Staff research associate Kimiora Ward of the Neal Williams lab, UC Davis Department of Entomology, has been selected a recipient of an Outstanding Citation for Excellence, sponsored by the UC Davis Staff Assembly.

Ward, a recognized leader in the development of native plants for pollinators and methods for their restoration, will be one of 15 staff members honored Thursday, May 23 at a ceremony at the Gunrock campus pub and restaurant. Chancellor Linda Katehi traditionally pays tribute to the outstanding staff.

Ward was nominated in the service category by assistant professor/pollination ecologist Neal Williams and co-nominated by Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen and communications specialist Kathy Keatley Garvey, with input from lab members, graduate students and colleagues.

Ward received her master’s degree from the University of Washington in 2000. Her background is in natural resource management and native plant conservation, with a focus on native plant materials development to improve habitat restoration. 

She formerly managed the Seed Increase Program at the Institute for Applied Ecology in Oregon where the program goal was to produce ecologically appropriate and genetically diverse native forb seed to better support insect and bird diversity in prairie restorations. 

Ward currently manages several projects researching the use of native forbs to support wild pollinator populations in agricultural landscapes of central California.  In addition to identifying native plant species that are amenable to cultivation while attracting diverse and abundant pollinators, this research asks whether establishment of these plants in the farm landscape can increase pollination service to adjacent crops.

The nominators described her as “an extremely dedicated employee, outstanding leader, excellent scientist, top-notch communicator/listener, and a genuinely warm and caring person who does UC Davis proud. A staff researcher in charge of a large research program, she excels at all levels of research from assisting with grant writing, designing protocols and coordinating field crews to assisting with analysis and writing.”

Williams referred to her as “my right hand and left hand.”

The work she does is “well beyond what would be expected of an SRA position,” Williams said. “She is currently co-authoring three articles on native plant restoration. Her efforts extend to editing and writing, which are truly praiseworthy. She engages in the intellectual development of the lab group. She participates in our lab group meetings and join insect ecology meetings and gives programs to other lab groups on campus. I know of no other SRA who does what she does.”

 “Rather than simply working diligently during her day, she puts in countless hours to make sure the program operates at the highest level,” the nominators wrote. “She goes out of her way to help build partnerships around the state with landowners, agency members, nature resource professionals, conservationists and native seed producers and this has resulted in a high respected UC Davis program. Indeed, she acts as a bridge between our search institution and the general public—this includes engaging stakeholders as far south as San Diego.”

Undergraduates, recent graduates, graduate students and colleagues praised her mentoring skills and her ability to provide professional and personal support. Offered one graduate student: “She truly does foster a positive and encouraging work environment. I know that if I have a question about my own research, about mentoring my own students or navigating graduate school, she will take time to listen to me and advises me—always keeping my best interests in mind.”

Added another colleague: “I know from many conversation how much she cares about the people she’s supervising. She cares deeply about their professional and personal growth.”

Staff Assembly singled out three individuals as the overall winners, and one as the outstanding team. Three individuals, including Ward, were named outstanding citation recipients and one team was selected for an outstanding citation.

Individual winners:
Rahim Reed, Associate Executive Vice Chancellor, Office of Community Relations – Supervision
Emily Whitmer, Wildlife Health Center– Campus Service
Ernie Hoftyzer, Institute of Transportation Studies – Research Contributions

Team winner:
Interdisciplinary Research Support Team, Office of Research – Campus Community Contributions: Sheryl Soucy-Lubell, Alyssa Bunn, Erin Houston, Kassie Obelleiro and Regan Scott

Outstanding Citations:
Min Hoang, Chemistry – Teaching 
Kimiora Ward, Department of Entomology – Service
Jeremy Phillips, Division of Social Sciences and Humanities, Information Technology – Supervision 
Beth Floyd, College of Letters and Science – Supervision

Outstanding Citations Team:
One Health Institute Diagnostic and Technology Development Laboratory Team, Wildlife Health Center, comprised of Brett Smith, Daniel Rejmanek and Jasmine Pante

 In addition, scores of scholarships were awarded:

Staff Dependent Scholarship Awarded to:

Ariel Aaron Amon
Major: Human Development
School: UC Davis
Scholarship: Staff Assembly
Amount: $1,000

Jordan Tonooka
Major: Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity
School: UC Davis
Scholarship: Staff Assembly
Amount: $1,500

Julia Dinger
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
School: UC Davis
Scholarship: Staff Assembly
Amount: $500

Staff Scholarships

Ester Min
Major: Public Health
School: Touro University California
Title: Animal Technician, Sr.
Department: Nutrition
Scholarship:  Staff Assembly
Amount: $300

Wendy Anne Stoltz
Major: Business
School: Mills College
Title: Development Analyst
Department: Graduate School of Management
Scholarship:  Former Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef
Amount: $4,000

Kelly Marie Cole
Major: Educational Leadership- Capitol Area North Doctorate in Candel
School: UC Davis
Title: Academic Advising Coordinator
Department: Student Housing
Scholarship: Latino Staff and Faculty Association and Vanderhoof
Amount: $800

Michelle Mitchell
Major: Masters in Marriage Family Counseling
School: University of Phoenix- Sacramento Campus
Title: Library Asst. II
Department: Shields Library CMS
Scholarship: Orzalli
Amount: $1,500

Kawami Evans
Major: Educational Leadership and Management Doctoral Program
School: Drexel University
Title: Academic Coordinator
Department: Student Housing
Scholarship: UC Davis Retiree
Amount: $1,000

Letia Graening
Major: Communication
School: Southern New Hampshire University
Title: Assistant II
Department: BFTV Admin Cluster
Scholarship: Staff Assembly
Amount: $1,200

Maria Saldana-Seibert
Major: Higher Education Leadership
School: California State University, Sacramento
Title: Student Affairs Officer
Department: Molecular and Cellular Biology
Scholarship: Staff Assembly
Amount: $300

Courtney Gardner
Major: Nursing
School: California State University, Chico
Title: AHT III
Department: Vmth SAICU
Scholarship: Staff Assembly
Amount: $300

La Shon M. Tate
Major: Master’s of Science Counseling, MFT
School: University of Phoenix, Sacramento Campus
Title: Administrative Specialist
Department: Compliance
Scholarship: Staff Assembly
Amount: $1,100

Jasmine Gideon
Major: Environmental Science
School: University of Phoenix
Title: Medical Assistant
Department: Family Practice
Scholarship: Orzalli
Amount: $1,000

Julie Delia Agosto
Major: Ed.D in Organizational Leadership
School: Pepperdine University
Title: Program Consultant/ SSAOII
Department: Student Recrutment and Retention Center/ Student Affairs
Scholarship: Staff Assembly
Amount: $500