April 2023 | Issue 38
A Message from the Vice Provost
Michael Rios is wearing glasses and a suit. He crosses his arms and looks directly into the camera while smiling outside in front of a couple of trees.
The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification — first awarded to UC Davis in 2015 — is an important recognition of our university’s deep commitment to community engagement. The designation not only recognizes past achievements, but also sets the stage for ongoing efforts to deepen and expand community engagement.
 
As part of this effort, PSE is actively involved in the Carnegie reclassification process, which provides a valuable opportunity for us to reflect on our current practices and identify areas for growth and improvement.
 
As we work towards achieving Carnegie Community Engagement Reclassification, it’s important to think about the culture we want to create around community engagement at our university. The Public Scholarship and Engagement team is working closely with campus partners to develop a comprehensive strategy not just for achieving Carnegie recognition, but to create a culture that prioritizes community engagement and recognizes it as a central part of our mission.
 
This strategy will include a focus on building institutional infrastructure to support community-engaged scholarship, increasing opportunities for faculty and students to engage in this work, and elevating the visibility of our community-engaged scholarship on and off campus. I am excited about the work that lies ahead of us and look forward to continuing this journey together.

In community,

Michael Rios
Vice Provost, Public Scholarship and Engagement  
Photo of a set from behind the scenes with two women looking directly at a monitor with other masked individuals in the background
From improving healthcare access to addressing food insecurity and racial disparities, these newly funded public engagement projects will drive positive change in communities in California and around the world. The campus-community partnerships were recently awarded 2023 Public Impact Research Initiative (PIRI) grants from Public Scholarship and Engagement.

PSE is accepting applications for the 2023-24 Public Scholarship Faculty Fellows program. This competitive fellowship program seeks to acknowledge and reward exemplary individuals who are working toward a specific public scholarship goal. We encourage all eligible faculty, researchers and continuing lecturers to apply, and we ask you to help spread the word about this fantastic opportunity.

Applications are due May 22.

Public Engagement Champion
Setting out to write a book about health equity gave Piri Ackerman-Barger, associate dean for health equity, diversity and inclusion in the School of Nursing, a chance to fold together all of her favorite writing advice. Ackerman-Barger is a 2022-23 Public Scholarship Faculty Fellow.
A combination graphic and photo. The graphic is blue and yellow with text "Writing allows us to reflect, think and process and to share a bit of ourselves with the world." Pick Ackerman-Barger, Associate Dean for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Spotlight: Your Public Scholarship Community

350 Sacramento is one of 54 host sites for Sacramento Valley College Corps fellows. In this interview, Roula England, development and administrative director for 350 Sacramento, shares her insights about working with SVCC student fellows.
Doctoral student Yasmin Mendoza smiles and stands in front of a digital screen wearing a black blazer and white shirt.
UC Davis Grad Slam Winners

Yasmin Mendoza, a doctoral student in English, won the Public Impact Prize at the annual UC Davis Grad Slam competition. Her three-minute presentation explored the censorship of literature in the United States.

The fire-related deaths of at least 39 migrants in a detention facility in Ciudad Juarez, just across the U.S. border with Mexico, will likely be found to have had several contributing factors. As an expert on immigration policy, Raquel Aldana, associate vice chancellor for academic diversity and professor of law, believes there is another part of the tragedy that can’t be overlooked: the decades-long immigration enforcement policies of the U.S. and Mexican governments that have seen the number of people kept in such facilities skyrocket.
In Other News

Events and Opportunities

Supporting the Public Good
Philanthropic support plays a vital role in advancing UC Davis public scholarship mission. We invite you to support our vision of discovery, learning and engagement for the public good. 

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