Faculty

Each year, the UC Davis College of Engineering recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, research and community with the Outstanding Faculty Awards. Faculty members are nominated by their respective departments and are selected by the college’s faculty awards committee.

Colleen E. Bronner, an associate professor of teaching and vice-chair of undergraduate studies in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is a champion of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at UC Davis.

Her research focus is primarily in two areas: inclusive teaching pedagogy, which explores ways to teach that do not privilege or disadvantage people based on their backgrounds and experiences, and diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in engineering.

PROFESSOR YAYOI TAKAMURA is chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UC Davis. She joined UC Davis in 2006 and became vice chair of the department in 2017 before becoming chair in July 2020. She is the first woman to lead the department.

Eight College of Engineering assistant professors received National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) awards this year, setting a college record and helping UC Davis lead the nation.

Harry Cheng is a professor in the UC Davis Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and is the founder and director of the C-STEM (Computing, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Center.

As part of Black History Month, the UC Davis College of Engineering is engaging our faculty and staff in considering our roles in implicit bias and systemic racism. We all play a part in addressing these long-standing issues and are making spaces to have open, collective dialogue that moves our college and university forward.

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) has honored Ralph C. Aldredge, associate dean for undergraduate studies in the College of Engineering and professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering, with the 2021 NSBE Golden Torch Award for Lifetime Achievement in Academia.

UC Davis Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Marina Radulaski holds a Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford University, but her science career started in Serbia with a double major in physics and computer science from the University of Belgrade and the Union University. Serbia has a rich history in physics with Nikola Tesla being the most famous Serbian-American inventor—for now.

Jasquelin Peña joined the UC Davis Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering as an associate professor in spring 2020. Her research lies at the intersection of natural, managed and engineered ecosystems and she aims to advance sustainable solutions to environmental quality problems.

She enjoys sharing her knowledge and connecting with UC Davis students while building a more inclusive environment.

Computer science professor Dipak Ghosal has been named the inaugural Prem Chand Jain Family Presidential Chair for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This new role will provide an opportunity for graduate students within the College of Engineering to expand their entrepreneurial mindset by providing resources to implement their innovative ideas.