Alumni Spotlights

Since its founding in 1962, over 28,000 students — and counting! — have graduated from the UC Davis College of Engineering. Our alumni have pursued careers in a wide variety of technical fields in industry, public service and academia, occupying positions of leadership and making a global difference.

Alumni Spotlights

Our alumni have become pioneers in their respective fields with achievements that have been far-reaching. Here are some outstanding examples of how our graduates are changing the world:

UC Davis Students Win Big at Inaugural Farm Robotics Challenge

by Matt Marcure
June 20, 2023

Students

The Farm Robotics Challenge is a national competition for students to create automated solutions to issues farmers face during production. One UC Davis team took the top prize.

Alumni Spotlight: Tom Chunat '86

by Noah Pflueger-Peters
June 15, 2023

Alumni

At age 22, chemical engineering alumnus Tom Chunat ’86 sold most of his belongings and moved to UC Davis to become an unlikely first-generation college student. Though he started out terrified and on his own, he soon fell in love with the community and used the connections, curiosity and hands-on skills he gained to become an innovative engineer and corporate leader.

Brian Horsfield and his wife pose in front of a green wall and sign with their name

Future of Engineering Alumni Engagement Begins with a Single Step

by Matt Murphy
June 15, 2023

For Brian Horsfield, recognition was never a factor when he and his wife, Louanne, created the Once an Aggie Engineer, Always an Aggie Engineer Alumni Engagement Fund at UC Davis. Sitting in downtown Davis in April, Brian says it’s about showing what’s possible when someone makes the decision to give back.

Boxes with medals inside sit on a circular table at a celebration event

Announcing Our 2023 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Medalists

by Molly Bechtel
May 30, 2023

The University of California, Davis College of Engineering announced the recipients of the 2023 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Medal, the highest honor presented by the college to alumni.

Patrick Negulescu Receives 2023 Jeffery C. Gibeling Award for Best Master's Thesis

by Matt Murphy
May 15, 2023

Patrick Negulescu is the 2023 recipient of the College of Engineering's Jeffery C. Gibeling Master's Thesis Excellence Award. Negulescu completed his Master of Science degree in chemical engineering in 2022 and was supervised by Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering Karen McDonald and adjunct professor Somen Nandi.