community and to UC D

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Outstanding Alumnus(a) Award

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Daniel Evans M.S. ’84, Ph.D. ’88

Davis graduate who is at the

reer and who has displayed

promoted innovative change and

utions professionally, to the

vis.

g n avis icine, a ractice a C ne. e

nt, hange l

Davis.

Emil M. Mrak International Award

He was key in developing My Doctor, an online tool that helps physicians stay in touch with their patients and includes online tutorials and health-education programs focused on delivering personalized care.

Chuck is the founder and chief executive officer of Serotonin Surge Charities which has raised $2 million for free medical clinics, breast cancer research and scholarship funds. He serves as a trustee for the UC Davis Foundation.

This award honors a graduate of UC Davis who is distinguished in his or her career or in service outside the U.S.

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ANIEL EVANS, who

began his career as a volunteer for the Peace Corps while earning a master’s degree in international agricultural development and a Ph.D. in ecology, is honored with the Emil M. Mrak International Award for his distinguished career and service outside the United States.

For more than 30 years, Evans has worked in the field of ecology, conservation and international development in some of the poorest countries in the world. He strives to protect biodiversity and improve natural resource management while struggling with challenges to alleviate poverty. He has previously worked at the U.S. Agency for

International Development, Executive Director of the Point Reyes Observatory, and the Director of the Charles Darwin Research Station. He and his wife now live in Queretaro, Mexico where he is Peace Corps Director of 85 volunteers working in technology transfer and natural resource management.

EVANS STANDS IN THE STUDENT FARM AT UC DAVIS.

alumni.ucdavis.edu

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TRAVEL

“These trips are life affirming, life expanding, and really life changing if you go about it to learn and explore. The alumni who go on these trips really add a lot to these trips from their personal experiences.”

2014

Life Along the Dalmatian Coast June 18-26 COST: From $3,895

DATE:

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xplore the Adriatic Sea’s stunning, island-dappled Dalmatian Coast on this seven-night cruise aboard the exclusively chartered, deluxe M.S. Le Soléal.

UC Davis European Grad Trip

June 21 to July 9 COST: From $3,700 DATE:

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ooking for that special graduation gift? Consider this special opportunity, traveling with other Aggie students. Visit alumni. ucdavis.edu/gradtrip for more information, including info session dates.

Ramon Urbano ‘66 AGGIE ADVENTURES TRAVELER

Machu Picchu Ireland: to the Galapagos Kilkenny, Killarney and July 8-22 From $8,395 Dublin DATE:

COST:

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xplore ancient Inca ruins like Macchu Picchu, indigenous villages and the city of Quito before boarding a private chartered yacht to the Galapagos Islands.

Discovery Switzerland

Aug. 27 to Sept. 11 From $4,545

DATE:

COST:

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ourney through alpine meadows, crystal lakes and broad vistas, with stops in Meiringen, the Alps and Magisalp, Brienz, and Interlaken.

Sept. 19-27 From $2,599

DATE:

COST:

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xperience the lush greenery and rugged mountains of inland Ireland as well as famous attractions such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity College.

Polynesian Paradise

Jan. 14-24, 2015 From $3,799 (air incl.)

DATE:

COST:

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ndulge your senses with the wonders of French Polynesia on this 10-night cruise, with stops in Moorea, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, and Tahiti.

For a full list of Aggie Adventure travel opportunities, in-depth trip details and up-to-date deadlines and cost, visit alumni.ucdavis.edu/travel, call 530-752-4502 or email aggieadventures@ ucdavis.edu.

Prices and dat es are subject to ch an g e

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800-242-GRAD NOTE: AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED

CHAPTER UPDATE

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CAAA launches School of Education chapter

he Cal Aggie Alumni Association is pleased to announce the launch of the UC Davis School of Education Alumni Association (SOEAA) — the first school or college chapter of the CAAA. The SOEAA welcomes education alumni and friends who seek personal, professional and intellectual connections with the School of Education (SOE) and UC Davis.

All education alumni are automatically members of the SOEAA, so be sure to check out the benefits of getting involved at http://education.ucdavis.edu/alumni.

If you are an education alumna or alumnus, you may have received a letter recently to tell you about the SOEAA and the benefits of joining CAAA. Join the CAAA online at alumni.ucdavis.edu/caaamembership. Enter code SOE14 to ensure part of your membership fee goes back to the School of Education Alumni Association.

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alumni.ucdavis.edu

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Navigating campus now easier UC

Davis has implemented a new way for visitors to navigate the Davis campus, complete with clearer signage, in order to get the million-plus visitors that arrive on our campus annually to their destinations.

You may have noticed that our previous signage often abandoned its followers at the next intersection, leaving many frustrated.

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UC Davis Campus Planner Bob Segar solved the problem by dividing the campus into four districts: Gateway, Pavilion, Quad, and Health Sciences. As long as you know what district your destination is in, these signs will lead you to the best place to park; from there maps and other pedestrian signs will help lead you to your final destinations.

You will know when you

New districts and signage make exploring campus a breeze have arrived in a district because the sign hierarchy changes (see photos below) and begins to include major destinations.

The Gateway district is the contemporary doorway to the

university, featuring the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Performing Arts Center, Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center, Mondavi Wine Institute, and the newly constructed Hyatt and University Conference Center. The 8,000-seat Pavilion arena is a district unto itself. Freeborn Hall, Memorial Union, and of course, the tree-lined Quad constitute the Quad district, the historic core of

UC DAVIS MOBILE

Get the

the UC Davis and the center of student life. In the Health Sciences district, you’ll find the Genome and Biomedical Sciences building; Tupper Hall, where many of the medical school’s basic science departments are located; and Carlson Medical Library.

For more information about the districts and finding your way on campus, view the campus map at campusmap.ucdavis.edu.

APP

The latest UC Davis Mobile is all the information you’d want at the tip of your fingers.

Designed by students, the mobile app helps those who need to find their way around the Davis campus, search for courses, view parking information, locate buses in real-time and more.

This free app has the ability to update itself automatically, ensuring that the user sees the latest, most accurate data at any time. The newest version is now available for all iPhone users. An Android version is in the works.

alumni.ucdavis.edu

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INTERNATIONAL AL

West meets east

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his past fall, Chancellor Linda Katehi and the Cal Aggie Alumni Association’s international program director, Ginger Welsh, ventured on

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

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Chancellor Katehi with alumni, students and friends on October 19.

A UC Davis Pennant.

Chancellor Katehi, Shaun Keister, Ginger Welsh ’95, and Kyle Buchoff ’11 in Bejing on October 19. Chancellor Katehi addressing the Beijing Alumni Counsel on October 19.

LUMNI NETWORKS a historic international trip to Beijing and Shanghai, China and Hong Kong on behalf of UC Davis. The trip was an important milestone for UC Davis by allowing the university to forge new global strategic partnerships and promote the university’s global vision in the ever growing countries of China and Hong Kong.

“In all my years of working in higher education I have never been on such a worthwhile trip in regards to building partnerships and propelling a university’s vision forward,” said Shaun Keister, vice chancellor of

development and alumni relations, who also took part in the trip. “The partnerships we created on this trip will serve UC Davis well as we continue to expand our prestigious reputation internationally.”

During the trip, Chancellor Katehi met with some of China and Hong Kong’s most influential and important thought leaders, government officials and business executives, many of whom are alumni of UC Davis. At the meetings, the Chancellor shared the university’s overall excellence in academics and research, and focused on UC Davis’

leadership in food, health and sustainability. These dignitaries and thought leaders were especially interested in utilizing UC Davis’ expertise as the No. 1 university in the world for agricultural research and teaching to build relationships to assist with China and Hong Kong’s agricultural modernization and food security movements.

The Chancellor also attended several alumni engagement events to provide international Aggies with an update about several important university initiatives such as the World Food Center,

West Village and the Confucius Institute. Additionally, the Chancellor was greeted with great fanfare when meeting with prospective students and their parents who also attended the events.

Strengthening these partnerships with alumni, friends, prospective students and dignitaries in China and Hong Kong will be critical not only in ensuring the success of UC Davis’ global initiatives, but also in ensuring that UC Davis can continue its efforts to be the one university to address the 21st century’s most pressing challenges.

alumni.ucdavis.edu

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Iranian Norouz

Winters Wine Tour

Vintage Aggies Wine Tasting

Golden Society Reunion

LOCATION:

LOCATION:

TIME:

LOCATION:

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W

DATE:

March 22 Buehler Alumni Center

oin members of the Iranian Alumni Association (IAA) for an evening of dancing, hors d’oeuvre and entertainment to celebrate the Persian New Year.

For more information or to register for any of these events, visit

alumni.ucdavis.edu/rsvp or email CAAA at

alumni@ucdavis.edu or call

530-752-0286

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DATE:

March 22 Downtown Winters

inters, the hidden gem of Yolo County will be the base for our day’s activities of wine tasting, food pairings and great shopping.

Please click here for additional information about this event.

April 11 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Shields Library DATE:

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ou’re invited to sample delicious alumni wines as you stroll through the Shields Library to see a special display of Picnic Day memorabilia as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Picnic Day.

DATE:

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April 11 – 12 Buehler Alumni Center

he class of 1964 is invited to reunite with classmates and see how UC Davis has transformed while they celebrate at their Golden Society Reunion. Planned activities include a Golden Society luncheon, special lectures and selected Picnic Day activities.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 31st Annual Picnic Day Pancake Breakfast

April 12 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.

LOCATION: Freeborn Hall DATE: TIME:

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t’ll be your last chance to celebrate this honored tradition at Freeborn Hall, which is slated to close later this year. Enjoy a hot breakfast with family or friends before spending the rest of the day on campus.

Picnic Day Amador Parent Reception Wine Tour DATE:

DATE:

CAAA Travel Fair

TIME:

LOCATION:

TIME:

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A

April 12 1 – 2:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Nelson Gallery Patio arents and their students are invited to join senior campus leadership for a reception during Picnic Day. Enjoy appetizers and a chance to relax in the company of other UC Davis families.

May 3 Various Wineries in Amador County mador County is home to many alumni wineries.

Join us as we sample old vine zinfandels, meet Aggie winemakers and enjoy all the bounty that Amador County has to offer.

June 2 3 – 5 p.m.

LOCATION: University Retirement Community, 1515 Shasta Dr. DATE:

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earn about the exciting excursions planned for 2015 while enjoying delicious wines provided by our Vintage Aggies winemakers.

alumni.ucdavis.edu

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THIS MARCH 1:

year, we celebrate the arts at UC Davis as the campus breaks ground on two new buildings dedicated to making art and music. Please celebrate with us!

SAVE THESE DATES Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art Groundbreaking MAY 2: UC Davis Classroom and Recital Hall Groundbreaking

TIME CAPSULES To help us celebrate, we want to hear from you. Please submit your UC Davis memories, photos, recordings, letters, papers and art to include in time capsules that will be assembled for both projects. This is your chance to be part of UC Davis history.

Please send your submittals and questions for both capsules to shremmuseum@ucdavis.edu, or mail them to: Time Capsules, c/o College Relations and Development Office of the Deans • College of Letters and Science University of California • One Shields Avenue • Davis, CA 95616-8572

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EMPLOYEE

Profile

Heidi Wohlwend

B

eing raised in a small farm town in Washington state,

HEIDI WOHLWEND

developed a love of the land, the environment and the fruits of hard work early on in life.

It is a passion she enjoys with her own family, including her 4-year-old daughter, Clara Mae, as they nurture their own garden full of California native plants and vegetables. And it is a passion that attracted her to a position as the Director of Membership at the Cal Aggie Alumni Association.

“We really have a great alumni program here,”

programs for our Student Alumni Association members that will help them find jobs after graduation. Being connected is what it’s all about and staying connected.

That’s why we say, ‘Become an Aggie for life.’”

Wohlwend comes to UC Davis from the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society where she worked on major gifts and improved their direct mail and membership programs. She holds a

master’s degree in fine arts from San Francisco State University and is looking forward to growing membership and exploring new ways of growing revenue at CAAA. “I’m always asking, ‘What are we doing that can help our members.’ I want to find ways to engage that student or recent grad that hasn’t thought about why it’s important to be connected,” said Wohlwend. “I’m excited to inspire membership and networking. It just makes UC Davis stronger.”

Fun fact about Heidi

Cal Aggie Alumni Association’s director of membership likes to see things grow Wohlwend: In her spare time she enjoys songwriting with her husband Ricardo and playing music together in their band, 5 Cent Coffee, a self-styled post-modern jug band that toured Japan in 2008.

“There is a jug band scene in Tokyo and the Yokohama Jug Band Festival was huge.”

Being connected is what it’s all about and staying connected.

That’s why we say, ‘Become an Aggie for life.’” said Wohlwend, who has explored much of Northern California, from the Gold Country to Point Reyes, during her many years as a California resident. “We have HEIDI WOHLWEND WITH HER HUSBAND RICARDO AND DAUGHTER CLARA MAE.

alumni.ucdavis.edu

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MEMBER

Profile Josette Lewis

A

bold new UC Davis center dedicated to solving the world’s global food challenges will be led in part by a Cal Aggie Alumni Association life member and dedicated Aggie — JOSETTE LEWIS ’88.

Lewis is the associate director of the UC Davis World Food Center — a new interdisciplinary center that will use UC Davis’ leadership as the No. 1 university in the world for agriculture and environmental research to determine how to feed and nourish a growing

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planet in an environmentally sustainable way.

Lewis grew up in Davis (her father worked as associate librarian in the UC Davis School of Law) and graduated magna cum laude from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science degree in genetics in 1988, before going on to UCLA where she earned a Ph.D. in molecular genetics in 1994.

She had a 16-year career at the U.S. Agency for International Development, working in international research and development, then as senior biotechnology

adviser and finally as director of the Office of Agriculture, where she played a lead role in developing the Obama administration’s global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future.

In November 2010, after deciding “it was important for me to understand how the private sector works,” she left USAID for a job with Arcadia Biosciences in Davis.

And so she was back in her hometown, this time with her husband, Timothy Gaffaney, and their two sons. Her parents, Alfred and Theresa Lewis, are here, too.

She served as Arcadia’s director of agricultural development, working on overseas business partnerships and technology licensing, and expanding technology collaborations with developing countries, among other duties.

After three-and-a-half years at Arcadia, Lewis began thinking about going to work at her alma mater. And guess what job opened up at a center that had not even been thought of at the time she moved back to Davis?

“It was the perfect fit,” Lewis said. “I’m proud to have graduated from UC Davis. It’s exciting for me to be back and contributing to this new center.”

Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi said of Lewis: “She’s an alum with a distinguished career in global agricultural

CAAA life member helps lead the UC Davis World Food Center development at USAID, and now she’s come back to Davis — and we are pleased to have her join our team.”

Katehi consulted with faculty members and other experts inside and outside the university for nearly two years before establishing the World Food Center in June.

Then, in mid-July, she gave a briefing to the Board of Regents: “We did this to fully capitalize on our depth and expertise as the world’s leading university for education, research and scholarship on all aspects of food, but especially the nexus between food and health,” she said in her prepared remarks.

Lewis noted another important connection: agriculture as a tool for poverty reduction. “The majority of the world’s poor work in agriculture,” she said, so, they can improve their incomes by using improved farming practices.

“It helps the world’s food supply, it helps economies, it helps nutrition, it helps society,” she said.

To learn more about the UC Davis World Food Center, please visit worldfoodcenter. ucdavis.edu.

WINEMAKER

Profile Eben Drucker

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tional sales and marketing director, vintner and new member of the CAAA Wine Program Business Development Committee, EBEN DRUCKER ’02 was introduced to the wine industry while a student at UC Davis, but not in the way that one might think.

This cultural anthropology and economics major actually first learned about the wine business in a darkroom.

During his junior year at UC Davis, Drucker taught a photography class at the UC Davis Experimental College where he met a fellow Aggie who was a viticulture and enology student.

While Drucker shared his knowledge of photography (which he acquired from his upbringing), the student enlightened Drucker to the elements of wine making and got Drucker a connection to work in the tasting room at R.H. Phillips.

His senior year, Drucker took an introductory winemaking class at UC Davis from Professor Douglas O. Adams, where his interest in wine only grew. He then took a class at the UC Davis Extension where he refined his knowledge of the wine business.

“A UC education just trains you to think differently. The

econ classes I took helped tremendously and I referred back to Professor Adam’s syllabus for years,” said Drucker whose wife, Page, and sister, Sophie Drucker, are also UC Davis alumni.

“The amount of knowledge I gained through the UC Davis Extension course was probably the most helpful thing I did. I also made a lot of contacts, some contacts who I still have business partnerships with today.”

selling wines to restaurants in the Davis, Sacramento and San Jose areas. In less than four years, Drucker helped grow the company into a multi-million dollar grossing wine distribution house.

“I was only 22 years old when I started and I’m not

Seizing opportunity at optimal ripeness quite sure how I did it, but I did,” Drucker said.

In December 2008, Drucker sold his partnership CONTINUES ON PAGE 24

Vintage Aggies Wine Tasting was a great event.

I had an 80percent success rate on securing new clientele just from a one-hour event. It was a huge success.”

Soon after graduation, Drucker became the cofounder of West Coast Wines — a start-up brokerage and distribution business for small wineries — and began alumni.ucdavis.edu

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WELCOME Life Members

CAAA is excited to recognize the following new life members, joining effective Sept. 16, 2013 to Jan. 15, 2014: Austin Baumgarten ’12

Matthew Huerta ’01

Darren Pinder ’12

Brian Bradley ’12

Priscilla Johnson ’70

Louisa Radosevich ’13

Carol Capener ’80

Johnny Johnson ’73

Laura Robinson ’14

Angela Chavez ’12

Maile Juranits ’12

Evan Sarina ’14

Cornelis Chel Jeannie Cheung ’13 Jorge Delgadillo ’13 Rosalyn Earl Adedamola Fashokun ’13 Jessica Fielder ’14 John Fitsos ’11 Earl Garcia ’14 Bruce Greenberg ’75

Katrina Kao ’14

Briannon Schaeffer ’13

Amandeep Kaur

Elizabeth Siemion ’14

Anna Kennedy ’13

Abel Silva ’12

Brian Kittrick ’11

Anthony Soto ’13

Mathew Landa

Bryan Steele ’14

Matthew Leung ’13

Keith Suehiro ’13

Guillermo Marmolejo-Aguado ’13

Ronelle Swanson ’77

Dennis Martinez ’14 Claire Mccammon ’14

Georgios Theodoropoulos ’88

Kristen Merala ’13

Helen Theodoropoulos ’89

Nicole Hebert ’14

Christophe Michelena ’12

Paul Torres ’14

Jennifer Hirsch ’80

Emily Parker ’14

Jessica Varaitch-Scrase ’13

Shannon Holeman ’14

Amanda-Leigh Parry ’12

Kyle Yager ’13

Joan Horn ’70

Aron Pataky ’91

Richard Yu ’12

Membership dues allow CAAA to offer a wide variety of programs and alumni networking locally, across the United States and around the world. Thank you for your continued support and dedication, both to your alumni association and to UC Davis.

ALWAYS AN AGGIE. CONNECT FOR LIFE.

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BOARD’S EYE VIEW ALUMNI COMMUNICATIONS

T

he Cal Aggie Alumni Association Board of Directors has been very active in shaping the future structure of our organization that now serves 36,000 members and approximately 225,000 living alumni of UC Davis. As the alumni population continues to grow, the need for strategic communication practices has steadily increased. This past year, the board formed a Marketing and Communications (MARCOM) Committee to develop ways to make regional and demographic specific updates to our alumni. Look for stories, profiles and events in upcoming correspondence that is specific to your area.

ALUMNI REGENT

E

very four years, UC Davis is allowed to elect an Alumni Regent to represent the 1.7 million living alumni of the University of California. Pending confirmation of the Board of Directors, CAAA has selected Retired Associate Justice Rodney Davis to serve in this role. Justice Davis retired from the court in 2009 to become an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Northern California. Rod is a past president of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and received the Jerry Fielder Award for his contributions to UC Davis in 2001.

NEW CAAA BOARD MEMBERS SANDRA FRYE-LUCAS, 2003 Ph.D. and M.A. from the

School of Education. Sandra is a retiree from the College of Engineering’s Dean’s Office, an educational consultant and a leader in the African and African American Chapter of CAAA. She resides in Sacramento.

RON MAROKO, 1986 J.D. School of Law. Ron is a trial attorney

for the U.S. Department of Justice and lives in Redondo Beach.

KYLE TRINKOSKY, 2005 B.S. Managerial Economics, 2012

MBA. Kyle is a principal consultant for Collaborative Solutions providing Fortune 500 companies with consulting services on human capital management and talent management. Kyle resides in Davis.

JON WEINER, 1985 B.A. International Relations. Jon is the

lead manager for communications and media relations for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Jon resides in Moraga.

NOTICE TO ALUMNI AFFINITY PROGRAMS: Affinity programs are agreements between the Cal Aggie Alumni Association (CAAA) and our business partners that offer products and services. In addition to offering discounts, these partners may also give a portion of their profits to CAAA, which uses these funds to support UC Davis alumni programs.

Please read the following privacy information so we may follow your wishes for handling these data. This opt out is only for affinity partner services and will not impact the communications you receive from UC Davis.

IMPORTANT PRIVACY CHOICES: You have the right to control whether we include you in product or service offerings from our affinity partners. Please read the following information carefully before you make your choice: YOUR RIGHTS: You have the right to restrict what you receive from us. This includes sending you information about the alumni association, the university or other products or services. You have the right to restrict the sharing of your name, address and email address with our affinity partners. This form does not prohibit us from sharing your information when it is required by law.

YOUR CHOICE: You can restrict information sharing with affinity partners, but unless you say “No,” you may receive product and service offerings provided by our affinity partners. Our affinity partners may send you offers to purchase products or services we have agreed they can offer in partnership with us.

TIME-SENSITVE REPLY: You may decide at any time that you do not wish to receive product and service offerings provided by our affinity partners.

If you decide that you do not want to receive information from our partners, you may do one of the following: (1) Fill out, sign and send the proper form to us at the following address (you may want to make a copy for your records).

The form can be found at alumni.ucdavis.edu/privacy.

CAL AGGIE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ASSISTANT VICE CHANCELLOR

for Alumni Relations EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Cal Aggie Alumni Association

ONE SHIELDS AVE. DAVIS, CA 95616 (2) Send an email to: optout@ucdavis.edu (3) Call us at 800-242-4723 alumni.ucdavis.edu

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WINEMAKER PROFILE: EBEN DRUCKER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

and, with the U.S. economy entering a recession, he saw a chance to start a new business at the same time that he and his wife welcomed their first child, Ellie, into the world.

“With the economy going down, the high-end wine market came to a screeching halt and lines of credit for large distributors shrank. I had all these small wineries tell me ‘I can’t get any traction on my product and now I can’t buy grapes for next year because all my money’s tied up in product,’” Drucker recalled. “They needed someone out there representing them. I saw that as an opportunity.”

Drucker began a winery consulting and marketing firm called the Tova Beverage Group. He soon expanded the business and in 2011 partnered with Robin Gerber to found Spotlight Brands — a national sales and marketing company for small premium wineries in California, specializing in wines with craft and integrity. Some of Spotlight Brands clients include Caraccioli Cellars, DeSante Wines, Peay Vineyards, Arietta, and Montagna Vineyards.

In 2013, soon after the birth of his son Asher, Drucker saw another prime opportunity to grow his business ventures — this time as a vintner. Through a partnership with a Santa Lucia Highlands vineyard, Drucker launched Carrier Wines.

“Carrier Wines came along because I could get a

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guarantee on superior fruit,” said Drucker, who is an avid fan of tatoo art and also enjoys fly fishing, hiking and archery. “I’ve been presented with a lot of opportunities to do a wine project before, but this project had longevity and superior fruit at a sustainable level.”

Carrier wines, which was named in honor of Carrier pigeons from WWI and WWII, currently makes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and is looking to add a Cabernet to its portfolio in 2014. It is currently sold locally at Selland’s MarketCafé, Taylor’s Market and Taylor’s Kitchen, Tapa of the World and Matteos; regionally at Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin’ BBQ in Napa and The Vine at Bridges in Danville; and internationally in Singapore.

“Our mission for Carrier is to sell good wine that is accessible to everyone. We want to make real grapes into a real product that is delicious and everyone can enjoy.”

Drucker participated in the 2013 Vintage Aggies Wine Tasting event, pouring Carrier to the dozens of participants and received great exposure for his new label.

“Vintage Aggies Wine Tasting was a great event. I had an 80-percent success rate on securing new clientele just from a one-hour event. It was a huge success.”

For more information, contact Eben Drucker at info@carrierwines.com or visit www.facebook.com/ carrierwines.

— Sarah Colwell

The AggieXtra is published by CAAA for its members and community.

PRESIDENT

Charles Nichols ’83, ’84 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Richard Engel ’90, Cred. ’91 DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP

Jeremy Turner ’04

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI, PARENT AND STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

Heidi Wohlwend

DESIGNER Michelle McKim ’89 COVER PHOTO Karin Higgins CONTRIBUTORS

Karen Collins ’03, Sarah Colwell, Jane Eadie, Becky Heard, Sadie Gropen ’16, Breeanna Meunier ’14, Griffin Okamoto ’14, Jen Thayer ’02, Gregory Urquiaga, Ginger Welsh ’95

COMING BACK TO CAMPUS?

Drop by and see us: We’re in the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center — the building with the blue roof, next to the Mondavi Center. Heading east or west on Interstate 80, take the UC Davis exit and head north. Follow the signs to your campus home.

MAIL

Cal Aggie Alumni Association University of California One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616-8517 PHONE

530-752-0286 800-242-GRAD FAX: 530-752-3395 WEB: alumni.ucdavis.edu EMAIL: alumni@ucdavis.edu

To enrich the lives of alumni, students, families and friends worldwide, and develop lifelong ambassadors for UC Davis.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2013-15 CAAA board Charles Nichols ’83, ’84 (President)

Derek Wilson ’99 Robert “Bobby” Woods ’76

Ramak Siadatan ’99, M.B.A. ’06 (Executive Vice President/ President-elect)

EX-OFFICIO

Toni Alejandria ’08 Michael Campbell ’68, M.S. ’82 William Cochran ’73, Cred. ’74 Evelyn Cook ’89 Danielle Duarte ’04 Delaine Eastin ’69 Brian Ebbert ’92 Stacie Hartung Frerichs ’01 Britta Foster ’95, M.B.A. ’99 Donald Godbold ’78 Steve Inouye ’90, Cred. ’96 Nathan Kozon ’03 Stephen J. Meyer ’71 Jill Miller ’97 Brent Sasaki ’94 Debby Stegura ’79 Scott Stevenson ’92 Brett Tank ’85 Debbie Travis Ed.D. ’08 George Walker ’68

Chancellor

Linda P.B. Katehi

Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations Shaun Keister Executive Director and Assistant Vice Chancellor Richard R. Engel ’90, Cred. ’91

Chair, UC Davis Foundation Director At Large Bruce C. Edwards ’60

Past CAAA President Patrick Sherwood ’86

GSA Chair

Abram Jones ’02

ASUCD President Carly Sandstrom ’14

SAA President Sarah Ng ’15