Former Aggie football captain Derek Baljeu ’17, M.S. ’18 has found his calling in the world of wine, bringing his dedication from the game field to the vineyards as a winemaker in Napa Valley.
After taking the class “Introduction to Winemaking” his first year to fulfill a general education requirement, Baljeu says he fell in love with the subject. He soon changed his major to viticulture and enology and began his first winemaking internship at a small family winery.
Whether you’re seeking growth in your current organization, a promotion, or a new role, there are a few factors you’ll want to look out for in your next position. Learn what the U.S. Surgeon General has to say about the components for wellbeing at work.
More than $7 million in merit scholarships is available for continuing students from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships opened the 2025-26 Continuing Undergraduate Scholarship Application Oct. 1 and offer several online information sessions to help students with the application.
According to Maggie Mello ’10, who has experienced several career changes, life has a funny way of working out for the best.
After graduating with honors from UC Davis, Mello spent a decade serving her country as a logistics officer and eventually became a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. Now, she is preparing for a promising future in international development with USAID through the prestigious Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship.
As the new school year approaches, the campus is buzzing with excitement as students make their way back. This is the perfect opportunity for parents to explore the many resources UC Davis offers to support their students’ health, safety, and success. It’s also a wonderful moment for me to introduce myself as the new associate director of development for parent giving.
Alejandra Ruiz, M.F.A. ’23, is using mushrooms to turn fast-fashion waste into reusable, eco-friendly materials.
By 2015, Ruiz said fast fashion, the mass production of low-cost garments, led to the annual production of 120 billion pieces of clothing, 15-20% of which went to waste. Most discarded items from the United States and other consumer-driven economies are sent to regions of Latin America, Asia, and Africa for disposal.
"Imagine how many of those 120 billion items are going to be discarded in these developing countries just within one year," said Ruiz.
UC Davis alum Jesse “Lxttle Boy Blue” Williams skyrocketed to fame after a viral video of their commencement walk garnered over 24 million views and led to a record deal. Known for their unique “new nostalgia” music style, Williams is set to release their debut album, “Feeling Blue” this fall.
From Spain to California: David Llodra ’01, Ph.D. ’13, ventured halfway around the world to pursue his passion for winemaking at UC Davis. His innovative research about using oak to flavor and finish wines revolutionized the wine and spirits industry and set new standards across the globe. Today, he stays connected to UC Davis by managing annual donations of French and American oak barrels to the university and visiting campus to share his expertise as a guest lecturer.
