Dean’s Awards
Originally established in 2024 as the Dean's Staff Awards by Dean Mark Stetter, the program was created to recognize the outstanding contributions of staff across the School and to support the SVM People First Initiative. Organized by a committee, these awards are especially meaningful because recipients are nominated by their peers.
These awards honor staff members whose efforts have a broad and meaningful impact throughout the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine community. Nominations recognize individuals whose work advances the school’s mission of improving animal health, protecting the environment, promoting public health, and fostering economic development through excellence in education, research, and service.
Through this annual recognition, the School celebrates the vital role staff members play in advancing the mission of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and serving the people of California and beyond.
In 2025, the program was expanded to include faculty and was renamed the Dean’s Awards.
2025 Recipients
Positive Impact: Blake Linscheid
Blake Linschied was recognized with the Positive Impact Award for his outstanding contributions during the 2024 influenza outbreak. He played a pivotal role in supporting Davis Biotech by volunteering extra hours and helping restore testing capacity in Tulare. His dedication significantly strengthened the entire CAHFS system during a period of intense demand and staffing shortages.
Innovation: Vu Dao
Vu Dao was recognized with the Innovation Award for his creativity, work ethic, and solution-oriented mindset, all of which have become essential to one of our most impactful external communication tools: video storytelling. From Minute with Mark to scholarship stewardship videos, fundraising campaigns, and service-area features, his eye for detail and artistic talent share our story with the world in meaningful, memorable ways.
Teamwork: Ashley Carr
Ashley Carr was recognized with the Teamwork Award for her exceptional leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving ability. As part of ADMAN leadership, she co-led the creation of the Tiger Team, bringing together campus and ADMAN leadership to address operational challenges in real time and ensure academic departments’ needs are considered when major systems like Aggie Enterprise are launched. Her efforts resulted in regular, direct communication with FOA leadership, benefiting not only Vet Med but the entire campus.
Professional: Cindy Pinzon
Cindy Pinzon was recognized with the Professional Award as she is a true “unsung hero” according to her nominator, Karen Boudreaux, Educational Specialist. As the school’s curriculum scheduler, she plays a pivotal role in advancing educational excellence by ensuring that student schedules run seamlessly and faculty are thoughtfully and appropriately assigned to teaching sessions.
