Winter 2025 Content

Balancing Nutrition with Holiday Eating

Jocelyn C Anderson — December 19, 2024 - 9:15am

Decadent foods are a staple for many holiday meals, so how can everyone keep nutrition in mind while celebrating? Debbie Fetter ’12, Ph.D. ’18, an associate professor of teaching in the Department of Nutrition at �°��ϲ��Ļ��Ϣ Davis, shares healthy strategies for planning holiday meals.

A Marine Biologist Down Under

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024 - 10:30pm

Carolyn Lundquist, Ph.D. ’00, prompted by a high school career test, studied communication at �°��ϲ��Ļ��ϢLA, until an elective completely changed her path, leading her to eventually settle thousands of miles from her native California.

Alumni Books of 2024

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024 - 10:40am

From sports and history to mystery and comics, this year featured books for everyone. Our annual roundup features even more Aggie authors than ever before and could keep readers busy for the better part of next year.

Check out �°��ϲ��Ļ��Ϣ Davis Magazine’s full list for 2024.

FICTION

David Starkey ’84 imagines a scenario in which a jet carrying members of a famous rock band plunges into the backyard of a retired insurance salesman who is mourning his wife’s death from COVID in Poor Ghost (Keylight Books, 2024)

The Music of Comedy

Russell L Thebaud — November 18, 2024 - 10:40am

Seeing a JR De Guzman ’12 show is a lot like attending a concert. The comedian walks onstage with his acoustic guitar over his shoulder and starts in on a mix of stories and songs — but all were written for big laughs.

De Guzman ’12 has been bringing his unique blend of music and comedy to audiences around the world on almost constant tour since 2021. For this year’s “Working It Out” tour, he wrote an original song for every city he visited.

Students Explore the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness

Russell L Thebaud — November 18, 2024 - 10:30am

In his first-year seminar dubbed “Could a Robot Ever Be Conscious?” Professor Richard Huskey guides students to discuss theories of consciousness. Through a variety of fields ranging from neuroscience to philosophy, students in this first-year seminar have nuanced conversations about artificial intelligence and consciousness, and whether anything distinguishes the two.

A Matter of Opinion

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024 - 10:30am

When Oxford University Press suggested Matthew Kennedy, M.A. ’92, write a book for its Opinionated Guide series, he said he knew exactly what film star to cover: Elizabeth Taylor.

“I chose Elizabeth Taylor because I've been fascinated by her for so long that it was it was a joy to write and research,” said Kennedy, a film historian and former anthropology instructor.

A Home Field Advantage

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024 - 10:30am

Former student-athlete Andrew LaCour ’24 landed his dream job in baseball close to home.

The left-handed pitcher spent four years with Aggie baseball before signing a contract in August with the Yolo High Wheelers, a new team in the Pioneer Baseball League, or PBL. The team just completed its inaugural season at a familiar location, on campus at Dobbins Stadium, where LaCour took the mound throughout his collegiate career.

My Summer Internship in New Zealand

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024 - 10:30am

Over the summer, I spent seven weeks doing an internship, paired with an online writing course, in New Zealand with a group of other University of California undergraduates. My major is environmental science and management, following the soils and biogeochemistry tract, and I hoped to gain experience incorporating soil science and sustainable management. As a student journalist at �°��ϲ��Ļ��Ϣ Davis Magazine, I wanted to share my experience spending a summer interning abroad.

A Wild Discovery

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024 - 10:30am

Lohitashwa Garikipati ’17 just discovered a new species of praying mantis.

The entomologist said his passion for insects ignited during his studies at �°��ϲ��Ļ��Ϣ Davis. “It’s hard to pick just one important experience, but being involved in research at the university’s labs was instrumental in shaping my career,” he said. He initially started as a biology major and decided to focus on entomology.

Winter 2025 Content

Balancing Nutrition with Holiday Eating

Top 10 Stories of 2024

A Marine Biologist Down Under

Alumni Books of 2024

FICTION

The Music of Comedy

Students Explore the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness

A Matter of Opinion

A Home Field Advantage

My Summer Internship in New Zealand

A Wild Discovery