Three UC Davis staff and faculty members were recognized this fall for their remarkable efforts to steward donors and raise the culture of philanthropy across the university. 

The Office of Development and Alumni Relations and the UC Davis Foundation presented the 2024 Faculty and Staff Stewardship Awards during a ceremony on Oct. 19. The recipients are:

• Staff Award — Sheri Atkinson, associate vice chancellor for student life, campus community and retention services 
• Faculty Award — Wolf-Dietrich Heyer, distinguished professor and chair, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 
• Lifetime Achievement Award — Kathleen Socolofsky, director of the Arboretum and Public Garden and assistant vice chancellor of Finance, Operations and Administration

“The faculty and staff honored this year share an exceptional vision for the future of philanthropy at UC Davis. They have gone above and beyond in their efforts to leave a lasting impact on our campus and in our community,” said Shaun B. Keister, vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations and president of the UC Davis Foundation. 

Staff Award

As a member of the UC Davis community for over 20 years, Sheri Atkinson, Ed.D. ’14, has played a key role in generating philanthropic support for the university through thoughtful engagement of campus partners and donors. 

Atkinson’s ability to connect with individuals on a deep and meaningful level has made her a successful steward. Her efforts have led to unrestricted gifts for student life, support for the Division of Student Affairs and several new endowments to support marginalized communities across campus. 

One such example includes a $1 million gift to create the Gonzalez Pre-Law Academy, which at the time was the largest-ever gift to Student Affairs. Today, she stays connected with the donor and involved with the program to ensure its success. 

There are countless inspiring stories about Atkinson’s impacts across campus. She enjoys connecting with new donors and offers personalized tours and other opportunities that provide a unique UC Davis experience.

In recent years, she went above and beyond to support a student and their family during a challenging time, which resulted in an endowment for the LGBTQIA Center. And her efforts to provide a “warm and welcoming listening space” for a colleague of many years led to a gift of unrestricted funds for Student Life named in Atkinson’s honor. 

Just as she does with students, Atkinson is always looking for ways to ways to provide resources and enhance someone’s experience at UC Davis.

Faculty Award

Wolf-Dietrich Heyer, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, has “raised the bar” for how to engage UC Davis supporters and build lifelong relationships with donors.

For over 25 years, Heyer has served as a leading faculty member and biologist in the field of DNA repair, and during that time he has built a culture of philanthropy and set a precedent for excellence across the College of Biological Sciences.

In 2018, Heyer established a fundraising committee in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics to drive support for students, faculty and programs in biological sciences. Every year the committee identifies fundraising initiatives for Give Day, and Heyer makes a personal gift to kickstart the fundraising and launch a Give Day Challenge. 

His willingness to elevate philanthropy at UC Davis knows no geographic bounds, even continuing his efforts while overseas on sabbatical in Japan. He also worked with the Cal Aggie Alumni Association to invite alumni to his seminars in Tokyo and Osaka, providing a vital opportunity for engagement and stewardship. 

Expressing gratitude is important to Heyer, who is known for his handwritten thank-you notes to make sure donors know how impactful their gifts are. His thoughtful stewardship efforts have resulted in the establishment of many new endowments and millions of dollars in private support.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Kathleen Socolofsky has worn many hats during her remarkable 26 years at the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden — visionary leader, trusted mentor, community advocate and passionate steward.  

As assistant vice chancellor in the Office of Administration and Resource Management and director of the Arboretum and Public Garden, Socolofsky has been transformative in turning the entire campus into an inviting learning landscape and dynamic space for community engagement.

Under Socolofsky’s innovative leadership, the Arboretum has seen record fundraising years, several new endowments created and a surge in donor support. Her fundraising and stewardship efforts have contributed greatly to beneficial projects such as the Arboretum Waterway enhancement project, Hummingbird GATEway Garden and renovation of the Wyatt Deck. 

Often going the extra mile to stay in touch with donors, Socolofsky enjoys sharing impactful stories of how their gifts have made a difference. She does this through personal thank-you notes, videos from student interns, photo books, special tours, and more. Many of her donor relationships span decades, such as that with philanthropists John and Lois Crowe, recipients of the 2018 UC Davis Medal and 2022 Soderquist Award.  

Socolofsky has worked diligently to intertwine the Arboretum’s mission with that of UC Davis to grow both internal and external support. Her dedication to UC Davis and ability to foster lasting connections has left a legacy that will benefit the campus, local community and the environment for years to come.