There’s always something to celebrate at UC Davis. You’ve now seen stories about our successful return to campus, and the decreasing prevalence of the Omicron variant. We’ve also just seen record numbers of student applications, which speaks to the deep passion of so many young people who want to further their educations at UC Davis.

As Black History Month draws to a close, we celebrate and reflect on the many outstanding achievements and contributions Black Americans have made to our state, our nation and to the world at large.

“Throughout UC’s history, Black alumni, faculty and students have been integral to our excellence, making pioneering advances in science, medicine, the humanities, the law and other fields,” said Michael Drake, president of the University of California.

Somehow it feels like February is the start of the new year. Maybe it’s because, after an initial delay in returning to the UC Davis campus after the winter break, the college and its students are finally back on campus. In October, I wrote that it was nice to see students biking past Green Hall again, and in the Science Lab Building. In that way, not much has changed. It is nice to see them back – again!

This year has started with a familiar feel. Campus is quiet, students are attending remote instruction and a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded. It sounds almost like nothing has changed since the beginning of the pandemic. Thankfully, that isn’t the case.

For the 2021-2022 academic year, the college is proud to welcome three new members to its faculty. Below you’ll learn more about the research interest of each faculty member, and what brought them to UC Davis.

Xiaomo Chen joined the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior as an assistant professor in September 2021. Before joining the UC Davis faculty, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University.

Somehow December is here already. With the end of the year just around the corner, we can look back on what we have accomplished over the last 12 months, and reflect on how far we’ve come.

The Biology Academic Success Center (BASC)—the one-stop-shop for academic support and advising services for undergraduate students in the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences—welcomed five new employees to the Aggie family this year. The additions include four new academic advisors and a program coordinator, who will all assist in guiding the academic journeys of the over 6,500 undergraduate students spread across the college’s 11 majors.

With nearly 6,000 new and returning CBS students on campus, things in the college are starting to feel a little more like normal. I’m pleased to say that vaccination rates among CBS students, faculty and staff are at almost 100%. For those on campus, the Campus Ready website is where you will find the latest guidance, answers to common questions, and a full list of resources.

The University of California flag was flown at half-staff at the Memorial Union, Mark Hall and the UC Davis Airport recently to honor the memory of Professor Emeritus of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior Edmund Bernauer. Born on Sept. 27, 1926, Bernauer passed away on Aug. 12, 2021, at the age of 94.