Aggie Acknowledgements: Summer 2024

Congratulations to philanthropists Daryl and Lois Goss for receiving the 2024 University Medal, the highest recognition at UC Davis! Thank you for all of your hard work and contributions to the UC Davis community!

Philanthropists Lois and Darryl Goss are the 28th recipients of the university’s highest honor, having provided instrumental support and resources to the university. The couple established the Austin and Arutha Goss Presidential Chair in African American and African Studies, funding the chair with 1.5 million dollars while also establishing the Goss Family Endowment and the Gary Perkins Academic Achievement Student Award in African American and African Studies Programs amongst other scholarships. In 2019, they earned the Cal Aggie Alumni Association’s Aggie Service Award. Lois Goss serves on the College of Letters and Science Dean’s Advisory Council and the Women & Philanthropy Advisory Council; she is also a cabinet member of the Davis Chancellor’s Club, the oldest donor recognition society at UC Davis. Darryl Goss is past president of the UC Davis Foundation board and former chair of the College of Letters and Science Dean’s Advisory Council. Today, he serves on the Athletics Board and the Chancellor’s Board of Advisors, and he and Lois are both trustees on the UC Davis Foundation board.

Congratulations Dr. Jann Murray-Garcia for being a founding member of the Betty Irene More School of Nursing, a clinical professor, a faculty director of professional education opportunities for students, staff, faculty and health system administrators and so much more. You have and continue to do so much for UC Davis. We appreciate you and all of your efforts!

Congratulations Dean Helen Dillard of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on your retirement!  Dean Helen Dillard championed and embodied the spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration to address the most pressing issues facing agriculture, the environment, and human and social needs. We appreciate you and everything that you have contributed to UC Davis!

Congratulations to Arnette Bates on your retirement! After serving the UC Davis campus for decades, Arnette served as the Executive Director for the Office of Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Services and also led the African Continuum. She has had a profound impact on numerous students and colleagues over the 38 years that she was worked on campus, particularly first generation, low income, and students of color. Thank you for all that you did at UC Davis! 

Congratulations to  Dr. Vicki Gomez on your retirement! As Director of Campus and Community Engagement, Dr.  Vicki Gomez supported our volunteer groups such as the various Employee Resource Groups and Administrative Advisory Committees among leading many large-scale events Thank you for all that you did at UC Davis. We wish you well in your future endeavors!

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Associate Director of Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS) and UC Davis Alum Denisha "Coco" Blossom published her debut poetic memoir, "The Makings of a Project Queen." This powerful story is intended to encourage women and girls everywhere to fix their crown, walk-in their queendom, and embark on their own journey to self-discovery and fulfilling their greatest life purpose.

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Professors Lawrence Torry Winn and Maisha Winn’s new book "Faith Made Flesh: Transformative Justice and Healthy Futures" brings together the experience, insight, and stories of those actively addressing societal and educational disadvantages of Black children in Sacramento, CA. The book includes a chapter written by Patrice Hill, Director of SAYS. The book seeks to offer viable solutions to racial injustice by centering the voices of organizers, policymakers, educators, scholars, and youth.

Congratulations to Dionica Bell on her new position as the director of the Black Student Union at Emory University's Belonging and Community Justice student identity space! Thank you for your service and leadership as the director for CADSS!

Congratulations to Dr. Chassidy Inez Anders on her new position as the Interim Director of the Center for African Diaspora Student Success!

Professor Maisha T. Winn, the Chancellor’s Leadership Professor in the School of Education and co-founded of the Transformative Justice in Education Center has been voted president-elect of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Dr. Winn's presidency begins at the conclusion of the association’s 2025 annual meeting.

Congratulations to Esther Muriithi from PCS Radiology for receiving an MBA degree from UC Davis! 

Congratulations to Fawn Hutton from Emergency Medicine for becoming a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives!

Congratulations to James Aboagye, former AAFSA Health Chair, for getting accepted into UC Davis medical school and finishing his first year!

Congratulations to Romy Perry-Ali from Transition of Care for obtaining a specialty certification in Ambulatory Care Nursing (AMB-BC)!

Cornel Wade from Public Health Sciences had an exciting experience of competing in the holiday episode of the game show Lingo, hosted by RuPaul! Cornel and his son took an all-expense paid trip to Manchester, England to film the episode, won their first-round contest to advance to the Lingo Battle round, and won the Lingo Battle round to claim the grand prize! Check out their picture here!

Congratulations to Professor Irene Joe from UC Davis School of Law for receiving multiple major accolades! Professor Irene Joe was selected for UC Davis Chancellor's Fellowship this year, which honors the achievements of outstanding faculty members still early in their careers. She was also awarded 2024 UC Davis School of Law Distinguished Teaching Award for excellence in teaching. 

Piri Ackerman-Barger, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, was awarded the 2024 Trailblazer Award from the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA). She is recognized for being “an individual who has taken risks.” Piri leads the school’s efforts to create a diverse and welcoming setting in which to learn, work, and collaborate. She also designs initiatives to improve diversity and inclusion in school’s learning environments, workforce, programs, services, and partnerships.

Camille Cochran from Pediatric Ambulatory Services was selected for the Ambulatory and IT Career Development Program (Pilot). Camille was one of two participants who were selected for this competitive program. The 9-month program aims to help participants gain a competitive edge and expand their career opportunities by getting hands-on experience in EMR/IT, Data Analytics, and Project Management.