The 2026 UC Davis Medal, the University of California, Davis’ highest honor, will be awarded to Robert D. and A. Kathleen Grey. The couple have dedicated their lives and careers to the university and the surrounding community for nearly six decades, playing an integral role in the university’s transformation into the world-class research institution it is today.

The couple arrived on campus in 1967, when Robert, known as Bob, joined the faculty as an assistant professor of zoology, after earning his bachelor’s degree from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, and his doctoral degree at Washington University in St. Louis. A biologist with a specialty in cellular and molecular mechanisms of reproduction, Bob later became an administrator and took on many prominent roles at the university and within the UC system, including department chair, dean, provost, executive vice chancellor and interim chancellor at UC Riverside, and interim provost for the UC system.

“It’s rare to find a couple who has given as much to a university as Robert and Kathleen Grey,” said UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May. “From the moment they joined our community in 1967, they have helped transform UC Davis into a global powerhouse, led by Bob’s academic stewardship and Kathleen’s expertise in child development. Their generous legacy ensures this impact will continue for generations. It is a privilege to award them the UC Davis Medal in recognition of six decades of service and philanthropy.”

While serving as dean of what was then called the UC Davis Division of Biological Sciences (now the College of Biological Sciences), Bob also championed the 1992 founding of the Center for Neuroscience, the university’s first interdisciplinary research center. He served as an adviser and mentor to generations of students and faculty before his retirement from UC Davis in 2001.

Advancing early childhood education and research

Kathleen, an expert in early childhood development and family-child interactions, served for more than a decade as a program specialist in the UC Davis Early Childhood Lab School within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. She also contributed to UC Davis’ reputation as a leader in developmental psychology, cooperating with researchers on influential studies, including the Baby Signs project, a groundbreaking and now widely recognized method of early childhood communication. After retirement, Kathleen spent 15 years teaching parent groups about how communication and emotion drive infant and toddler behavior.

“Bob and Kathleen Grey are the epitome of lifelong UC Davis supporters. Whether it was through championing interdisciplinary life sciences research, building community on and off campus, or outstanding stewardship of university resources and expertise, they have made an indelible mark on our campus,” said Mark Winey, dean of the College of Biological Sciences. “I am so excited to see them recognized by UC Davis as the leaders they are.”

The Greys are the 30th recipients of the medal, which has also been awarded to such luminaries as 2020 Nobel Laureate Charles Rice, the renowned artist and fellow former faculty member Wayne Thiebaud, and philanthropists Maria Manetti Shrem, and Robert and Margrit Mondavi.

“We are so surprised, touched and honored to be recognized in this way,” said Kathleen Grey. “Bob and I have spoken so often about our gratitude for what UC Davis and the University of California system have given us over the years. It wasn’t just our jobs and careers, but the lifetime of friendships and relationships with colleagues and students that have been incredibly meaningful for us.”

The Greys live in Davis and raised their two children there; daughter Erin Merritt graduated from UC Davis in 1989.

Honoring a lifetime of commitment and giving

The UC Davis Medal is far from the first recognition of the Greys’ dedication to the university and community. In 2023, the main building of the Center for Neuroscience was renamed “Robert D. Grey Hall” in recognition of Bob’s vision and role in the center’s founding. Bob also won the Distinguished Teaching Award from the Davis Division of the Academic Senate, and the Magnus Ronning Award for Teaching Excellence, which is nominated for and chosen by students — the two awards of which he is the proudest. 

In 1994, Kathleen’s contribution to the lives of children and families was honored with the Yolo County Committee for Early Childhood Needs annual award.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with young children, from the time I started taking care of little ones when I was 10 years old. Being a specialist working with them at UC Davis was my passion and brought me much joy, and it’s a true honor to be recognized for something I loved so much,” she said.

The Greys’ commitment to the university includes not just decades of service, but also generous philanthropic support: In 2022, the couple made a $1 million legacy gift to the Center for Neuroscience, an endowment that will ensure the center can sustain its status as a global research hub. The gift also includes an undergraduate research award for students at the Center for Mind and Brain. These two priorities exemplify the Greys’ approach to their lives and commitment to UC Davis: marrying a visionary approach to building UC Davis’ research capacity and reputation with an investment in student success.