"I've seen DEI efforts significantly improve the department culture over the last few years, and this is a giant step forward. "
Victoria Strait
Grad Student - Physics and Astronomy
"I like to contribute to all programs that address systemic inequities in society and particularly academic inequities."
Eric Hanaway
Undergrad Student - Physics and Astronomy
"Achieving the target goal of a $1 million endowment would be one of the biggest steps forward in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that our department has ever made."
Diversity and Inclusion - Physics and Astronomy Group
"This past year more than any other demonstrated our interconnectedness as humans and further exposed the great inequities that pervade all aspects of our society. It is through efforts like these that we endeavor to leverage that interconnectedness to continue the hard work of undoing those inequities."
Brian Lemaux
Researcher - Physics and Astronomy
"By thinking about how to support students with more challenging backgrounds, we are getting better at supporting all our students, and making our department a better place to work and study for everyone. I am excited by this initiative, which will be life-changing for some, and better for all."
Lloyd Knox
Professor - Physics and Astronomy
"I am really happy to see the strong support for this fellowship all through our department. I am excited to work together to make UC Davis physics more welcoming and inclusive."
Markus Luty
Professor - Physics and Astronomy
"I gave because it became painfully clear that talking alone is just not going to change anything. I also had the experience of overthrowing communism in Hungary, which taught me that small actions can come together and cause much bigger change than anybody thought is possible."
Gergely Zimanyi
Professor - Physics and Astronomy
"I'm very glad that we are taking steps to remove obstacles and make it easier for students to succeed in higher education. I'm proud to contribute to this opportunity fellowship and support my fellow grad students!"
Julie He
Grad Student - Physics and Astronomy
"It's easy to feel powerless to address big societal problems, but progress comes from finding concrete ways to attack smaller pieces. I see this fellowship drive as a way to come together as a department and make a difference."
Rena Zieve
Professor and Chair - Department of Physics and Astronomy
"Graduate school is all too often a steep uphill battle, especially when one also has to deal with societal, financial, and other obstacles. Many in our department continue to seek ways to alleviate various inequities, and although there always remains work to be done, initiatives like this Opportunity Fellowship are definitely a great step in the right direction."
Pratik Gandhi
Grad Student - Physics and Astronomy
"I am excited to work on expanding the opportunity to participate in this scientific adventure of doing physics. We all can benefit from the perspectives and creativity that diverse life experiences will bring to our department and we will contribute in our own way to changing the world for the better going forward."
Daniel Cox
Professor - Physics and Astronomy
"This initiative will not only help graduate students to be successful, but will benefit the entire department. Having students from a multitude of backgrounds enriches our perspectives, community, and department as a whole."
Patty Bolan
Grad Student - Physics and Astronomy
"I donated because I feel compelled that our department (and our university) needs to reflect and support the entirety of our state and country. Our department currently is far from that, but the Opportunity Award Fund represents a concrete step in getting there for our graduate students. This is important because our graduate students represent the future of physics and astronomy."
Andrew Wetzel
Professor - Physics and Astronomy
"I believe that establishing endowed chairs and fellowships is vital to our program's advancement into the top ranks of departments in the US. I hope that the significant total collected in phase one will clearly signal that many in our department are likewise committed to this goal."
Maxwell Chertok
Professor - Physics and Astronomy