I’m sure you’ve noticed that fall quarter is well underway, and Aggies are, at every turn, heading to classes and research labs, meeting new friends on the Quad and in dining commons, and exploring all that Davis has to offer.

In this new academic year, we are riding the tide of some very good news. The Wall Street Journal named UC Davis as the No. 3 public university in the nation for how well it sets its graduates up for financial success. I like to tell people that this ranking places us on the medal podium.

For the third year in a row, UC Davis exceeded $1 billion in new research awards, a feat that fewer than 20 public universities nationally can claim.

Now we’re celebrating another new and significant achievement. Over the past eight years, UC Davis raised more than $2.25 billion in a fundraising campaign called “Expect Greater: From UC Davis, for the World.” These 133,000 donors reached out from around the world with their generosity.

Some of the strongest support came from right here, in our backyard. In the city of Davis alone, 9,130 individuals donated more than $119 million during the campaign. More than $162 million was raised in Yolo County.

We are profoundly grateful for all in our immediate community who donated to UC Davis, no matter the amount. More than 93% of the gifts to UC Davis were $1,000 or less, with a median gift amount of $25. Collectively, we made history and demonstrated the power of community and its overwhelming belief that UC Davis can make a difference across the globe and right at home.

The impacts of these gifts are felt not just on campus but throughout the city and far beyond. For those who depend on the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital for their pet care, donors funded a new emergency room, a cats-only exam room, an exotic animals room, a state-of-the-art orthopedic surgery facility, and a dental-care suite. With a caseload of more than 50,000 animal patients each year, this facility helps UC Davis meet ever-increasing needs for care.

At UC Davis Health in Sacramento, donors helped fund many new spaces for patient care, including one of the country’s premier centers for academic ophthalmology. The Ernest E. Tschannen Eye Institute on our UC Davis Health Campus opened in 2022 with a mission to cure blindness and provide patients with world-class eye care through advanced technology. Tschannen himself was a patient at the UC Davis Eye Center and donated $18.5 million to help fund the new institute.

A gift of more than $20 million from philanthropist Maria Manetti Shrem is establishing the Maria Manetti Shrem Arts Renaissance in the College of Letters and Science. Students and arts aficionados alike will benefit from cutting-edge programming and a renewed ability to attract world-class artists and scholars to campus. With this transformative gift, the arts at UC Davis will thrive like never before.

So we have plenty to celebrate, and we will on Oct. 18. Our campus will host a celebration of the Expect Greater fundraising campaign with “The Greatest Show,” complete with carnival-inspired games and interactive displays on Hutchinson Field from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Then, we’ll move inside the University Credit Union Center from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. for a three-ring spectacular with performances highlighting our philanthropic impact. Don’t be surprised if you see me in a top hat and ringmaster outfit. You can RSVP for the events at campaign.ucdavis.edu/expo.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone who donated and demonstrated their belief in UC Davis. These gifts help students achieve their dreams, build a better tomorrow through our research and move the university boldly into the future.

Together, we made history. More importantly, together we are making a real difference.