- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Co-chairing the event are Will Crites (bugkiller@aol.com) and Arnold Menke (waspman@cableone.net).
Forensic entomologist Robert Kimsey of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology will keynote the banquet on Tuesday, April 2 in the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center. He is known as "The Fly Man of Alcatraz" for his entomological research on the island. (See news story.) Tours of several campus facilities are planned.
Reservations must be made by Sunday, March 24 with Carrie Cloud, director of programs and events, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, at crcloud@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-2120.
The itinerary (updated as of March 29)
Noon-5 p.m.: Meet & Greet room open, including refreshments and snacks
5 - 6 p.m.: Cocktail Hour in University Park Inn and Suites
6 p.m.: Dinner on your own; Dining suggestions provided
Monday, April 1, 2019
6 -8:30 a.m.: Breakfast included with room reservation
8:30 a.m.: Load bus for campus tour
8:45-10:00 a.m.: Bus departs for the Horse Barn tour with Kelli Davis
10:15-10:30 a.m. Travel to the West Village
10:30-11:00 a.m.: Break, food and beverages available
11:00-11:45 a.m: Tour West Village and the Honda Smart Home and Visitor Center with Katherine Bannor
11:45-12 noon: Travel to Lunch
12:00-1:00 p.m.: Lunch at Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center, Moss Patio
1:00-1:45 p.m. Presentation by Amina Harris, UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center, Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center, AGR
1:45-2:00 p.m.: Walk to Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
2:00-3:15 p.m.: Guided Tour of Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts by Tour Committee, Friends of the Mondavi Center
3:15-3:30 p.m.: Load bus and travel back to University Park Inn and Suites
3:30-5:45 p.m.: Meet & greet room opened for refreshments, rest prior to banquet
5:00 p.m.: Cocktail hour, meet & greet room in hotel
5:45 p.m.: Load bus and travel to dinner
6:00 p.m.: Dinner, with presentation from Robert Kimsey and Bruce Badzik on Flies and Beetles, Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center, AGR
8:00 p.m.: Bus return to University Park Inn and Suites
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
6:00-8:15 a.m.: Breakfast included with room reservation
8:15 a.m.: Load bus for Bohart Museum of Entomology
8:30 a.m.: Bus departs for Bohart Museum of Entomology
8:45-9:45 a.m.: Tour Bohart Museum with Lynn Kimsey, Steve Heydon
9:45 a.m.: Load bus and travel to Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility
10:15 a.m.: Arrive Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, food and beverages available
10:15-11:00 a.m.: Entomology Club students present on their work at Alcatraz
11:00-11:45 a.m.: Presentation on Africanized Honey Bees and Colony Collapse Disorder with Brian Johnson
11:45-12:30 p.m.: Tour Haagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven with Christine Casey
12:30-1:15 p.m.: Box lunches, picnic tables available
1:15-1:30 p.m.: Load bus and travel to Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art
1:30-2:30 p.m.: Optional Self-Guided Tour of Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art – drop off attendees who want to tour the museum, drive to hotel and drop off others
2:30-2:45 p.m.: Attendees who toured museum, load bus and travel back to hotel
2:45 p.m.: Arrive University Park Inn and Suites
4:00-5:00 p.m.: Cocktail hour
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
The 2019 Entomology Reunion at UC Davis ends
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
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)
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
“The caliber of nominations submitted was very impressive and demonstrates the high quality of our faculty, staff, alumni, and friends,” said interim dean Mary Delany, in an email. “The individuals listed below have achieved significant personal and professional successes that benefit our communities and bring distinction to UC Davis.”
UC Davis alumnus Will Crites received his bachelor of science degree in entomology in 1958 and his master's degree in entomology in 1961.
The list:
Alumni: Will Crites
Alumni: Glenda Humiston
Friend: Robert Curtis
Staff: Janet Brown-Simmons
Faculty: Kay Dewey
College Leaders awardees: Neal Van Alfen and James MacDonald
"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," said spokesperson Carrie Cloud.
"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."
The event will include "delicious hors d'oeuvres and excellent wines," she said. The evening culminates with a farmers' market where attendees dismantle the "welcome display" and take home a bag of California's freshest produce and grains.The awards will be presented at 5:30 and a reception and dismantling of the farmers' market will follow.
Photos from last year's College Celebration
Past Recipients
- Past Award of Distinction Recipients
Short biographies of past awardees. - PDF of past recipients
For more information, please see http://collegecelebration.ucdavis.edu or contact Carrie Cloud at (530) 204-7500 or crcloud@ucdavis.edu.
