Golden State Today

The University of California, Davis recently honored several individuals with the 2024-25 Chancellor’s Achievement Awards for Diversity and Community. These awards recognize efforts that enhance the institution's commitment to diversity and community engagement. Chancellor Gary S. May expressed gratitude to the recipients for their contributions, stating that they help "deepen our connections with each other and support our increasingly diverse communities." He emphasized that the Principles of Community at UC Davis, now in their 35th year, encourage diversity as encompassing a wide array of experiences and ideas to create an environment where everyone can thrive.

Mikael Villalobos, associate vice chancellor for Campus and Community Relations, highlighted the awardees as being instrumental in fostering a more inclusive campus community. The awards were presented by Renetta Garrison Tull, vice chancellor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Eliana Avalos, an international relations undergraduate, was recognized for her advocacy work with the Student Recruitment and Retention Center, promoting the acknowledgment of Indigenous heritage and sovereignty. She serves as the retention coordinator for Sol y Luna, the Latinx initiative at the center.

Maribel Anguiano, a Ph.D. candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Group, received recognition for her research on appetitive reward seeking in mice. She engages with the UC Davis chapter of SACNAS to connect graduate students with community college students, also serving as a mentor to first-year students.

Felix Ogunmokun, a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, was lauded for his contributions to career development offerings and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion among his team.

Erica Ávila, a business systems analyst, co-founded the UC Davis Womxn In Technology Employee Resource Group and led a fundraising effort that generated $5,000. She has also been active in the UC Tech Annual Conference and the Latinx Staff and Faculty Association.

Jessica Draughon Moret, an associate clinical professor at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, focuses her research on factors affecting women's health disparities. She co-developed a mobile app to assist individuals after abuse and has advanced initiatives to improve access to HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.

Alex Zhornitskiy, an assistant clinical professor in the Division of Gastroenterology, studies health disparities, particularly in inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer, while advocating for diversity in medical education and increasing screening rates among underserved populations.

The awards continue to highlight the importance of diversity and inclusive practices across various disciplines at UC Davis.