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Endowed Chairs create impact
An endowed chair is a distinction awarded by the University of California, Davis, to a faculty member or Cooperative Extension specialist in recognition of past and potential contributions to the individual's academic and research discipline. In addition to the honor given to the individual, an endowed chair provides funding to support his or her teaching, research, and outreach responsibilities.
Endowed chairs give UC Davis greater impact as a world-class university. These positions help attract and retain the brightest teachers and researchers. The holders of endowed chairs contribute to the scholarly activity and effective functioning of their academic units through teaching, seminars, or other intellectual pursuits that benefit students and external stakeholders.
These important faculty positions are made possible only by the generosity of donors who believe strongly in the need to support an area of study that will benefit society. Current endowed chairs in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences include:
- Ernest Gallo Professorship in Enology and Viticulture
- Melvin D. Androus Professorship for Rice Weed Control
- Anheuser-Busch Professorship in Malting and Brewing Sciences
- James G. Boswell Endowed Chair in Soil Science
- Frank H. Buck, Jr. Chair in Agricultural Business
- L.D. Davis Professorship in Pomology
- Daniel B. DeLoach Chair in Agricultural Economics
- John and Joan Fiddyment Chair
- Robert M. Hagan Endowed Chair in Water Management and Policy
- W. K. Kellogg Endowed Chair in Sustainable Food Systems
- John E. Kinsella Chair in Food, Nutrition and Health
- Will W. Lester Chair in Pomology
- Mars Inc. Endowed Chair in Developmental Nutrition
- Louis P. Martini Endowed Chair in Viticulture
- John B. Orr Endowed Chair in Environmental Plant Sciences
- Raveling Endowed Professorship in Waterfowl Biology
- Marvin Sands Endowed Chair in Viticulture and Enology
- Evert and Marion Schlinger Chair in Insect Systematics
- Stephen Sinclair Scott Endowed Chair in Enology
- Sesnon Endowed Chair in Animal Science
- Peter J. Shields Chair in Dairy Food Science
- Stelling Endowed Chair in Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Alexander and Elizabeth Swantz Endowed Specialist in Cooperative Extension
The Ernest Gallo Endowed Professorship in Viticulture and Enology
Department of Viticulture and Enology
Purpose:
To support excellence in research for a faculty member pursuing
scientific advancement in the fields of enology and viticulture.
Year Established and Funding:
Established in 1978 through generous donations by the Ernest Gallo Trust
Current Chair Holder:
Professor David E. Block, 2011 to present
Website
Along with his appointment to the Gallo Endowed Chair, Professor Block is Vice Chair and Professor in Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, with a joint appointment in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. Since joining UC Davis, his research has spanned various topics, including development of fermentation datamining, modeling, and optimization methods, metabolic engineering of yeast and lactic acid bacteria for improved biofuel and recombinant protein production, and catalytic conversion of agricultural waste streams into fuels and value-added chemicals.
Professor Block has received multiple awards for his teaching, including an award from the Northern California American Institute of Chemical Engineers for Excellence in Chemical Engineering Teaching and a Distinguished Teaching Award from the UC Davis Academic Senate. Prior to joining UC Davis, he worked for Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc. in Nutley, NJ where he was in charge of fermentation process development groups, as well as designing and operating process control systems for new biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. David holds a B.S.E. from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, both in Chemical Engineering.
The Melvin D. Androus Endowed Professorship for Rice Weed Control
Department of Plant Sciences
Purpose:
The purpose of this professorship is to provide a permanent source of
funding for both basic and mission-oriented weed control research in
rice and related cropping systems for the California rice industry.
Melvin D. Androus was manager of the California Rice Research Board
from its inception in 1969 until 1997. His leadership in California's
rice research and promotion effort has been critical to that industry's
success and survival. Androus served as chair of the California
Commodity Commission for 13 years and represented California on the
National Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching
(CARET) executive committee. He has served on the College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences' Dean's Advisory Council for 10
years. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, the California
Rice Research Board created an endowment named the Melvin D. Androus
Professorship for Rice Weed Control.
Year Established and Funding:
Established in 1996 through generous donations made by the California Rice Research Board
Current Chair Holder:
Associate Professor Albert J. Fischer, 1997 to present
Website
Dr. Fischer is the inaugural holder of the Melvin D. Androus Endowed Professorship for Rice Weed Control. The main direction of his strategic research is to develop basic knowledge on rice-weed interactions and herbicide resistance leading to the development of integrated weed management strategies for rice with emphasis on crop interference.
The Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professorship in Malting and Brewing Science
Department of Food Science and Technology
Purpose:
To support a faculty member of preeminence teaching and researching the area of malting and brewing science
Year Established and Funding:
Established in 1996 through generous donations by the Anheuser-Busch Foundation
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Charles Bamforth, 1999 to present
Website
Dr. Bamforth’s current research program focuses primarily on the wholesomeness of beer, including studies on the psychophysics of beer perception, on polyphenols as anitoxidants and on the residues from non-starchy polysaccharide digestion that constitute soluble fiber and potential prebiotics in beer. Research in the laboratory also embraces the enzymology of the malting and brewing process, foam stability, prevention of oxidation in wort and beer, beer flavor and alternative paradigms for beer production.
The James G. Boswell Endowed Chair in Soil Science
Department of Land, Air and Water Resources
Purpose:
This chair was established through a gift from the James G. Boswell
Foundation, which was founded in 1947 in Pasadena, California, with the
objectives to support agricultural activities, including teaching and
research. The James G. Boswell Foundation was founded by the Boswell
family, which at this time had already had a significant impact on
California’s agriculture. The family remains a powerful player in the
state and has a vested interest in making sure that the industry
remains viable. The James G. Boswell Endowed Chair in Soil Science is
one aspect of the Boswell’s effort to ensure that California’s
agriculture stays on the cutting edge.
Year Established and Funding:
Established in 2005 with a generous gift from the James G. Boswell Foundation.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor William Horwath, 2008 to present
Website
William Horwath, a Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry and Soil Biogeochemist has an enviable research record with over 80 peer reviewed papers and has been a leader in sustainable agriculture research activities at UC Davis. He has been the Director of the Sustainable Farming System Project at Russell Ranch since his appointment to that post in 2003. He is also the Associate Director, since 2003 of the Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources.
The Frank H. Buck, Jr. Endowed Chair in Agricultural Business
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Purpose:
The Buck family has been involved in agricultural production in
California for over 100 years. To pay tribute to her family’s long
heritage in agriculture and to honor her late husband, Congressman
Frank H. Buck, Jr., Eva Benson Buck endowed a Chair in the Department
of Agricultural and Resource Economics. The purpose of the Chair is to
conduct applied agricultural economics research to benefit production
agriculture in California.
Year Established and Funding:
Established in 1990 through generous gifts from Eva Benson Buck.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Daniel Sumner, 1991 to present
Website
In addition to serving as a professor of agricultural and resource economics, Dr. Sumner is the director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center, based at UC Davis. His research and writing focuses particularly on the consequences of farm and trade policy on agriculture and the economy, including commodity programs, trade policy, human resources and regulations. Sumner’s current emphasis is on agricultural trade in the Pacific Rim (especially Korea), dairy industry issues and rice policy.
The L. D. Davis Endowed Professorship in Pomology
Department of Plant Sciences
Purpose:
The purpose of this professorship is to provide a permanent source of
funding for research that will enhance, accelerate, and ensure the
development of new and improved canning peaches, processing peaches,
and peach-like varieties primarily adapted to the Sacramento and San
Joaquin Valleys of California, using appropriate techniques of plant
hybridization and genetic manipulation calculated to provide the
greatest varietal improvement, gain, and benefit to the California
peach industry at the least cost and in the shortest time.
Year Established and Funding:
1993 through generous donations from the California Cling Peach Growers Advisory Board
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Thomas Gradziel, 1993 to present
Website
Dr. Gradziel’s research focuses on the development of genetic elements
of integrated solutions to the serious problems facing the Prunus tree
crop industries brought about by losses of agri-chemicals, labor, and
good crop land. Three areas have been identified where genetic
improvements offer promise for resolving production problems: brown rot
of clingstone peach, aflatoxin contamination of almond, and pollination
efficacy in almond. He also examines the modification of fruit and tree
structure, tree developmental periods, and analyzes the risks and
opportunities of chimeras in vegetatively propagated crops. Gradziel is
affiliated with both the Genetics and Plant Biology graduate groups.
The Daniel B. DeLoach Endowed Chair in Agricultural Economics
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Purpose:
Through his estate, Dr. Daniel Barton DeLoach established an endowed
chair for the purpose of conducting research and teaching the economics
of transporting agricultural and related products. Upon his death,
DeLoach also gave generously to support undergraduate scholarships for
students pursuing degrees in agricultural economics. In 1958, after a
successful career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in which he
rose to Chief of the Margins and Cost Branch, DeLoach became a UC
professor of agricultural economics, first serving at UCLA and then at
UC Davis until he retired in 1971.
Year Established and Funding:
Established in 1994 by the Daniel Barton DeLoach Trust.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Jeffrey Williams, 1998 to present
http://www.agecon.ucdavis.edu/
Dr. Williams’ research falls into two main categories: price relationships among markets and the institutional features of markets. Williams studies the arbitrage connections for the same commodity (or financial instrument) among different locations or different delivery dates; especially when a temporary shortfall or surplus strains the transport, storage, or processing sectors. Regarding markets as institutions, he is interested in those that develop to deal with the variability in commodity supplies, such as swap markets and futures markets. Williams has a major study underway on the liquidity of the Tokyo Grain Exchange's system of auction markets.
The John and Joan Fiddyment Endowed Chair in Agriculture
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Purpose:
John Fiddyment, descended from Placer County farm pioneers dating back
nearly 150 years, is the great-grandson of Elizabeth Jane who began
farming as a widow in 1856. The Fiddyment Chair in Agriculture will
support research and teaching in the spirit of the Fiddyment Family
tradition of agriculture.
Year Established and Funding:
In 2004, John and Joan Fiddyment provided substantial initial gifts to
establish a new research fund and subsequently provided additional
gifts to increase the total level of the fund to endowment status.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Mary Delany – 2009 to present
http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/faculty/delany/
My laboratory research focuses on avian telomere biology, with chicken being the primary organism under study. Our studies concentrate on the organization, inheritance, regulation and stability of telomere array organization in normal, immortalized and transformed cell systems, both in vitro and in vivo. Telomere stability is one of the most significant genetic mechanisms controlling overall genome stability and influencing cellular proliferation, senescence and transformation. Current projects include analysis of the regulation and function of the telomere-telomerase pathway during oncogenesis induced by Marek’s disease virus (MDV), a DNA herpes virus which induces T-cell lymphomas and results in a high level of mortality. This particular disease is a problem of enormous significance for the poultry industry. MDV infection and disease in chickens also serves as a model system for human herpes virus infection and disease conditions (e.g., Burkitt’s lymphoma caused by Epstein Barr virus). Students studying in the lab (M.S. and Ph.D.) are trained in the disciplines of genetics, cytogenetics, and genomics with an emphasis on avian systems as well as comparative vertebrate biology. Research and technology levels range from molecular and cellular to the organismal. Other interests and areas of research include gene mapping and chromosome organization, congenital and inherited developmental mutations, and conservation of poultry and avian genetic resources.
The Robert M. Hagan Endowed Chair in Water Management and Policy
Department of Land, Air and Water Resources
Purpose:
Robert (Bob) Hagan challenged those interested in sound water policy to
make a long-term investment in the university. He saw a need for the
academic community to provide additional assistance in this field and
outlined how he would like UC Davis to serve decision makers in the
water community. In keeping with his vision, the faculty member holding
the Robert M. Hagan Endowed Chair in Water Management and Policy will
serve at the university to develop and apply new methods and approaches
to the resolution of water problems through innovative combinations of
science, policy and management; respond to inquiries from concerned
persons and groups such as water district directors and staff, elected
officials, state and federal government, agriculture, business and
other special interest groups; facilitate access to information and to
experts; and bring information needs to the attention of appropriate
people and groups that may lead to expanded or modified research
activities of greater value-added to the public.
Year Established and Funding:
Before he died in July 2002, Bob Hagan personally pledged toward an
endowment for this position and challenged the water industry to match
it. This pledge was fulfilled and his gift was matched 1:1 by
individuals, water agencies, businesses, and philanthropic
foundations. The endowed specialist position was officially
established in March 2005.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Thomas Harter, 2007 to present
http://lawr.ucdavis.edu/directory_facultypages.php?id=41
Thomas Harter received a B.S. degree in hydrology from the Universities of Freiburg, Germany, and an M.S. degree in hydrology from the University of Stuttgart, Germany. He received his Ph.D. degree in hydrology (with an emphasis on subsurface hydrology) at the University of Arizona, where he became the 1991 Harshbarger Fellow for outstanding research in subsurface flow and transport modeling.
In 1995, he joined the faculty of the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis. His research focuses on nonpoint source pollution of groundwater, groundwater resources evaluation under uncertainty, groundwater modeling, and contaminant transport. Dr. Harter's research group is involved in extensive modeling, laboratory, and fieldwork to evaluate the impacts of agriculture and other human activity on groundwater flow and contaminant transport in complex aquifer and soil systems. Among his recent works are the development of a new environmental transport model for Cryptosporidium parvum, a leading cause of waterborne disease in the U.S. and Europe, and several peer-reviewed reviews and original contributions to understand nonpoint source transport processes in heterogeneous alluvial aquifers.
Dr. Harter is a leading groundwater researcher on understanding the role of dairy manure management on groundwater pollution with nitrate, salts, pharmaceuticals, hormones, and pathogens and he has taken a leading role in informing stakeholders and providing decision support to numerous stakeholders as California develops stringent environmental regulations for animal feeding operations.
Robert (Bob) Hagan challenged those interested in sound water policy to make a long-term investment in the university by providing a one-to-one match to his pledge. He saw a need for the academic community to provide additional assistance in this field. Dr. Harter will help resolve water problems through innovative combinations of science, policy, and management; respond to inquiries from concerned persons and groups such as water districts, elected officials, state and federal government, agriculture, business and other special interest groups; facilitate access to information and to experts; and bring information needs to the attention of appropriate people and groups that may lead to expanded or modified research activities of greater value-added to the public.
The W. K. Kellogg Endowed Chair in Sustainable Food Systems
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Sustainability Institute
Purpose:
The W.K. Kellogg Endowed Chair in Sustainable Food Systems will provide
leadership as director of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute and
UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. The holder
of this chair will leverage these entities and his or her own research
and teaching to foster a safe, healthy, and accessible food supply for
Californian's while applying UC Davis' resources toward building a
national collaborative network of leaders in the field of
sustainability.
Year Established and Funding:
A major gift was received from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in May 2005.
The endowed chair was officially established in July 2006.
Current Chair Holder:
Tom Tomich
Curriculum Vitae
Agricultural Sustainability Institute
Professor Tom Tomich is the inaugural chair holder. Tomich holds a
joint faculty appointment in the Community Studies and Development Unit
(Department of Human and Community Development) and in the
Environmental Science and Policy department. He will assume his
responsibilities in January 2007.
Dr. Tomich, a California-trained agricultural economist with a doctorate in food systems research, comes to UC Davis after serving as global coordinator of the Alternatives to Slash-and-Burn (ASB) Program, which is hosted by the World Agroforestry Center, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. During his 12 years with the World Agroforestry Centre, Tomich has worked with the ASB Program's long-term collaborative partnerships in the Amazon, Congo Basin and Southeast Asia to raise the productivity and income of rural households without increasing deforestation or undermining the environment.
The John E. Kinsella Endowed Chair in Food, Nutrition and Health
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Purpose:
To support research excellence in the interactions of food and diet on health
Year Established and Funding:
Established in1994 through generous donations from the Kraft General Foods Co.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Alyson Mitchell – 2010 to present
http://mitchell.ucdavis.edu/
Alyson Mitchell was born in Oakland, California. She is the daughter of an Air Force pilot and a Registered Nurse and has traveled and lived throughout the United States. After attending Diablo Valley College in Pleasanton, California, she received her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Toxicology (1992) and her Ph.D. degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology (1996) from the University of California, Davis. Her graduate thesis focused on the application of mass spectrometry for studying how diet induced changes in enzymes important in the detoxification reactions. She pursued her interest in diet, food composition and disease as a postdoctoral student in the Department of Nutrition at UC Davis. Mitchell’s first academic appointment was in the Department of Environmental Toxicology at UC Davis. Her research focused on improving analytical detection methods for antioxidants in foods. She joined the Department of Food Science & Technology in 2000 where she has developed a multifaceted research program focused on developing new methods for (1) characterizing flavonoids and flavonoid metabolites in foods and biological tissues and understanding how these phytochemicals alter molecular mechanisms that maintain health and/or modulate disease and (2) determining how food processing methods influence the composition of flavonoids, vitamins and formation of chemical toxicants in foods. Mitchell has a state-of-the-art analytical laboratory located in the Department of Food Science and Technology. She enjoys working with international scholars, and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students. She teaches “Chemical and Physical Analysis of Foods” and “Food Toxicology” at UC Davis. Her leisure pursuits include spending time with family and friends, hiking, skiing, traveling, playing guitar and cooking.
The Will W. Lester Endowed Chair in Pomology
Department of Plant Sciences
Purpose:
In 1986, Will W. Lester established an endowed chair to advance
research in the field of Pomology. Mr. Lester received his
undergraduate degree in horticulture from UC Davis in 1940. Following
his service during World War II, he resumed his role as an orchardist
with Lester & Lester in the Santa Clara Valley and became an active
cooperator with UC’s Cooperative Extension Service. He developed new
irrigation methods and innovative practices in fruit drying and field
tested newly developed insecticides. An active volunteer, he served as
both Director of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and Trustee of the UC
Davis Foundation.
Year Established and Funding:
Established in 1986 through generous donations by Will W. Lester.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Eduardo Blumwald, 2000 to present
Website
Dr. Blumwald’s research career has focused on how plants respond and adapt to harsh environmental conditions such as drought, cold, and salty soils or water and includes examining biotic and abiotic stressors. In 2001 Blumwald and colleagues announced a genetically engineered tomato plant that thrives in salty irrigation water. He is continuing this research in hopes of developing other salt-tolerant crops that will be useful for agricultural production in areas of the world that have salty irrigation water and salt-damaged soils.
The Mars, Inc. Endowed Chair in Developmental Nutrition
Department of Nutrition
Purpose:
The Mars, Inc. chair holder will focus on research and information
dissemination in the area of developmental nutrition, specifically the
influence of diet on embryonic and fetal development. Correction of
nutritional deficiencies during early in utero development could result
in marked reductions of pregnancy complications and birth defects.
Year Established and Funding:
This chair was established in the spring of 2005 from gifts entirely provided by Mars. Inc.
The chair fund corpus was part of a much larger, transforming gift from Mars to UC Davis.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Carl Keen, 2005 to present
http://nutrition.ucdavis.edu/faculty/keen.html
Dr. Keen's research group has three main areas of activities: The influence of diet on embryonic and fetal development; the study of gene-nutrient interactions, with an emphasis on how subtle changes in cell mineral concentrations influence the expression of select genes; and the study of how diet influences oxidant defense systems, and as a consequence the occurrence of cellular oxidative damage. The above research themes are integrated, and approached through a combination of in vitro and in vivo models, including the study of human subjects.
The Louis P. Martini Endowed Chair in Viticulture
Department of Viticulture and Enology
Purpose:
The Martini chair honors the memory of Louis Peter Martini, the pioneer
winemaker who studied viticulture and enology at UC Davis, and allows
for excellence in research in the field of viticulture.
Year Established and Funding:
Established in 1989 through generous gifts from the Martini Family and Winery.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor M. Andrew Walker, 2000 to present
http://wineserver.ucdavis.edu/people/faculty.php?id=13
Dr. Walker is an internationally known grape geneticist who has been breeding grapes on campus since 1989 whose research involves the development of rootstocks and studying the genetic basis of resistance to soil-borne pests. Walker is also helping breed new grape varieties with resistance to Pierce’s disease, which can devastate harvests of the fruit.
The John B. Orr Endowed Chair in Environmental Plant Sciences
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Purpose:
This endowed chair was established through a bequest from John B. Orr,
a former UC Davis Maintenance Shop employee. His intent was to “serve
UC Davis and its students….” Half of his financial gift was to be
dedicated to the plant sciences, and half to the environmental
sciences. This endowed chair combines both areas into one important
gift.
Year Established and Funding:
A generous planned (estate) gift from John Orr established this chair in June 2003.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor and Extension Specialist Louise Jackson, 2006 to present
http://groups.ucanr.org/jacksonlab/
Dr. Jackson is the inaugural holder of the John B. Orr Endowed Chair in Environmental Plant Sciences. Jackson is internationally recognized as an expert on topics related to plant and soil ecology, agricultural sustainability, biodiversity, and land use change. Dr. Jackson is strongly committed to utilizing and conserving biodiversity to provide services within agricultural ecosystems, reducing impacts on wildland ecosystems, and developing policies for sustaining biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.
The Raveling Endowed Professorship in Waterfowl Biology
Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology
Purpose:
Even modest changes in agricultural practices and wetlands management
can bring enormous benefits for the 20 percent of the nation’s geese,
swans and ducks who live in or migrate through California’s Central
Valley. The birds repay this kindness by helping farmers control weeds
and mosquitoes. The Raveling Professorship helps faculty pursue both
basic research and its applications in farming, business and public
policy. The Raveling endowment enables the faculty holder to put
graduate students into the field quickly and get vital research done.
Year Established and Funding:
In 1995, the Friends of California Waterfowl, a volunteer support group
of businesspeople, farmers, associations and foundations, established
this endowed fund in honor of the late Dennis G. Raveling, an
internationally recognized waterfowl researcher who taught at UC Davis
for 20 years. Major donors include Peter and Nora Stent, Herbst
Foundation, Dean Witter Foundation, California Waterfowl Association,
Charles Schwab, Victor Parachini
Current Chair Holder:
Professor John Eadie, 1995 to present
http://wfcb.ucdavis.edu/pages/faculty/Eadie.htm
Dr. Eadie calls ducks “the poster children of wetlands conservation because the loss of 90 to 95 percent of its wetlands has made California the emergency room of the biological sciences.” His research interests extend beyond waterfowl ecology to include waterfowl evolution, behavioral ecology, and ecological and conservation genetics.
The Marvin Sands Endowed Chair in Viticulture and Enology
Department of Viticulture and Enology
Purpose:
This endowed chair honors the late Marvin Sands, founder of beverage
industry leader Canandaigua, now known as Constellation Brands. When
Marvin Sands passed away, his "industry friends" pledged over $400,000
to establish an endowment in his honor in the department. Major
contributors include Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc., the
Goldring Family Foundation and the Wirtz Corporation. Canandaigua
Industries was established in 1945. It grew from a small bulk wine
producer in the Northeast to an international, diversified
multi-billion dollar beverage company.
Year Established and Funding:
Established in 1999 by the generosity of friends and associates of Marvin Sands.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Andy Waterhouse – 2008 to present
http://wineserver.ucdavis.edu/people/faculty.php?id=14
Dr. Waterhouse is an internationally recognized wine chemist. His research activity focuses on the chemistry of a class of natural phytochemicals called ‘phenolic compounds’; addressing two types of effects: those that are important to the taste of wine and those that relate to health effects on wine consumers. In both cases, his laboratory collaborates with others who can help utilize the data and assisting in our understanding of these compounds. In the area of wine quality, his current interest is in the effect of oxidation on wine chemistry and how this oxidation affects important quality parameters of wine, such as taste and color. He has been studying micro-oxygenation and its effect on wine color and tannins. In general, the effects they are seeing are small, but with higher levels of oxygen they are seeing significant changes.
He is currently testing some new theories on wine oxidation chemistry. Dr. Waterhouse is also participating in the development of general analytical methodology of interest in wine analysis and has a variety of methods published in this area. Dr. Waterhouse and his colleagues are currently applying a number of different methods to look at new grape and wine treatments being offered by various companies. Dr. Waterhouse currently serves as Chair for the Department of Viticulture and Enology.
The Evert and Marion Schlinger Endowed Chair in Insect Systematics
Department of Entomology
Purpose:
This chair was established through gifts from the Schlinger
Foundation. It was the intent of Evert and Marion Schlinger that this
endowed chair attracts and sustains scholars and scientists working in
the area of the systematics of insects, including arachnids.
Year Established and Funding:
This chair was established in December 1995 and funded with generous gifts totaling $1 million.
Current Chair Holder:
Vacant
The Stephen Sinclair Scott Endowed Chair in Enology
Department of Viticulture and Enology
Purpose:
To support excellence in research for a faculty member pursuing
scientific advancement in the fields of enology and viticulture.
Year Established and Funding:
Established in 1984 through generous gifts from Robert S. Scott and Scott Laboratories Inc.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Roger Boulton, 2000 to present
http://wineserver.ucdavis.edu/people/faculty.php?id=4
Dr. Boulton studies the chemical and biochemical engineering aspects of winemaking and distilled spirits production. His work involves fermentation and reaction kinetics; physical and chemical stability of wines; mathematical modeling, computer simulation and control of enological operations; winery design (winemaking equipment selection, winery design and layout) and the economics of investment and operation. Boulton’s current research involves a major effort into the phenomenon of copigmentation, a major color phenomenon in red wines, as well as fermentation interests involving juice composition and sulfide formation.
The Sesnon Endowed Chair in Animal Science
Department of Animal Science
Purpose:
The Sesnon Chair supports a distinguished animal scientist who provides
intellectual leadership in undergraduate and graduate teaching and
research for the Department of Animal Science, the College and the
campus. The chair holder is expected to have made distinguished
research contributions in the field of animal science relevant to the
biology and production of livestock or aquaculture species.
Year Established and Funding:
Established in 1977 through generous gifts from Porter Sesnon, Barbara
Sesnon Cartan, William T. Sesnon, Jr. and the Cal Aggie Foundation.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Ermias Kebreab – 2009 to present
http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/faculty/Kebreab/
My research focuses on four main areas: Quantification and mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture using a whole systems approach. This is accomplished through development of various types of mathematical models to predict emissions from animals, manure and soil. Development of energy and nutrient utilization/requirement models in various species of animals using empirical and mechanistic modeling approaches. Application of recent theoretical developments in mathematics and statistics for solving environmental issues facing modern agriculture. My group is affiliated with UC Davis Agricultural Sustainability Institute and we are engaged in the study of sustainable agriculture, in particular quantitative aspects of animal production in relation to environmental sustainability.
The Peter J. Shields Endowed Chair in Dairy Food Science
Department of Food Science and Technology
Purpose:
To provide continuous support for the chair holder to allow for the
conduct of exemplary research, teaching, and continuous interaction
with the dairy food industry.
Year Established and Funding:
Established in 1993 through the generosity of the California Milk
Advisory Board and the California Manufacturing Milk Advisory Board.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor John Krochta, 1998 to present
Website
Dr. Krochta’s research focuses on food engineering, food packaging, edible films and coatings, mass transfer in foods and biological systems shares. He shares his thoughts on the Shields chair here: Website
The Donald and Miriam Stelling Endowed Chair in Agricultural Economics
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Purpose:
The gift from Miriam C. Stelling was provided to establish an academic
chair in the Department of Agricultural Economics (now the Department
of Agricultural and Resource Economics). The holder of this chair will
be known as the Stelling Professor in Agricultural Economics and will
focus on agricultural trade, marketing, policy and related matters,
creating more knowledge leading to the enrichment of agriculture’s
economic capabilities.
Year Established and Funding:
This endowed chair was established through a generous planned gift. The
UC Davis Foundation received a charitable remainder trust when Miriam
C. Stelling passed away in October 1999 and will receive assets from
the trust when her beneficiary passes. The endowed chair was
established in January 2001.
Current Chair Holder:
The department has chosen to not fill this chair until trust funds become available.
The Alexander and Elizabeth Swantz Endowed Specialist in Cooperative Extension
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Purpose:
Given that innovation and change in agricultural and environmental
sciences are occurring at a rapid rate, the Swantzes leave specific
designation of the Swantz Specialist in Cooperative Extension to the
discretion of the dean. The general area of research, extension
education, and outreach will be in agriculture or environmental science
conducted in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
with primary consideration given to water use management.
Year Established and Funding:
This chair was funded in 2004 through a variety of generous financial gift instruments to the UC Davis Foundation.
Current Chair Holder:
Professor Edwin Grosholz, 2007 to present
http://www.des.ucdavis.edu/faculty/grosholz/ted.htm
Edwin Grosholz has been a member of the UC Davis faculty since 1999. He has an international reputation as an expert in coastal and inland water resources with a particular focus on invasive species management and habitat restoration. His work addresses the impacts of introduced animals and plants on coastal estuaries, the consequences of restoring river floodplains, obstacles to restoring native oysters, and developing indicators of estuarine ecosystem health. His outreach program addresses ways of educating the public about the threats posed by biological invasions and ways to increase participation in reducing future introductions.
Dr. Grosholz received his B.A. degree in biology from Brown University in 1982 and his Ph.D. degree in zoology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1990. He has published over forty peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has edited a new book, Anthropogenic Modification of North American Salt Marshes. He has also been a principal investigator on more than twenty-five federal and state grants and contracts investigating invasive species and habitat restoration in aquatic systems.
In his outreach education program, Grosholz has produced numerous materials including posters, videos, pamphlets, Web sites, and watch cards. These materials are targeted toward members of the public and representatives of industries that are affected by the sales and distribution of aquatic introduced species, as well as the state and federal agencies responsible for managing affected water resources. Many of these materials are published in other languages including Spanish and Chinese in order to better communicate the messages to California's diverse population.
Alexander and Elizabeth Swantz established this chair in Cooperative Extension to address current issues regarding water and water resources in California. The goal is to support the development of an integrated applied research and outreach education program that addresses critical issues regarding the management and stewardship of California's water resources.
