- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
DAVIS--The UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will present seven Awards of Distinction at its 25th annual College Celebration on Friday night, Oct. 11 in Freeborn Hall. The event begins at 5:30 with the Award of Distinction ceremony, followed by a reception and farmers’ market from 6:30 to 8.
Among those honored will be Janet Brown-Simmons, chief administrative officer for five departments, including the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology; and UC Davis entomology alumnus Will Crites.
The event is held each year at harvest time to celebrate the advancement and accomplishments of our college and its impact on agriculture and the environment, according to the CA&ES website. “The Award of Distinction is the highest recognition presented by the college to individuals whose contributions and achievements enrich the image and reputation of the college and enhance its ability to provide public service.”
Recipients:
- Alumni awardees: Will Crites and Glenda Humiston
- Friend: Robert Curtis
- Staff: Janet Brown-Simmons
- Faculty: Kathryn Dewey
College Leaders awardees: Neal Van Alfen and James MacDonald
The deadline to make reservations is Friday, Oct. 4. See online registration. Checks are payble to the UC Regents. For more information, please contact Carrie Cloud at (530) 204-7500 or crcloud@ucdavis.edu.
From the CA&ES Website:
Will Crites
Crites earned two degrees in entomology at UC Davis—a bachelor’s in 1958 and a master’s in 1961. After graduation and a five-month tour of Europe on a motorcycle, he went to work with Shell Chemical Company’s agricultural chemical group. His career took him to New Jersey, San Francisco, Portland, Fresno, and eventually to Walnut Creek. He cites his work with the careful introduction of Shell-marketed pyrethroid insecticides as a major accomplishment. He remains active today as an industry consultant.
Crites stays close to campus colleagues through ongoing reunions with UC Davis entomologists and the CALPHA Fraternity (Agricultural Fraternity California), which became Phi Delta Theta. He has twice helped bring entomology graduates from the 1950s through the 1970s back to UC Davis for reunions. He has been instrumental in a CALPHA fraternity reunion and is working on another reunion for the fraternity in 2014.
He is a charter member of the UC Davis Chancellor’s Club and has pledged support for an endowed chair in economic entomology. He also contributes to Doctors Without Borders, Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army, the Boy Scouts of America, and several organizations searching for a cure for leukemia.
Crites says his major professor was one of the greatest influences in his life. “I attribute much of the success I’ve had in industry to the education I received at the university and especially as the result of mentoring by my dear friend and major professor, the late Dr. W. Harry ‘Doc’ Lange.”
“Will Crites has been an ambassador of goodwill for our department for many years. His passion and commitment is extraordinary. Reunions do not take place by themselves—you need a dedicated alumnus as the primary organizer and Will has been that for us.”
— Professor Michael Parrella, chair, Department of Entomology and Nematology
Janet Brown-Simmons
She joined CA&ES in 2000 as the management services officer in the Department of Entomology (now the Department of Entomology and Nematology). Her skill at bringing effective change to departmental operations helped resolve issues within the shared administrative units for the departments of Plant Pathology and Nematology—all while continuing to serve as the management services officer for the entomology department. The spirit of cooperation and the resulting administrative efficiencies enabled the department chairs and their faculty to focus on strategic planning, programmatic issues, and other academic initiatives.
Brown-Simmons also has taken on the additional role of chief administrative officer for the “Metro” cluster, which provides staff support for the departments of Environmental Toxicology; Land, Air and Water Resources; and Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology. Faculty colleagues describe her as energetic and creative in her efforts to foster team spirit and a shared commitment to the academic mission.
She holds high performance standards for employees, encourages the acquisition of new skills for career development, and is sensitive to work-life balance issues. A strong advocate for the staff, Brown-Simmons has a reputation for using humor to diffuse tensions when conflicts arise.
She served as interim management services officer for the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program, assumed management responsibilities for Foundation Plant Services, and conducted administrative reviews of many other CA&ES departments. “I wanted to give back to the CA&ES staff, faculty, and chairs partnering with me through the years,” Brown-Simmons said. “The results of this synergy have been incredibly rewarding to me personally—knowing I have made a difference in some small way.”
“Janet has succeeded in creating a positive environment for our staff. This enhances their sense of job satisfaction and their performance. As a consequence, the full department enjoys the benefits of a capable and enthusiastic support team.”
— Professor Thomas Gordon and Professor Richard Bostock, current and past chair, Department of Plant Pathology
Check out some photos from last year's College Celebration! (CA&ES)