I am writing for the first time as the former dean of our college. The last decade of collaboration in support of our faculty, staff and students has shown me time and again that our college is made up of an extraordinary community. Whether you are a member of our esteemed faculty or one of our outstanding staff, you have my thanks for your ongoing support of our college. 

Today is Frédéric Chédin’s first official day as Dean of the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences. Fred has generously spent time with me and the cabinet of CBS associate and assistant deans in preparation for the transition. I greatly appreciate Fred’s effort. 

Fred is stepping into the role at a moment of uncertainty about national support for science and the mission of higher education. While things at the federal level are still uncertain, the college’s grant portfolio had only a small reduction — less than 4% — over the last fiscal year. In the same year, we had a record fundraising year of almost $20M. The college also has a large incoming class of over 2,000 undergraduates, including the largest-ever incoming transfer class of nearly 600 students. 

What’s more, despite unsteadiness during the pandemic, public trust in science remains strong and Congress has resolved to protect funding for science. The Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual almanac reports strong college enrollment in California, with forty-seven percent of 18- to 24-year-olds in college (well above the national average), and nearly 1.1M of them attending 4-year public universities. 

These numbers are encouraging. I am confident there will continue to be strong enrollment across the University of California system. Our college is a place of exploration and curiosity, of innovation and discovery. There will always be demand for research and a place to train future scientists, health practitioners, educators and other professionals. That is what we do, and what we will continue doing. 

My time as dean has shown me that our CBS faculty and staff are deeply committed to our research and educational mission. They have found ways to excel at this work while surmounting challenges from the pandemic, federal administrations, and even through campus budget challenges. I have no doubt that their resolve and fidelity will continue to serve the college well.

I wish them all a very successful fall quarter and Dean Chédin a successful tenure. Together, the CBS community will face and overcome current and future challenges and continue the excellence of our vibrant community.