UC Davis Arboretum & Public Garden » Staff Accolades

Director Kathleen Socolofsky receives Award of Distinction

Katie Hetrick — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:55:18 +0000

Kathleen Socolofsky, director of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, was honored October 5 with an “Award of Distinction” from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES). “The Award of Distinction recipients are highly accomplished, as well as influential in their daily lives, and we are honored by their strong connection to and support of our college,“ said Mary Delany, interim CA&ES dean. The award is presented annually to those whose contributions and achievements enhance the college’s ability to provide cutting-edge research, top-notch education, and innovative outreach. Kathleen was recognized as a Friend of the College for her role in transforming the campus landscape with innovative programs and broad-based support. Seven other people–faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the college–also received the award. Kathleen has led the Arboretum, in partnership with a number of CA&ES programs, in the transformation of the Peter J. Shields Oak Grove into a destination for visitors and the development of Nature’s Gallery Court GATEway (Gardens, Arts, and the Environment) Garden, and is in the process of creating an Animal Science GATEway Garden designed to connect campus and Arboretum visitors with the Department of Animal Science, its research and facilities. Congratulations Kathleen!

Associate Director Cary Avery nominated to professional grounds management board

Katie Hetrick — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:50:56 +0000

Cary Avery, Grounds and Landscape Services associate director, has been elected to the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) Board of Directors. With a membership of over 900 members representing approximately 550 institutions, one of the purposes of PGMS is to promote the dissemination of reliable and pertinent grounds management information to those in the industry with an emphasis on landscape sustainability. In 2007 Cary elevated UC Davis Grounds and Landscapes Services to an elite category of professional landscape maintenance organizations by becoming one of only 110 individuals nationwide to pass the PGMS testing and qualification necessary to become a Certified Grounds Manager. Today, in his new role as Member-at-Large, one of Cary’s goals is to share the work his teams have contributed to the development and maintenance of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden including best practices learned from our campus’s landscape conversions and information about the benefits of expanding academic partnerships to those in university grounds management.

UC Davis named Tree Campus USA

Katie Hetrick — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:10:56 +0000

UC Davis has been named "Tree Campus USA" for the fourth year in a row by the Arbor Day Foundation! The Tree Campus USA program recognizes college and university campuses that:

Effectively manage their campus trees.
Develop connectivity with the community beyond campus borders to foster healthy, urban forests.
Strive to engage their student population utilizing service learning opportunities centered on campus, and community, forestry efforts.

What does it take to be named a "Tree Campus USA"?

Campus Tree Advisory Committee
Campus Tree Care Plan
Campus Tree Program with Dedicated Annual Expenditures
Arbor Day Observance
Service Learning Project

Congratulations to our Grounds and Landscape Services team for taking care of our trees and keeping them a priority for our campus and the environment! Download the 2011 Tree Campus USA UC Davis Press Release. Find out more here.

UC Davis Arboretum Director of Horticulture honored by Vallarta Botanic Garden in Mexico

Katie Hetrick — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:08:23 +0000

Do you have an employee that has been honored or received an award? Let us know!

Ellen Zagory, Director of Horticulture for the UC Davis Arboretum, is being honored with a special tile at the Vallarta Botanic Garden (in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) where she is on the board of directors. Congratulations to Ellen on a well-deserved honor! Watch Huell Howser's Road Trip broadcast featuring Ellen Zagory. (Quicktime video)

City of Davis allocates $40,000 to develop Arboretum sculptural feature

Katie Hetrick — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:46:23 +0000

On October 5, 2011 the City Council of the City of Davis unanimously approved a proposal shepherded by UC Davis Arboretum Assistant Horiculturalist Emily Griswold, to allocate $40,000 towards the development of a sculptural gateway feature at the east end of the Arboretum. This area of the Arboretum also recently received grant funding to build a new California Native Plant GATEway Garden. A call for proposals from artists is currently underway. The budget includes all costs such as artist's fees, travel, shipping, fabrication and installation. The qualifications submission deadline is December 12, 2011, with the grand opening unveiling projected for October 2012. The goal of this installation is to improve pedestrian, bicycle and transit connections; to help promote and market the campus and downtown area as an art district and visitor destination; and to enhance the partnership between the City and University on a mutually beneficial project. Congratulations Emily for spearheading an important partnership that will not only serve as a symbol of the city/campus collaboration, but act as a lasting landmark to help visitors find their way.

Grounds staffer Nelson Randolph wins Safety Star Award

Katie Hetrick — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:19:36 +0000

ARM employee Nelson Randolph is the winner of the first ever Safety Star award. This award is bestowed to someone who, based on co-worker nomination, supports a strong safety culture and models the Principles of Safety. Safety Services works with the winner’s supervisor to coordinate a time to surprise the person with the award. Nelson is responsible for safety programs for Grounds - primarily pertaining to roads - and his stellar service is also available to other departments on a recharge basis. Many thanks to Nelson for his commitment to safety! If you would like to nominate a co-worker for the Safety Star Award, more information will be available soon on the Safety Services website, or you can contact Aimee Pfohl at ajpfohl@ucdavis.edu. In the photo below Nelson Randolph shows off his Safety Star Award with Grounds & Landscape Services Superintendent Cary Avery and Kim Rhodes, Director of Budget and Planning for CPCR.