UC Davis

09/04/2026

To the UC Davis community:

We are asking that you send thoughts and prayers to Rao and Vasu Unnava and their family. These two beloved members of the UC Davis community are among the thousands missing in the recent Nepal-Tibet flash floods.

We understand they were staying in a hotel in Timure, Nepal, a few kilometers from the border of Nepal and Tibet, when the flash floods occurred on August 26. They have not been located or heard from since then.

Rao stepped down on July 1 as dean of our Graduate School of Management (GSM), where he served for a decade. He is currently on sabbatical this year and will be working with the Institute for Innovation on Food and Health before returning to the school’s faculty as a professor of marketing. Vasu is an adjunct associate professor at the Graduate School of Management who teaches marketing and studies consumer behavior.

They have touched countless through their work at the Graduate School of Management and throughout their careers in higher education. We are grateful to both Rao and Vasu for their contributions that extend far beyond GSM and UC Davis.

Currently, the University of California’s global risk management, security, and crisis response contractor is working with authorities and agencies in Nepal, along with the U.S. State Department, to locate Rao and Vasu. The Unnavas' children and extended family are also pursuing every available avenue to obtain information and requested assistance from U.S. government agencies.

During this anxious time of uncertainty, students can contact Student Health and Counseling Services for help. Mental health and wellness support is available to faculty and staff through the Academic and Staff Assistance Program.

We continue to hope Rao and Vasu will be found safe and sound. Again, please keep them, their children, and extended family in your thoughts and prayers.

Gary S. May
Chancellor

Mary Croughan
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/message-chancellor-and-provost-about-unnavas

Image description: A composite image of Mrak Hall lawn with a dark blue overlay that reads, "Message from Chancellor and Provost About the Unnavas", with a yellow line line underneath and the date of September 3, 2026 below with a white UC Davis word mark in the bottom right corner.

09/03/2026

Aggies! Save the Date for this year's Homecoming Football game on Saturday, October 3rd.

Come out to UC Davis Health Stadium and watch the UC Davis Football team take on the Eastern Washington Eagles. The game kicks off at 7:30 PM.

Get your tickets early: https://ucdav.is/466kz5n

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Image description: A crowd of UC Davis students cheer in the stands.

09/02/2026

Moove-In season has begun! Excited to see Aggies back on campus and settling into Orchard Park.

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Image descriptions:
1: A student and their family give a thumbs-up to the camera as they push a cart and wagon with items.
2: A sandwich sign reading "Orchard Park Moove-In This Way" and a left arrow. Bikes and a building in the background.
3: Three individuals push a cart with items. A large sign reading "Check-In" in the foreground.
4: Chancellor Gary May pushes a cart with a student by a building.
5: Two individuals walk by a sign with a blue cart that says "Welcome to Moove-In."

09/01/2026

Congratulations, Dean Corsi! 👏

We’re excited to announce that Richard Corsi has been reappointed as Dean of the UC Davis College of Engineering, following a first term marked by growth in research, education and community.

We look forward to Corsi’s continued leadership as the College of Engineering builds on this momentum.

Read more about Corsi’s reappointment: https://ow.ly/l01h50ZHZcP



Image description: Corsi stands next to a reflective window outside of the Diane Bryant Engineering Student Design Center.

08/31/2026

A secret to the survival of juvenile salmon as they form in their eggs is revealed by a new study from NOAA Fisheries Service and UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences.

Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon are California’s most endangered salmon, with a single surviving population and an average of a few thousand returning fish in recent decades. Shasta Dam blocks their original habitat in cold mountain rivers draining Mount Shasta, leaving them to spawn in the low-lying Sacramento River heated by the summer sun.

Read more: https://ucdav.is/4yaMtsO

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Image description: A close up of a Chinook salmon. A blue gradient and white text reading "A secret to Survival for California's Most Endangered Salmon" with the UC Davis logo overlaid.

08/29/2026

The UC Davis football team returns to the field to begin a quest to earn a third straight trip to the postseason.

“I’m excited about the 2026 season and the opportunity to continue building something special at UC Davis,” said third-year head coach Tim Plough. “We often talk about finding joy in what we do, and that’s what this program is about. We want to represent UC Davis in a way that brings joy to our players, our university and our community — and gives people a team they’re proud to support.”

For those who want to follow along from Davis, the team’s season opener Saturday (Aug. 29) at Portland State will be televised on ESPN+. After two more road games, the Aggies will return to UC Davis Health Stadium on Sept. 19 to host the Hatters of Stetson University.

Read more about the UC Davis football team and their season: https://ucdav.is/4ceCyKo

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Image description: Two UC Davis football players run on the field with an opponent in the background.

08/28/2026

Guilherme Maia Silva ’19 is the brains behind MILK-ish, a new plant-based milk alternative made from watermelon seeds. Think almond milk, but with the seeds from watermelons. From the idea and conceptualization to selling and social media, Silva is determined to educate potential customers.

Read more about Silva's journey as a plant science major and kick-starting MILK-ish: https://ucdav.is/3UVhzGt

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Image description: Guilherme Maia Silva wears a brown collared shirt and smiles at the camera with trees behind him. A gold and blue color block that reads "Guilherme Maia Silva ’19 Created a New Product from Watermelon Seeds" and the UC Davis Magazine logo.

08/26/2026

On this , we’d like to thank the very, very good dogs that help improve and support the UC Davis community.

🌟 Cori the Rocket Dog: our favorite football tee and bat retrieving dog with all the Aggie Pride!

🌟 K-9 Officer Cali and K-9 Officer Princess Leia: our joyful pups who provide mental health support across campuses for students, staff and faculty.

🌟 UC Davis Health Canine Crew deliver comfort and joy for children and teens in the hospital (and are excellent donut models too!).

Image descriptions:
1: Cori the Rocket Dog, a black Labrador Retriever, sitting with a green tee in her mouth
2: Cali, a yellow Labrador Retriever, sitting and posing
3: Princess Leia, a Bernedoodle, sitting and posing
4: Three Canine Crew dogs dressed in donut headbands and holding sprinkle donut toys in their mouths

08/26/2026

Yesterday, Aggie Pride was in full force at the A's game for UC Davis Night at the ballpark! Gunrock (and Stomper) brought smiles to fans, alumni and staff. Many thanks to the Cal Aggie Alumni Association for bringing students and alumni together for a fun evening.

Go Ags!

Image descriptions:
1. Gunrock and Stomper posing with two Aggie/Athletics fans
2. Gunrock posing with an Aggie fan wearing UC Davis x Athletics apparel and holding a "Go Ags!" gold sign
3. Stomper and Gunrock stopping by the Cal Aggie Alumni Association table and posing with staff member
4. An Aggie fan posing by pointing their finger to the camera whilst hugging Gunrock
5. An Aggie fan in the UC Davis x Athletics hat holding a blue "UC Davis Alumni" sign while Gunrock holds up a "Go Ags!" gold sign
6. Two Aggie fans in their UC Davis x Athletics hats posing with Gunrock in the middle
7. Three Aggie fans in various UC Davis apparel posing with Gunrock

08/25/2026

UC Davis Law Professor Thomas Joo puts the letters "D" and "J" in J.D. and his name, DJ Wax-On. 🎧🪩

On the second Thursday of each month, you can find him spinning records at Armadillo Music in downtown Davis.

And his love for music doesn't stop at the decks. “I play music in class a lot to illustrate a lesson,” said Joo. “[One example is] ‘Give and Take’ by The Pioneers. I used that in a lesson about consideration in contracts.”

Read more at the link: https://www.ucdavis.edu/magazine/spinning-side

Image description: Professor Thomas Joo spinning vinyl in a sunlit room. He is wearing eyeglasses and a blue target t-shirt.

Photo credit: Gregory Urquiaga