The Cal Aggie Alumni Association Board of Directors is a group of alumni volunteers who lead the organization in its service to UC Davis and its alumni. Leadership provided by the board is essential to the successful implementation of programs designed to accomplish the alumni association’s mission: To enrich the lives of alumni, students, families and friends worldwide, and develop lifelong ambassadors for UC Davis.
The CAAA Board of Directors works to establish policy, develop goals and objectives, assist with long-range planning, and monitor alumni association finances. Board members are elected for two-year terms with a three term limit and participation is open to all CAAA members.
From our leadership
Dear Aggie Alumni,
It is a tremendous honor to serve as President of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association for the next term, alongside Brian Victor, Esq., who serves as our Vice President and President-Elect. UC Davis shaped each of our journeys in meaningful ways, and we are proud to represent an alumni community grounded in service, innovation, and the enduring Aggie spirit.
At UC Davis, we often say #AggiesAreEverywhere — and it continues to ring true. With more than 300,000 alumni making an impact across California, the nation, and the world, our collective strength lies in how we remain connected to one another and to the university that brought us together.
As we shape our priorities for the coming term, we do so with the understanding that our greatest asset is the collective voice of our alumni. Your perspective and feedback are vital to our growth, and we remain committed to ensuring that the Association’s direction is informed by the community we serve. Our focus centers on recruiting, engaging, and retaining alumni through intentional and meaningful connection. Recruitment begins by engaging our students & by welcoming new graduates into the alumni family and reinforcing that their relationship with UC Davis continues long after commencement. Engagement means creating opportunities to meet alumni where they are — professionally, geographically, and personally — through programs that foster connection, lifelong learning, mentorship, and service. Retention comes from cultivating experiences that continually reinforce the value, pride, and sense of belonging that define the Aggie community.
Our alumni network reflects a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, yet we are united by shared values and memories that connect us back to campus. We are committed to strengthening an inclusive community where every Aggie feels welcomed, valued, and inspired to stay involved.
The Cal Aggie Alumni Association Board of Directors is composed of dedicated volunteers who generously share their time, expertise, and passion to advance our mission. Together, we work to enrich the lives of alumni, students, parents, and friends worldwide while developing lifelong ambassadors for UC Davis.
We invite you to stay connected, attend events, mentor future Aggies, and explore new ways to engage with the university and one another. UC Davis will always be your home, and we look forward to building the future of our alumni community together.
Go Ags!
Deborah Thompson-Austin
President 2026-2028
Class of 1987
Brian Victor, Esq.
Vice President / President-Elect 2026-2028
Class of 1991
Board Leadership
- President
Deborah Thompson-Austin ’87 
Deborah graduated in 1987 with a B.A. in Psychology. She is 1 of 3 family members to graduate from UC Davis. She is a CAAA life member. During her years at UC Davis she loved working in the campus police serving as a Cal Aggie Host. She later had an undergraduate internship with the University Extension. Deborah also serves as a board member for the African and African-American Alumni Association. She earned her M.P.A. and currently works for John Muir Health System. She and her husband, Ron (yes the former football player) currently reside in Fairfield.
- Vice President / President-Elect
Brian Victor ’91 
Brian graduated from UC Davis in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology along with a minor in Education. In 1993 Brian earned a MS in Clinical Psychology at California Sate University, Long Beach. In 2009, Brian earned a J.D. degree from the Concord Law School at Purdue University Global. During his time at UC Davis, Brian was a writer for Tercero Times Newsletter and enjoyed watching basketball and football games on campus. Currently, Brian lives in San Diego with his wife Judie and practices law at the Law Offices of Brian A. Victor. When Brian comes to visit campus, he enjoys visiting the Coffee House and the Pavilion. Brian is proud to be a CAAA life member.
- Immediate Past President
Anu Johl Singh ’04 
Anu is a Cal Aggie Alumni Association (CAAA) life member and graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics and a Minor in Communications in 2004. She is a proud Aggie with strong connections to Northern California rooted in agriculture and her love of sports.
Anu has over 20 years of experience managing a variety of integrated projects. She has a love for building long-term relationships and establishing a positive rapport among critical stakeholders and has used this to build a successful career.
She currently resides in Sacramento with her husband, two daughters and son. She is proud to be a first-generation Sikh. You can find her on the sideline of various youth sports, cheering on her Sacramento Kings, walking her family’s peach and walnut orchards or soaking in time with her family.- Student Success Committee Chair
Trevor Longman ’09 
After growing up on the California foothills, Trevor attended UC Davis where he worked in Student Housing, volunteered with the Aggie Pack, and met his eventual wife, Lindsay. After graduation, Trevor found a passion in helping businesses discover digital solutions to help scale. Now living in the Bay Area with their 2 kids and 1 fur child, the Longman family gets excited with trips to Disneyland, smoking meats & veggies on the Traeger, and participating in outdoor activities.
- Inclusive Belonging Chair
Lina R. Mendez, PhD ’10 
Lina R. Mendez has over 20 years of experience working in higher education. Currently, she is the founding director of the Hispanic Serving Institution Initiative at UC Davis.
Dr. Mendez received her doctorate from UC Davis in educational policy and school organization in 2010. Dr. Mendez has held leadership positions with the Latinx Staff and Faculty Association (Davis and Sacramento), Staff Diversity Administrative Committee and the UC Davis Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association.
She is currently a board member for the Cal Aggie Alumni Association. As a reflection of her commitment to education she has received several awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award for Embodying Diversity and Equity (2023) by the Equity Summit, UC Davis Staff Assembly Citation of Excellence Team Award (2020), the Chancellor’s Achievement Award for Diversity and Community (2018), the Social Justice Award for Seeding Improvement in Education Policy and Practice (2018) and the Outstanding Advising Administrator Award (2017).
- Alumni Engagement Committee Chair
Bessie Chu ’08 
Bessie is a proud CAAA life member. She is currently a Product Director based in Taipei, Taiwan. Her focus on the CAAA board is engaging out-of-state alumni. Bessie also holds a degree in Communication Management from USC and an Executive MBA from the UCLA-National University of Singapore joint program. Bessie has worked for global tech companies large and small in SF, LA, NYC, and Taipei. Bessie specializes in building bridges between business and technology and leading collaboration across global teams.
- Finance Committee Chair
Kyle Urban ’11 
Kyle is a Cal Aggie Alumni Association (CAAA) life member and graduated from UC Davis in 2011, earning a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, later earning his M.S. (2014) in Exercise and Sport Science from Oregon State University. After starting his career at UCLA and returning to Davis for four years of work with Alumni & Affiliate Relations, Kyle assumed his current role at Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona where he oversees a 12,000 seat baseball stadium that welcomes visitors from around the world every Spring. Kyle, his wife and fellow Aggie, Jackie, and their two dogs (Maggie & Murphy) are Phoenix residents and enjoy representing UC Davis as out of state alumni. Kyle’s fondest memories of UC Davis are meeting his wife while they both lived in Emerson Hall (Cuarto) as freshman and his experiences working and playing in Campus Recreation facilities and programs.
- Audit and Governance Chair
Ginger Welsh ’95 
Ginger earned her undergraduate degrees in rhetoric and communications (B.A.) and psychology (B.A.) in 1995 from UC Davis. She enjoyed college life so much she pursued a M.Ed. in Student Personnel Services from the University of South Carolina and has continued a 25+ year career working in higher education within multiple colleges and universities. Throughout her professional career she has remained an active volunteer with CAAA and other organizations.
From 2011-2018, she served as the Director of International Alumni for CAAA, as well as working with many out-of-state and special interest networks. She launched the Active Aggies Network in 2016 and remains in a volunteer leadership role with the group.
She currently works for the Office of Enrollment Management at UC Davis as the associate director of marketing and communications for Undergraduate Education.
She is a 3rd generation Aggie alum!
Board Members
- Robert Aguallo ’73, MA ’75
Robert worked in state and local government for 33 years. He worked for 2 Governors and 2 Mayors in Executive positions which include Department of Finance, Dept. of Aging, CalPERS, and City of Los Angeles Retirement System. More recently, he was a founder and de novo investor of a community bank and served as Board of Director for 12 years. He currently serves on the Sacramento Employees’ Retirement System, appointed by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.
- Mark Diaz ’74, M.D.
Mark graduated from UC Davis in 1974 and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences.. Mark received his medical degree in 1979 from UCSF. He completed a Family Practice residency 1982 and fellowship 1983 both at UCDMC. During his time at UC Davis, Mark was very involved in the Chicanos in Health Education and the Clinica Tepati free clinic. Currently Mark works for the California Public Employees Retirement System as a medical consultant and lives with his wife, Martha in Sacramento, CA. Mark enjoys returning to the UC Davis campus and when he does, his favorite place to visit is the Center for Chicanx and Latinx Academic Student Successes. Mark is a first generation college student and first in his family to attend and graduate from college.
- Kathleen Fullerton ’03
Kathleen is the Associate Vice President and Director of State Government Relations at the University of California Office of the President. UC’s State Government Relations office is the principal representative to state elected officials and state agencies in Sacramento, and represents university positions on legislative, budgetary, and policy matters. Kathleen has over 20 years of experience working in state government, starting with an Assembly internship during her senior year at UC Davis. Kathleen has bachelor’s degrees in political science and psychology from UC Davis and a master’s degree in public administration from USC. Kathleen played field hockey at UC Davis and continues to participate in endurance sports—completing multiple marathons, half, and full ironman triathlons. She lives in Sacramento with her husband Andy (also an Aggie) and daughters Keira and Elise.
- Richard Leung ’94
Richard Leung earned a BA in Psychology from University of California, Davis in 1994 and an MBA from San Francisco State University in 1996. While at UC Davis, he served on the student association council, an early experience that helped lay the foundation for his career in leadership and commitment to volunteerism. He is currently a Vice President of Marketing at Fortinet, where he leads global enterprise agreement sales and customer engagement. He also serves as Director of the Entrepreneurship Program at San Francisco State University, working with students, faculty an alumni to foster innovation and entrepreneurial success. With extensive experience in marketing, finance, business strategy, and program development, he is passionate about helping students succeed and strengthening alumni engagement.
- Sergio Maciel ’24
Sergio Maciel is a higher education professional dedicated to supporting student success. As an undergraduate, he served as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Fellow at UC Davis, collaborating with campus leadership to advance student life, belonging, well-being, academic and retention resources, and the systems and staff that sustain the student experience. He later worked with the UC Office of the President’s State Governmental Relations team, gaining experience in higher education policy and advocacy. Today, Sergio serves as a College Corps Advisor, helping students turn their service experiences into personal and professional growth. He is also involved in higher education research focused on college access, retention, and student outcomes for underrepresented communities. In addition, Sergio serves as Co-Chair of the UC Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association Legislative Committee, where he helps direct the organization’s advocacy efforts at the state and systemwide levels.
- Ramona Mosley ’96
Ramona is a public health leader who has served in the field for over 25 years. She has led programs and initiatives for federal, international, state and local agencies including the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Ramona earned her master’s degree from Golden Gate University and undergraduate degree from the University of California, Davis. She met her husband Algie at UC Davis, and together they have enjoyed life with their two amazing sons Isaiah and Caleb. She enjoys traveling with family, gardening, and watching sports. As a prevention practitioner, Ramona has dedicated her career to achieving the vision of safe, healthy and thriving lives for all people.
- Shaivya Padia ’22
As an international student at UC Davis, Shaivya graduated in 2022 with a BS in Computer Science Engineering and a minor in Technology Management. During his time at UC Davis, he founded an entrepreneurship club, which grew to over 100 members, fostering a vibrant community of innovators and leaders. In 2023, he earned his MS in Computer Science from USC, further honing my technical expertise. Currently, he is the Executive Director in his family’s graphic design and printing business in India. His passion for travel and reading enriches his perspective and fuels his creativity.
- Karim Poonja ’14
Karim earned his B.A. in political science in 2014. During his time as a student, Karim served as the vice president of finance of the Davis College Democrats. As an alumnus, he is currently the chair of the Silicon Valley Alumni Network, leader of the Los Angeles Alumni Network, and member of the alumni engagement, nominations, and student success committees. Karim is also involved in and heavily committed to fundraising for UC Davis. In recent years, he has been one of the University’s top Give Day ambassadors, while also sponsoring his own Give Day challenge. Karim is currently a student at the USC Rossier School of Education where he is learning about higher education administration.
- Jesse Rodriguez ’13, MBA ’19
Jesse is a Senior Associate with Upwelling Capital Group, an investment adviser that provides capital solutions to institutional investors. He has been with the firm since 2018. Prior to joining Upwelling, Jesse was a communications consultant in the California State Senate, where he was involved in several policy initiatives. He also served as co-chair for the California Latino Capitol Association Foundation. Jesse received his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Davis, and an MBA from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management. In 2018, Jesse was recognized as the UC Davis Young Alumnus of the Year by the Cal Aggie Alumni Association. He is currently a member of the Global Shapers Community, an organization of young professionals sponsored by the World Economic Forum. He also co-founded Dance on the Edge, an organization that hosts public, family-friendly Latin dance events for the Sacramento community.
- Tom Stallard ’68
Tom Stallard is a fifth generation native Californian educated in the public schools of San Leandro and Oakland. He is a first- generation college student, graduating with degrees in economics as well as law. His varied career in law and private business includes 22 years in local elective office. His wife, Meg, is a former CAAA president. They met while undergraduates and served together on the Picnic Day board. They regard their time at UC Davis as fundamental to the quality of their lives.
- Artem Trotsyuk ’13
Dr. Artem Trotsyuk is a bioengineer and computer scientist by training. Currently, he is a Partner with LongeVC where he focuses on early-stage life science investments (pre-seed, seed, up to Series A), supporting entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into successful companies. He is also an AI Policy Research Fellow and Instructor at Stanford University, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Arizona, and an Inaugural OpenAI Forum Fellow. At Stanford, he teaches a wide variety of courses, spanning topics of longevity, AI, ethics and entrepreneurship. He completed his PhD in Bioengineering and Masters in Computer Science at Stanford University and his undergraduate at the University of California, Davis.
- Carrie Wright ’99
Carrie graduated from UC Davis in 1999 from the College of Ag. Since graduation she has been honored to work on the 100th anniversary of the University and spent three years working for the alumni association as the Associate Executive Director. She is the first woman in her family to graduate from college and throughout her career she has enjoyed owning her own business, working for a trade association, spending time as a governor appointee at the California Exposition and State fair and doing deeply impactful work as the Economic Development Director for the City of Stockton.
In 2025 she took on a new role as the Chief Strategy Officer for Sage Strategies - a minority-owned, woman-led business. Sage offers wisdom, prudence, and sound judgment to help organizations accomplish their goals, interact with their target audiences — even the hardest to reach — and influence action.
She loves being a wife and mother of two boys - gardening, travel and finding time to enjoy the passage of time with sunlight shining on her face are top priorities.
Board Advisors
- Chancellor
Gary May 
- Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations
Shaun Keister 
- Executive Director of CAAA and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations
Dana G. Allen 
Dana joined UC Davis in January 2020 as an alumni relations professional with over 21 years of experience in higher education alumni relations. In her role as AVC, Allen develops the strategic priorities and budget for the Cal Aggie Alumni Association in collaboration with its board of directors. She also oversees the daily operations of the Alumni and Affiliate Relations staff.
Prior to joining UCD, Allen spent 3.5 years at the University of New Mexico, serving as Vice President, Alumni Relations and Executive Director of Alumni Association. In this role, Dana managed an alumni association of 200,000 alumni governed by an alumni board. Before joining UNM, Dana served in alumni relations roles at Old Dominion University, Penn State University, and Mary Baldwin College. Dana received her bachelor’s degree in speech communication, with a concentration in alternative dispute resolution, from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA.