Through philanthropy, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences elevated its educational programs while enhancing research and teaching, ultimately making a significant impact on California.

A historic $50 million gift—the largest made to UC Davis by individual donors—by Lynda and Stewart Resnick established the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation, with $10 million of the gift directed toward annual competitive research grants. In June 2024, the Resnick Center broke ground on the 34,000-square-foot, LEED-certified hub for classrooms, research and lab spaces, and student career and advising support.

Image

Helping UC Davis address some of the wine industry’s most pressing challenges, the Department of Viticulture and Enology received a $4 million endowment to fund unique projects that use and further develop analytical tools, advance technologies and techniques, and purchase equipment for winemaking and research.

With the partnership of donors, the college is making bold strides in educating the next generation of changemakers. Aggie Jumpstart, launched during the campaign, addresses barriers for first-generation, low-income, and underserved students, providing one-on-one advising and opportunities for community development and leadership skills for a successful academic career at UC Davis. And individual donors boosted programs and students across the college, such as Linda and Bill Sullivan, who gave $1 million to scholarships and the college’s annual fund for opportunities such as experiential learning, summer programming, and mental health services.