Among Rhonda Morris’ many honors are selections as a National Academy of Human Resources Fellow; Most Influential African Americans in Business from the National Diversity Institute; Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business from the San Francisco Business Times; and Most Powerful Women in Corporate America from Black Enterprise.
Since shortly after its launch four years ago, Jennifer Dasal’s ArtCurious podcast has been a hit, garnering kudos from art historians and nods from O: The Oprah Magazine, Salon and National Public Radio. Now Dasal (B.A., art history, ’02) has taken some of those podcast stories and added many more for her book Art Curious: Stories of the Unexpected, Slightly Odd, and Strangely Wonderful in Art History
Rob Lea has had a big year: summiting Mount Everest, swimming the English Channel and biking across the United States. The idea came to him after ankle problems prompted a doctor to tell him not to run anymore.
UC Davis alumnus Anthony Williams, as legislative affairs secretary to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, leads a team that is responsible for analyzing and negotiating all the various pieces of legislation working their way through the State Legislature.
The irony in columnist Bob Dunning’s nearly 50-year career at The Davis Enterprise is that when he applied for a job at the newspaper, he thought he might get hired as a night janitor.
John Morrison. Johnny Nitro. Johnny Mundo. John Hennigan (B.A., individual major, '02) has been known by many names as a pro wrestler and actor.
A standout wrestler in high school, Hennigan was on the wrestling and track teams at UC Davis, as well as a member of the gymnastics and kung fu clubs. He majored in film studies. It all combined to create a multi-faceted career.
Mark Ferrando (B.A., dramatic arts, ’11) has a résumé that illustrates his versatility: stunt performer, acrobat, actor, circus artist. Ferrando has channeled his passion for physicality and theater into a career that calls for both. As a student at UC Davis, he studied dramatic arts and was a part of the gymnastics club.
For her second career, Vicky Benzing ’80 went in a completely different direction. Benzing worked as a vice president at semiconductor manufacturing company Novellus Systems before going part-time and then retiring in 2012. When she decided to retire, she became an aerosport pilot.
After a four-decade career as a caricature artist, Karen Calden Fulk (B.A., art, ’65) is creating caricature-type paintings and sculptures, including a recent ceramic work honoring UC Davis art professor emeritus Wayne Thiebaud.
In 1985 Carol Burrill held her baby girl, Kate Burrill, in her arms as she posed for a graduation photo next to the ARC Pavilion. She had just earned her master’s degree in linguistics. Twenty-two years later, Kate stood in the same spot for a photo the day she graduated in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in the same field.