A Message from the Dean

by Mark Stetter
May 18, 2026

There are moments when you can feel an institution take a leap forward— and this is one of them.

In this issue, we share the story of Joan and Sanford I. Weill’s historic $120 million gift to our school. It’s hard to overstate what this means.

Three smiling seniors seated together in a cozy living room — Dean Stetter poses with Joan and Sandy Weill during the filming for Minute with Mark. Click the photo to watch the video.

It will help us build and expand spaces that match the caliber of our work; treat more animals and train additional students and specialists; and accelerate research and innovation in areas like cancer, neuroscience and cardiovascular health. It’s a powerful vote of confidence in the role veterinary medicine plays in solving some of the biggest challenges we face today.

At UC Davis, we’ve long believed that animal, human and environmental health are deeply connected. The Weills’ generosity allows us to lean even further into that belief—to ask bigger questions, pursue bolder ideas and train students who are ready to lead in a One Health world.

That work depends on another critical engine as well: federal funding. You’ll read just a few examples of how our veterinary community uses federal support to advance research that matters—from early detection of and rapid response to highly pathogenic avian influenza in elephant seals to improving food safety in aquaculture to surveillance of ticks that pose a health threat to dogs and humans alike. Federal funding helps ensure that discoveries don’t stop at the lab bench but reach the animals and communities who need them most.

I was reminded during our recent Evening of Gratitude that philanthropy helps us do more than just build facilities. We heard from students who are able to pursue their education—and their calling—because someone they may have never met chose to invest in them through scholarships. That kind of support doesn’t just ease financial burden; it opens doors, expands possibilities and shapes the future of our profession. Many of those students will go on to serve communities that might otherwise lack access to veterinary care, research or public health expertise.

That’s the ripple effect of giving. It’s powerful, and it’s very real.

Throughout this issue, I hope you see what I see every day: a community that is ambitious, collaborative and deeply committed to making a difference. Whether it’s through inspirational gifts, federal investment or the dedication of our faculty, staff and students, we are building something that truly matters.