Golden State Today

Estella Atekwana, dean of the College of Letters and Science at the University of California, Davis, expressed her gratitude upon being elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. "I’m still absorbing it all," said Atekwana, who is also a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. She added, "This recognition carries profound meaning for both myself and my family. I owe immense gratitude to my parents who allowed me to pursue my passions in earth sciences despite their initial hopes for me to pursue a career in medicine."

Atekwana, a renowned geophysicist with research interests in various fields, acknowledged the challenges she faced in a predominantly male and lacking diversity field. She credited her collaborators and students for their support and hard work that propelled their ideas forward. Atekwana's contributions to exploration geophysics have been recognized with several awards, including the 2021 Reginald Fessenden Award from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

Selected as dean of the College of Letters and Science in August 2021, Atekwana provides academic and administrative leadership for the largest college on the UC Davis campus. She oversees 37 departments and academic programs with more than 900 faculty members across various disciplines.

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences announced the election of Atekwana as one of the 250 new members in 2024. The academy, founded in 1780, recognizes and celebrates the excellence of its members from academia, the arts, industry, policy, research, and science. Atekwana joins 33 other academy members with current UC Davis affiliations, including emeriti.

Atekwana's affiliations also include being a fellow of the Geological Society of America and the American Geophysical Union. She is a member of several other prestigious organizations such as the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, Geochemical Society, and the National Association of Black Geoscientists.

The election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is a significant milestone in Atekwana's illustrious career, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the field of geophysics and academia.