For Your Information | July 8, 2021

Download a printable version of this week's newsletter

2021 Hibbard Williams Extraordinary Achievement Award Goes to Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola

 

Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola has been chosen to receive the 2021 Hibbard Williams Extraordinary Achievement Award. Aguilar-Gaxiola is professor of clinical internal medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine, is the director of the UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities and the Community Engagement Program of the Clinical and Translational Science Center. The award recognizes a broad range of accomplishments such as public service or lifetime achievement that brings distinction to the university. It is very easy to see that Aguilar-Gaxiola embodies the very spirit of this award and we invite you to celebrate this momentous occasion with us.

UC Davis Names New Dean to the College of Letters and Science

 

The University of California, Davis named Estella Atekwana, a dean and geophysicist from University of Delaware, as new dean of the College of Letters and Science (L&S), the largest of UC Davis’ colleges and schools. She will officially become L&S dean on August 1. Atekwana has been at Delaware since 2017, as a faculty member in the Department of Earth Sciences and dean of the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment. Her accomplishments include building up the faculty ranks, implementing an early-career faculty development program, creating and funding a student success center and professional development program, establishing an eco-entrepreneurship program, launching a campuswide climate change initiative, and providing funding to support initiatives promoting inclusive excellence. Read the full announcement here.

A Message from Vice Chancellor Tull

Dear Friends,  

Today’s column is dedicated to Rahim Reed, J.D., who is retiring from UC Davis after many years of service. Rahim has been our Associate Executive Vice Chancellor (AEVC) for the Office of Campus Community Relations (OCCR). He set the foundation for what we now know as DEI. 

Thank you for your service and dedication Rahim! It gives me great pleasure to dedicate this space to you today! Please take a few minutes to read Rahim’s bio, to reflect upon what he has done during his years of service: 

Rahim Reed assumed his responsibilities as the Associate Executive Vice Chancellor for Campus Community Relations (AEVC) at UC Davis on September 17, 2001. The AEVC serves as the primary advisor on matters of campus community relations to deans, vice chancellors, vice provosts and other senior campus administrators. The primary responsibility of OCCR is to help the University chart a course that will ensure attention to those components of the campus' social environment that affect community, campus climate, diversity and inclusion. In March 2018, Rahim was appointed the Lead for the newly created Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and served in this role until June 2019.

Reed has more than 35 years of experience in higher education administration, student services, affirmative action policy development, and diversity and inclusion initiatives at five major universities. From 1998 until September 2001, he served as the Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations at the University of Florida. Rahim was one of the founding members of the Center, which is an interdisciplinary institution that promotes research and development of public policy in the areas of race relations, interracial dispute resolution, diversity education and training, racial equality and community relations. Prior to becoming director of the Center, Rahim also served as the Assistant Dean for Student and Minority Affairs at the University of Florida, College of Law from 1988 to 2001. He also chaired the University of Florida's Council on Affirmative Action from 1994 to 1996. Rahim served as Assistant Dean in the Office of African American Affairs at the University of Virginia from 1986 to 1988 and has also taught and held positions as a lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Florida College of Law, and a Teaching Assistant at Rutgers University School of Law School.

Rahim received his Bachelor Degree in Psychology, and Black Studies from the University of Pittsburgh in 1977. He also holds a Master Degree in Public Administration, and a Master Degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his legal studies in 1986 and holds a Juris Doctorate Degree from Rutgers University School of Law. He is an active member of several national organizations including the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education and the Global STEM Leadership Alliance and also serves on several local boards in the Davis-Sacramento region, including The Greater Sacramento Urban League, Urban Advocates and Achievers, United Way-Square One Project, and The International House of Davis.

We invite the campus to register to join the virtual celebration on Tuesday, July 20, and to post a message and/or photos on the “KUDO” board.* 

• Virtual Retirement Celebraton: Tuesday, July 20, 2021 – 11:30 AM. Register herefor the Zoom link.
• “KUDOs” Board (open for all)

*Additional celebrations include an in-person tribute to Rahim with DEI’s staff from Davis and Sacramento next week, along with a small, in-person ceremony with community leaders that will be held later this month. 

Finally, we pay tribute to Rahim’s dedication to the community by unveiling a scholarship in his honor, for students from Sacramento.  The scholarship will assist students who graduate from a public high school in Sacramento County and have been accepted into UC Davis, with a preference for students who graduated from one of the following high schools: 

• American Legion
• Luther Burbank
• Capital City
• Hiram Johnson
• Health Professions
• Engineering & Science
• Rosemont
• John F. Kennedy
• West Campus
• CK McClatchy

Given Rahim’s work with specific programs, further priority may be given to students who participated in the National Society of Black Engineers, Jr. (NSBE, Jr.) initiative, and/or Urban Advocates & Achievers in addition to graduating from one of the preferred high schools. TO CONTRIBUTE:  Please visit https://give.ucdavis.edu/  to make a gift, and add “Rahim Reed Award”  in the Special Instructions/Comments box. You can also contact Lauren Kidd at klkidd.ucdavis.edu for additional information or to make a gift.

Congratulations Rahim! Thank you for all that you have done for UC Davis!

Warmest Regards,
Renetta

An Invitation to Share your DEI Work

On the second anniversary of her appointment as Vice Chancellor of the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Renetta Garrison Tull, invited members of U.C. Davis to share the work they have been doing to advance our DEI mission this past year. The responses were gratifying and much appreciated. Take a look and if you have something to contribute, please do!

UPDATES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Office of Academic Diversity | AVC Lorena Oropeza

2021 ADVANCE Scholar Award Recipients 

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, through the ADVANCE Program and its Center for the Advancement of Multicultural Perspectives on Science (CAMPOS) is delighted to announce the 2021 ADVANCE Scholar Award recipients:

Diane Beckles
Plant Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

&

Luis Carvajal-Carmona
Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine

The ADVANCE Scholar Award highlights and celebrates the contributions that STEM faculty at UC Davis have made to their fields through outstanding scholarship and mentorship. The award aims to encourage excellence in research as well as leadership and outreach to underserved communities and/or mentorship of under-represented students. Read more about the awardees here.

Office of Campus Community Relations

2021-2022 Campus Community Book Project

With the 2020-2021 UC Davis Campus Community Book Project program now behind us—remember, you can find event recordings on the book project resources page—we now are looking ahead to the 2021-2022 cycle and beyond, and we welcome your involvement: 

• The Selection Committee will convene in early August and will be charged with making recommendations for the 2022-2023 book project cycle. The Selection Committee meets every 3-4 weeks through the end of the calendar year, with the goal of giving its final recommendations before winter break. To sign up for a book project committee, please complete this form.
• Second, we invite you to nominate a book on the theme of "police brutality, police reform and transformative justice/alternatives to policing” for the 2022-2023 book project cycle. Nominations can be emailed to ccbp@ucdavis.edu, and the deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, July 30, 2021. More information can be found on the book project nominations & selection page. 

Looking to stay connected with the book project? Visit the book project events page and subscribe to our online calendar for up-to-date event information and registration links. We also invite you to follow the book project on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Office of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion | AVC Hendry Ton

End of Year Overview and What's Next for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Associate Vice Chancellor of the Office for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Hendry Ton, M.D., MS, offers updates and reflections from the past academic year and what we can expect next. HEDI Blog page.

Health Equity Academy - Leaders for Tomorrow’s Healthcare (HEALTH)

The UC Davis School of Medicine Office of Student and Resident Diversity is no stranger to conducting outreach and recruitment locally and nationally along with hosting pathway programs supporting learners to succeed in pre-medical, medical, and residency training.  Among these programs is an early academic program that for some students kicks-off a journey into a career in healthcare, Health Equity Academy - Leaders for Tomorrow’s Healthcare (HEALTH). HEDI Blog page

Recruiting for a Director of Medical Center and Clinical Services Culture, Climate & Community Engagement

We are pleased to announce that the office of Health, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (HEDI) is recruiting to identify a new Director of Medical Center and Clinical Services Culture, Climate & Community Engagement. The incumbent reports directly to the Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) for HEDI, with dotted line reporting to Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer, and is charged with leading our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in focused clinical service areas at UC Davis Health. The Director will partner in operationalizing the mission and vision of making University of California Davis Health a fully inclusive, anti-racist, and multicultural organization that integrates the Principles of Community across the organization. Please see the position information and qualifications summary, see Job ID: 19461. Applications will be accepted through August 7, 2021. Please feel free to distribute this announcement and/or share the post on LinkedIn.

EVENTS

July 8 - August 19

TANA & YoloArts Mural Exhibit Collaboration: “Larger than Life: Murals in the Making”
Please join us Thursday, July 8, 5:30-8pm for the opening of Larger Than Life: Murals in the Making, an exhibit of local and regional mural artists curated and presented in collaboration with YoloArts. The exhibition will feature the work of local and regional mural artists including Elyse Doyle-Martinez, Chris Herman, Jared Konopitski, Emma Montalbano, Gladys Padilla, Jenn Ponci, Melissa Uroff and artists affiliated with TANA. It will additionally feature artwork from students in the Art 171: Mexican and Chicanx Mural Workshop, an interactive social justice arts course taught in the Chicana/o Studies department at UC Davis, founded by Malaquias Montoya, Professor Emeritus and co-founder of Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer (TANA), and taught by Jose Arenas, Executive Director of TANA. 

Exhibition Dates: July 8 – August 19, 2021   
Opening Reception: July 8, 5:30 - 8pm  

• 5:30-8pm - Music and refreshments. Featuring live printmaking by TANA.  
• 6:00PM - Unveiling of the 3rd annual High School mural project created by students and staff at Cesar Chavez Community School. Facilitated by Tomas Montoya and Monica Aceves Robles.  
• Community Mural Project: Make your mark on a community mural which will be set up outside the barn Gallery during open hours. All ages encouraged! 
• Location: The Barn Gallery, 512 Gibson Road Woodland, California 95695. Additional Info Here.

July 15, Thursday

Staff/Faculty Womxn of Color Support Group | 12:00PM
This group was brought together in 2019 by Dr. Gill and Cecily to support womxn of color employed at UC Davis. The intention is to offer a safe and encouraging space to support healing, growth and development in the personal and professional lives of womxn of color. Hosts: Dr. Satinder Gill, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Academic and Staff Assistance Program Cecily Nelson-Alford, Director, Women’s Resources and Research Center. Consent for participation is necessary, please contact drgill@ucdavis.edu for more information. The groups meets bi-weekly year round on Thursday (next meeting 7/29).

July 20, Tuesday

Disability Virtual Career Fair
Are you a person with a disability looking for a career opportunity or internship? This Virtual Career Fair is FREE for jobseekers with disabilities to attend. Competitive opportunities for every level of candidate, from experienced professionals, recent college graduates and college students with disabilities, to meet online with employers across the nation! Candidates are invited to interact with employers via chat sessions. Learn more and register here.

July 26, 28, and August 2

Facilitating Spaces Centered on Dismantling White Supremacy: A 3-part training series with an emphasis on leading white accountability spaces | 2:00PM
Hosted by the UC Davis Critical Whiteness Collective, this training series intends to educate and mobilize participants with interest in leading anti-racist organizing groups at UC Davis, with an emphasis on facilitating peer-led white accountability groups. All UC Davis community members are invited to skill-build, strategize, and co-create ongoing racial justice groups that center accountability, transformation, and ending white supremacy. This training series is funded by the UC Davis Office of Diversity, Equity Inclusion and the Division of Student Affairs. Zoom registration.

July 29, Thursday

Staff/Faculty Womxn of Color Support Group | 12:00PM
This group was brought together in 2019 by Dr. Gill and Cecily to support womxn of color employed at UC Davis. The intention is to offer a safe and encouraging space to support healing, growth and development in the personal and professional lives of womxn of color. Hosts: Dr. Satinder Gill, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Academic and Staff Assistance Program Cecily Nelson-Alford, Director, Women’s Resources and Research Center. Consent for participation is necessary, please contact drgill@ucdavis.edu for more information. The groups meets bi-weekly year round on Thursday (next meeting 8/12).

RECOMMENDED READING

UC Davis LIVE: Reentry Anxiety After Covid-19 – Special Video Presentation
As the pandemic restrictions are lifted across the country, people face returning to workplaces and pre-pandemic activities with a mixture of anxiety and elation. What are the psychological issues around going back to offices and mixing with people again? How will employers react to those who want to keep working from home? What does a new normal look like? We address these questions with our two experts: Professor Angela Drake is a clinical neuropsychologist at UC Davis Health and Kimberly Elsbach is professor of management and holds the Steven G. Newberry Chair in Leadership at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management. Watch the recorded discussion here.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Reporting Concerns of Harassment and Discrimination
The Harassment & Discrimination Assistance and Prevention Program (HDAPP) supports the University's commitment to a harassment and discrimination-free work and learning environment for all members of the UC Davis, UC Davis Health, and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR). 

If you are interested in reporting concerns of Harassment and Discrimination, please contact HDAPP to file a report and/or speak with a representative to better understand your options. Learn more about HDAPP here or go to HDAPP's website for more information.

Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center
The mission of Aggie Compass is to help mitigate the effects of food and housing insecurity on students, while working to change policy, systems and environment that will affect long term change. The Aggie Compass is a comfortable space for students to build community and learn about basic needs resources, pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, receive CalFresh enrollment assistance and help finding stable housing.

If you need help with food or housing insecurity concerns, financial or mental wellness, please visit their website for more information.

Counseling Services Mental Health Resources Webinar [requires Kerberos log-in] One of the things we hear frequently from instructors about teaching in Spring 2020 is the extent to which they encountered students in their courses experiencing significant stress or crisis, yet they felt unequipped to help or direct students to resources. To help, Student Health and Counseling Services provided a Mental Health Resources Webinar. If supporting students in crisis is a concern for you, please watch this previously-recorded webinar. Webinar topics include an overview of mental health services on campus, how to make referrals, signs of distress and how to respond, and how faculty can support students in the classroom (remote or on-campus). Student Affairs has also provided this folder of faculty resources.

Content Submission Form

Do you have a DEI-oriented event, announcement, or article that you would like us to help promote through our DEI communication channels? Did your unit/department or a member of your unit/department receive recognition that demonstrates your commitment to DEI? If so, please send us your information through this online form.

We invite you to share and submit your thoughts and items for our newsletter (either current or future news and events) at diversityinclusion@ucdavis.edu

Thank you for your dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion!

#ThinkBigDiversity
https://diversity.ucdavis.edu/