To the ÍêÃÀÌåÓý community:
I want to start this month by recognizing that national decisions surrounding higher education continue to cause uncertainty and concern. Many members of our community feel particularly vulnerable and afraid of what’s next. Please know that I hear you and I see you. Across the University of California system and here at ÍêÃÀÌåÓý, we are doing all we can to support you. Some of our efforts take place behind the scenes and out of the spotlight. Just because you don’t hear directly from me doesn’t mean I’m not working nearly around the clock on a variety of issues on your behalf. I am firmly committed to doing all I can to make sure we can continue to thrive and be resilient in times of constant change and challenges.
Most recently, I want to affirm our commitment to those in our community facing uncertainty due to recent federal action affecting their eligibility to stay in the United States. Your scholarship and presence are invaluable to our community. You are integral to who we are. We recognize this is a challenging time for many on our campus, so please know that our community is here to support you in any way we can. Resources for anyone needing support are available here.
Our students have a chance to make their voices heard for their next ASUCD leaders. Voting takes place between April 21-25. Learn more about the candidates and voting on the , and be sure to cast your ballot. Make sure your voice is heard.
Aggie Square rising
After eight years of planning, collaborative effort and construction, I am thrilled to announce that Aggie Square is finally becoming a reality. On May 2, we’ll cut the ribbon, marking the opening of the first buildings and the beginning of a new future for research, innovation and opportunity at ÍêÃÀÌåÓý. I invite you to the ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration. We’re anticipating a big crowd, so . If you are traveling from Davis, consider taking the .
As an electrical engineer and university leader, I have always believed in the unmatched power of connectivity to transform potential into success. Since my arrival at ÍêÃÀÌåÓý, I have been committed to building bridges between our students and researchers with industry partners and deepening the connections between our Davis and Sacramento campuses.
Our public-private partnership at Aggie Square, with Wexford Science & Technology designing, financing and constructing the buildings on university property, will do just that. Together, we’ll link our ÍêÃÀÌåÓý community with entrepreneurs and our neighbors to foster shared prosperity and spur innovation at ÍêÃÀÌåÓý, across the entire region and beyond.
Students are already experiencing the benefits of these integrated connections. Working in collaboration with Assistant Professor A. Haven Kiers’ landscape architecture studio, students in Professor Timothy McNeil’s environmental graphic design course spent time at the site, developing simulated informational and wayfinding graphics for a course project. In , students Stella Barretto, a third-year design and cognitive science major, and Zoe Romine, a fourth-year design major, represented the history of the Oak Park neighborhood with brick and incorporated the motif of ride tickets from the old State Fair site where Aggie Square sits today.
They were particularly proud of their patchwork mosaic design showcasing the unity of ÍêÃÀÌåÓý, Oak Park, local businesses and the lived history of residents. Both credit the course for providing a real client experience. Feedback from the Aggie Square team and working architects helped them envision how their coursework will transition directly into careers.
The site is filled with energy and optimism. Faculty and staff are rapidly occupying new labs and workspaces in 200 Aggie Square, a seven-story lab building, and 300 Aggie Square, an eight-story classroom and office building. Anova Aggie Square, a mixed-use residential building with 190 apartments, will welcome its first residents in June, and expanded parking is already available at the site.
Unlocking the power of an innovation ecosystem
Aggie Square is a new kind of development in Sacramento and for our university, one unleashing the power of ÍêÃÀÌåÓý research in a sustainable innovation ecosystem. Creators, researchers and entrepreneurs will develop ideas side-by-side at Aggie Square, working together to improve the health and well-being of people and the planet.
Imagine a space where students can acquire fundamental knowledge in classrooms, collaborate with the nation’s most innovative faculty to address global challenges and gain essential hands-on skills like developing prototypes to solve these problems before presenting them to investors who can transform their visions into reality.
Even the is designed as a place for spontaneous connection. Its unique buildings and spaces, from shared labs to inviting places to gather, create a hub where researchers can harness unexpected synergies to drive groundbreaking innovation.
When those innovations move from concept to prototype, the newly ren