The fall social, billed as "a place to unwind and indulge," featured a light buffet and beverages.
Professor Chui, a molecular geneticist-physiologist and the outgoing vice chair, is serving a five-year term as chair, effective July 1, 2023. She succeeds nematologist and professor Steve Nadler, who had chaired the department since Jan. 1, 2016.
Chiu thanked Nadler for his exceptional service. "Steve has been an exceptional leader for our department through some very challenging times. He has been fair-minded, compassionate, and has led the department with poise and a clear vision. He has been a great mentor for me personally, and I am positive that the many lessons I have learned from him will come in very handy as I serve as chair. I am very grateful for all the support from the faculty, staff, and students in the department, and most of all, to faculty colleagues who have been stepping up to serve on key positions in department and graduate group committees during this transition. I cannot thank them enough."
Said Nadler: "I'm very pleased that we have a new group of leaders guiding the department as we move forward. I'm confident that Joanna (Chui), Rachel (Vannette) and Louie (Yang) will respond to whatever challenges are ahead."
The department is ranked as one of the top entomology departments in the United States. In November 2007, the Chronicle of Higher Education ranked it No. 1 in the country. (See news story)
Chiu joined the Department of Entomology and Nematology in 2010 as an assistant professor, and advanced to associate professor and vice chair in 2016, and to professor and vice chair in 2021. She was named one of 10 UC Davis Chancellor's Fellows in 2019, a five-year honor awarded to associate professors who excel in research and teaching. The UC Davis Academic Senate honored her with a Distinguished Teaching Award, Graduate/Professional category, in 2022. She most recently received the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research.
Chiu co-founded and co-directs (with professors Jay Rosenheim and Louie Yang) the campuswide Research Scholars Program in Insect Biology, launched in 2011 to provide undergraduates with a closely mentored research experience in biology. The program's goal is to provide academically strong and highly motivated undergraduates with a multi-year research experience that cultivates skills that will prepare them for a career in biological research.
Nadler began his five-year term as chair on Jan. 1, 2016, succeeding Michael Parrella, who accepted a position as the dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Idaho, effective Feb. 1, 2016.
Nadler joined the UC Davis faculty in 1996 as an associate professor and associate nematologist, advancing to professor in 2001. He was named chair of the Department of Nematology in May 2005 and held that leadership position until June 2011. Active in the American Society of Parasitologists, Nadler served as the organization's president from 2007 to 2008. (See news story)
The two departments merged in 2011, but the department was not officially renamed the Department of Entomology and Nematology, until May 28, 2013. The department today has some 25 faculty.
The UC Davis Department of Entomology began as an offshoot of the Department of Entomology and Parasitology at UC Berkeley and the two were closely entwined for more than 50 years before the UC Davis Department of Entomology became autonomous on July 1, 1963.
UC Davis offered a two-year non-degree program in entomology, beginning in 1913. The first degree in entomology provided at UC Davis was in 1923-24 at which time Stanley B. Freeborn (for whom Freeborn Hall is named) was transferred from UC Berkeley to UC Davis to head the program.
Resources: History