UC Davis: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) has a rich history of producing accomplished graduates who have made significant contributions to various fields. For 35 years, UC Davis Magazine has chronicled the stories of these alumni, aiming to broaden its web presence and reach an even wider audience. Each issue highlights alumni achievements, alongside university news, faculty research, and topics of general interest. UC Davis alumni have gone on to become leaders in science and technology, politics and entrepreneurship, sports and the arts and much more.
A Century of Growth and Transformation
Founded on March 18, 1905, as the University Farm, UC Davis has evolved from a primarily agricultural campus to a comprehensive public land-grant research university. In 1916, the Farm's 314 students occupied the original 778 acres (315 ha) campus. The institution grew at a breakneck pace over the next four decades. By 1951, it had expanded to a size of 3,000 acres (1,200 ha). Initially an offsite department of UC Berkeley, it gained autonomy and expanded its academic offerings, establishing its Graduate Division in 1961. Today, UC Davis is recognized as a Public Ivy and classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity". The university now boasts 102 undergraduate majors and 101 graduate programs.
Leaders in Arts, Entertainment, and Media
UC Davis alumni have made their mark in the world of arts, entertainment, and media, captivating audiences with their creativity and talent.
Hasan Minhaj ’07: After gaining recognition on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, Hasan Minhaj returned to UC Davis to film his Netflix special at the Mondavi Center. He discussed his comedy career, which began while he was a student, and his approach to tackling difficult subjects. Minhaj later hosted and executive produced a weekly talk show on Netflix. Much of his comedy involves Indian culture and the modern American political landscape through the use of satire, observational comedy and dark comedy. His Netflix series Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj won an Emmy Award, a Peabody Award, and two Webby Awards. In 2019, he was listed in Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Matthias Gafni '98 and Angela Ruggiero '10: These UC Davis alumni are breaking news, winning major awards and making a difference in newspapers, radio, TV and on the web. Investigative reporter Matthias Gafni and criminal justice reporter Angela Ruggiero, both at the East Bay Times, covered the tragic Ghost Ship fire in 2016, which claimed 36 lives.
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Lauren Kate, M.A. ’09: Lauren Kate published two books the year she graduated from the creative writing program at UC Davis. The love story, part of a young adult series published by Penguin Random House, came to her in a religion class at UC Davis.
Adam Duritz: Adam Fredric Duritz is an American singer, best known as the frontman for the rock band Counting Crows, for which he serves as a founding member and principal composer. Since its founding in 1991, Counting Crows has sold over 20 million records, released seven studio albums that have been certified gold or platinum, and been nominated for two Grammy Awards and an Academy Award.
Cam: Camaron Marvel Ochs, known professionally as Cam, is an American country music singer and songwriter. She began her career as a songwriter and has composed material for several artists including Beyoncé, Sam Smith and Miley Cyrus. In 2010, she released her debut studio album Heartforward on an independent record label. Her second single "Burning House" is her most commercially successful, peaking at the number two position on Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay.
KevJumba: Kevin Wu is a retired American YouTuber best known under his former username KevJumba. The San Francisco Chronicle's Jeff Yang has noted that Wu is not a comedian in the conventional sense but that by "just talking is, well, pretty hilarious" due to his deadpan vocal delivery, animated facial expressions and tendency toward unexpected digressions.
Martin Yan: Martin Yan is a Chinese-American chef and food writer. He has hosted his award-winning PBS-TV cooking show Yan Can Cook since 1982.
Read also: A Look into the Sophie Davis Curriculum
Pioneers in Science, Medicine, and Technology
UC Davis has long been recognized for its strength in scientific and technological innovation, and its alumni have been at the forefront of groundbreaking discoveries and advancements.
Nadine Burke Harris, M.D. '01: Nadine Burke Harris has dedicated her career to toxic stress and its lifelong effects. A medical doctor, Burke Harris has dedicated her career to toxic stress and the lifelong effects it can have on our health.
Andrew D. Huberman: Andrew David Huberman is an American neuroscientist and podcaster. He is an associate professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Since 2021, he has hosted the popular health and science focused Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast has attracted criticism for promoting poorly supported health claims. Huberman has promoted and partnered with health supplement companies.
Tracy Caldwell Dyson: Tracy Caldwell Dyson is an American chemist and NASA astronaut. She was a mission specialist on Space Shuttle Endeavour flight STS-118 in August 2007 and has participated in two long-duration missions to the International Space Station, Expedition 23 and 24 from April to September 2010 and Expedition 70 and 71 from March to September 2024. She has completed four spacewalks, logging nearly 24 hours of extravehicular activity.
Other Notable Alumni: This list includes individuals making significant contributions in their fields, such as Kimberly S. Budil, Miaofang Chi, and Adam Steltzner, each contributing to science and technology.
Read also: Sports Medicine Internship at UC Davis
Impactful Figures in Politics and Public Service
UC Davis alumni have also distinguished themselves in the realm of politics and public service, shaping policies and leading communities.
Darrell Steinberg, J.D. ’84: Darrell Steinberg won the mayorship of Sacramento in 2016.
London Breed: London Nicole Breed is an American politician who served as the 45th mayor of San Francisco from 2018 to 2025. She was supervisor for District 5 and was president of the Board of Supervisors from 2015 to 2018.
Jimmy Panetta: James Varni Panetta is an American lawyer, politician, and former Navy intelligence officer from the state of California. representative for California's 19th congressional district. Formerly his district was numbered the 20th congressional district. His current district includes southeast San Jose and much of California's Central Coast, including Monterey, Santa Cruz, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Paso Robles to the south.
Kimberly Guilfoyle: Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle is an American television news personality and former prosecutor in San Francisco and Los Angeles. She served as an advisor and led the fundraising division of President Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign.
Entrepreneurs and Innovators
UC Davis alumni have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit, establishing successful businesses and driving innovation.
Mark Davis: Mark M Davis is an American businessman and sports franchise owner. He is the controlling owner and managing general partner of the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) and the owner of the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). As of October 2024, his estimated net worth was $2.3 billion.
Urijah Faber ’03: Fresh from retirement from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Urijah Faber expanded his local gym and entered a plethora of health-oriented businesses. Urijah Christopher Faber is an American former mixed martial artist and actor. He competed in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is the founder of Team Alpha Male.
Dhar Mann: Dharminder "Dhar" Mann is an American entrepreneur, film producer, YouTuber, and influencer. He is best known for his video production company, Dhar Mann Studios, that creates short films for social media platforms such as YouTube.
Other Notable Alumni
The list of notable UC Davis alumni extends beyond these highlighted individuals, encompassing leaders and innovators in diverse fields
Chris Petersen: American former college football coach. He was the head coach for eight seasons at Boise State University; Petersen guided the Broncos to two BCS bowl wins in the 2007 and 2010 Fiesta Bowls.
Mike Pondsmith: American roleplaying, board, and video game designer. He founded the publisher R. Talsorian Games in 1982, where he developed a majority of the company's role-playing game lines.
Deborah Harkness: American scholar and novelist, best known as a historian and as the author of the All Souls Trilogy, which consists of The New York Times best-selling novel A Discovery of Witches and its sequels Shadow of Night and The Book of Life.
Danielle Spencer: American former actress and child star best known for her role as Dee Thomas on the ABC sitcom What's Happening!!, which ran from 1976 until 1979.
Anthony Swofford: Marine veteran, best known for his 2003 book Jarhead, based heavily on his accounts of various situations encountered in the Persian Gulf War.
Debbie Lee Carrington: American actress and stuntwoman. Her best known movie roles include playing a Martian rebel in Total Recall, an Ewok in Return of the Jedi (and in subsequent TV movies) and an elf in The Polar Express.
Dennis Banks: Native American activist, teacher, and author. He was a longtime leader of the American Indian Movement, which he co-founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1968 to represent urban Indians.
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