Chair’s Message
UC Davis friends,
I am honored and excited to serve as the new UC Davis Foundation Chair as we celebrate the most successful fundraising campaign in the university’s history, Expect Greater: From UC Davis, for the World. This exceptional achievement would not have been possible without our generous community, and I am thrilled to build on this momentum.
My connection to campus runs deep, beginning with my time as a student in the College of Biological Sciences. I remember my parents bought me a lifetime membership to the Cal Aggie Alumni Association when I graduated, and I am so thankful they did. My experiences at UC Davis shaped my professional path and instilled in me a lifelong commitment to giving back.
Throughout the years, I have watched the campus evolve, not just in size but in the scope of its impact and offerings for students. The university’s commitment to multidisciplinary collaboration is a hallmark of our success, and I believe it’s key to uncovering new solutions for complex global challenges.
A personal experience that inspired me to support neuroscience research at UC Davis involves my late sister, Janet, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s more than a decade ago. In 2023, I established an endowment in her name to advance research in the field of neuroscience and seek cures for such disorders.
As a top public research university, we have the privilege of preparing the next generation of leaders and innovators who will go on to make significant contributions in their fields. Students are at the heart of everything we do, and I am proud to be a part of the Aggie family.
As we celebrate the success of the Expect Greater campaign, my focus will be on sustaining the momentum we've built and keeping our volunteers and donors engaged and inspired.
We will also continue to ensure our strategic goals align with our mission. Together, through collaboration and shared purpose, we will thrive and achieve new heights!
Thank you for your support and commitment to UC Davis. Go Ags!
Warm regards,
Deborah J. Neff
Chair, UC Davis Foundation Board