The Academic Senate and Federation have announced their top awards, comprising 15 academics across various disciplines throughout the university.

The awards cite the impact these academics have had on their fields, on UC Davis students and on the broader community through public service.

Read more about the recipients below, from the citations prepared by the senate and federation award committees.

Academic Senate

Faculty Distinguished Research Award

John M. Boone, professor, Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering

Professor John M. Boone has transformed the field of medical physics and radiology; advancing women’s health, imaging science, and global policy for imaging professionals. His cited innovations earned top honors, including the Gold Medal from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, or AAPM, and the Merit in Medical Physics, the highest form of recognition by the International Union of Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine. He is a fellow of five medical societies. Beyond his highly cited work, Professor Boone is a dedicated mentor whose trainees now hold leadership positions across academia and industry.

Distinguished Scholarly Public Service Award

Verónica Martínez Cerdeño, professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine

Professor Verónica Martínez Cerdeño in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine exemplifies sustained and transformative public service through her leadership in neuroscience outreach, education, and health equity. As founder of The Ventricular Foundation, she has developed culturally responsive, bilingual programs that increase knowledge about the brain to educate K-12 students, families and communities historically underrepresented in STEM. Her work integrates mentorship, community partnerships and international Spanish-language initiatives addressing neurodevelopmental disorders. Through these efforts, she has expanded public understanding of science, inspired future scientists and health professionals, and strengthened inclusive pathways into research and medicine at local, national and global levels.

Jennifer L. Falbe, associate professor, Department of Human Ecology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Associate Professor Jennifer L. Falbe in the Department of Human Ecology demonstrates outstanding public service by translating rigorous public health research into evidence-based policy and practice. Her scholarship on nutrition environments, sugar-sweetened beverage policies, and healthy retail has directly informed local and national decision-making, advancing knowledge of how these aspects affect children and disadvantaged populations. Through sustained collaboration with communities, policymakers, and public agencies, she ensures that research findings are accessible, actionable, and responsive to public needs. Professor Falbe’s work exemplifies the integration of scholarship and service, with measurable impact on public health policy, community environments, and societal outcomes.

Distinguished Teaching Award – Undergraduate Teaching

Robert Furrow, assistant professor of teaching, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Professor Robert Furrow is a pioneer of the integration of innovative pedagogical techniques into the education process. His principled approach, grounded in genuine care for student development reflects a rare commitment to placing evidence-based practice at the heart of his teaching philosophy. Professor Furrow has developed new courses from the ground up based on systematic assessment of student needs. His combination of large-enrollment course expertise, course development from first principles, and application of research to teaching practice represents the highest standards of teaching excellence.

Laci Gerhart, associate professor of teaching, Department of Evolution and Ecology, College Biological Sciences

Professor Laci Gerhart combines extensive pedagogical knowledge and skill with enormous dedication to students. She brings passion and talent to all classes, small and large. Even in courses with more than 500 students enrolled, she makes a meaningful effort to get to know her students both inside and outside of class. Professor Gerhart has been engaged and creative in advancing the use of technology and modern teaching methods, as well as in integrating her teaching into campus life. She is a wonderful mentor to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, whose teaching skills have grown enormously under her thoughtful guidance.

Nitzan Shabek, associate professor, Department of Plant Biology, College of Biological Sciences

Associate Professor Nitzan Shabek is an inspiring and dynamic educator who “makes complex biochemical concepts come alive for students.” His teaching is infused with real-world examples of scientific triumphs, demonstrating how persistent curiosity leads to innovation. Professor Shabek devotes considerable effort in connecting with students, learning and remembering the names of hundreds of students. He fosters an accessible and nurturing learning environment that enables students to see a seat for themselves at the table of science. His outstanding and inclusive mentorship is reflected in the numerous accolades and achievements of his mentees.

Keith David Watenpaugh, professor, Human Rights Studies Program, College of Letters and Science

Professor Keith David Watenpaugh has demonstrated unparalleled dedication to human rights and the UC Davis community. In 2015, he founded the Human Rights Studies program and pioneered a curriculum where none had existed before, developing two new Human Rights courses, HMR 1 and HMR 134 with almost 4,000 enrolled students in the last 10 years. He has founded the Article 26 Backpack initiative, which focuses on protecting the right to education for refugees and at-risk young people through fundraising, communication strategies and engaging in research and advocacy. This initiative has had a lasting and far-reaching impact at UC Davis and well beyond.

Distinguished Teaching Award – Graduate and Professional Teaching 

Damian Genetos, professor, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine

Professor Damian Genetos is dedicated to optimizing student experience and fostering global understanding. As chair of the Integrative Pathobiology Graduate Group, he redesigned core curriculum and transformed it to emphasize foundational skill-based learning. Integrating his own reassessment of renal anatomy and physiology, he identified areas of difficulty for students and revised sessions to improve clarity of concepts. Despite teaching large classes, he is praised for his personalized interaction with students and his advocacy for their mental health and work-life balance. Professor Genetos’ commitment to teaching and students has created lasting relationships, and his mentorship has positively affected his students’ lives.

Hsuan Hsu, professor, Department of English, College of Letters and Science

Professor Hsuan Hsu’s graduate teaching and mentoring earn consistent praise from students and colleagues as “stellar,” “generous” and transformative. He guides students through the intellectual and professional dimensions of academic life, pairing rigorous instruction with sustained, attentive mentorship. Students laud Professor Hsu for his ability to make professional expectations clear while encouraging ambitious scholarship. Colleagues highlight the depth of his mentorship across coursework, dissertation stages, and professional development, often extending into collaborative research and co-authored publications. As one student notes, he “always shows up,” offering incisive feedback and maintaining high standards alongside steadfast encouragement and care.

Academic Federation

James H. Meyer Distinguished Achievement Award

David Jones, professional research engineer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering and the University of California Pavement Research Center

David Jones has been part of the UC Davis Community since 2005. As the associate director of the University of California Pavement Research Center, he has established nationally and internationally recognized research programs in cold pavement recycling, and the sustainable use of recycled materials in road and airfield pavement construction. In addition to his important leadership work at the center, which provides innovative research and solutions to wide-ranging pavement issues to practitioners, researchers, and decision-makers, Jones has researched ways to reduce the environmental impact of unpaved roads and improve the quality of life for those living near and using those roads. Beyond his significant accomplishments in research and service, Jones has made contributions that his colleagues laud as having “a lasting impact on our institution, the field of pavement engineering and the communities we serve.”

Distinguished Service Award

Monica Torreiro-Casal, continuing lecturer, Department of Chicana/o/x Studies

Monica Torreiro-Casal teaches and mentors students in Chicana/o/x Studies and provides extensive service to immigrant and diverse populations. She serves on UC committees that promote affirmative action, diversity, and equity, and developed and led the Healing Through Creative Arts Expression Program, which supports undocumented students and immigrant students from mixed immigration status families at UC Davis. Torreiro-Casal has collaborated extensively on curriculum development, graduate and undergraduate mentorship, research, and community-based training aimed at improving the mental health of underserved populations at the international, national, state, and local levels. Torreiro-Casal’s commitment to community well-being, equity, and public service is evident in her work and goes far beyond what is expected of her role.

Excellence in Research Award

Levi Lewis, associate professional researcher, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Levi Lewis is an exemplary researcher and leader in his field. His innovative work on the ecology and conservation of fish growth, migration, and habitat use by otolith microstructure analysis provides reliable demographic metrics for fish species that are nearly impossible to observe in the wild. Lewis has maintained an outstanding funding record, securing more than $21 million in extramural funding for his laboratory from a wide range of federal, state, and non-governmental funding sources, and his research has influenced numerous conservation policy recommendations. Lewis has significantly improved our understanding of threatened and endangered species within California as well as fish species worldwide.

Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching or Mentoring 

Belinda Bandstra, health sciences associate clinical professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine

As program director of residency training programs in her department, Belinda Bandstra has made numerous structural improvements to the residency program and formed deep and lasting connections with each of the residents. Residents describe her mentorship as “transformative,” combining “clinical rigor with empathy and grace, creating an environment where learning feels both challenging and deeply supportive.” Residents also praise her “gift for distilling complex situations into thoughtful teaching moments that help strengthen clinical judgment and improve patient care,” as well as her “unwavering advocacy” for residents. Bandstra’s colleagues describe the residency program’s “improved curricular organization, enhanced faculty engagement and positive shift in the educational culture” under her leadership.

Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching 

Alison Bright, continuing lecturer, The Writing Center

In 13 years as a lecturer, Alison Bright has taught 11 distinct courses, from entry-level undergraduate to graduate courses, including a course in Wine Writing that she developed herself. Her colleagues praise her ability to balance prioritizing her students while maintaining academic rigor and to help students succeed without simply giving high grades. Bright “focuses on listening to and validating student voices,” with the result that “students feel they have been challenged and respected.” Her colleagues emphasize that Bright has been able to motivate students at all levels and in many different disciplines. Students note her constant support and mentorship, with one writing that she “helped me uncover potential in myself that I had never recognized before.”

Priscilla San Souci, continuing lecturer, Department of Psychology, College of Letters and Science

Priscilla San Souci has taught a remarkable variety of courses across modalities and is characterized by her undergraduate students, graduate TAs and colleagues as an outstanding teacher. Students have praised her “rare ability to make a large class feel personal” and her mentorship that extends “far beyond just the curriculum.” In addition to her efforts to promote student equity and belonging in her teaching and mentorship, San Souci has also contributed significantly to improving her department's curriculum and pedagogy, redesigning the History of Psychology course, co-creating a hybrid Developmental Psychology course and helping with a major overhaul of the Research Methods in Psychology course.