Laura Young, business systems analyst for Graduate Studies at the University of California, Davis, has been named as the recipient of the 2019 Citation of Excellence for Innovation. Young was nominated by UC Davis graduate program coordinators for the leadership she demonstrated during the roll-out of Slate, the campus' new graduate admissions and internal fellowship application system.

Graduate Studies transitioned to Slate for the most recent admissions cycle, which began last fall. This transition was needed in order to more effectively collect, process, and review the more than 12,000 admissions applications that UC Davis Graduate Studies receives each year and is used to manage prospective student inquiries and internal fellowship applications from both incoming and continuing UC Davis graduate students.

At the time of the launch, Young was a senior academic advisor in Graduate Studies, but she demonstrated leadership that was "truly above and beyond the scope of her position." In Young's nomination, graduate program staff members expressed that without Laura's efforts, "this campus would not have made it through the transition to the graduate application system as well as we have." 

The Citations of Excellence awards program provides recognition for individual staff and staff teams, who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in innovation, research, service, supervision, and teaching. Thanks to generous support from the Office of the Chancellor, Staff Assembly awards more than $15,000 to individual staff members and staff teams each year.

2019 marks the third consecutive year in which a Graduate Studies staff member has received a Citation of Excellence. Last year, Assistant Dean Kellie Sims Butler was a Citation of Excellence for her supervisory accomplishments and Eli Richmond, who served as lead programmer for Graduate Studies, was recognized for his innovation in the development of the Student Progress Assessment in 2017. 

To learn more about the Citation of Excellence program, visit the UC Davis Staff Assembly website.

About Graduate Studies at UC Davis 

Graduate Studies at UC Davis includes over 100 dynamic degree programs and a diverse and interactive student body from around the world. Known for our state-of-the-art research facilities, productive laboratories and progressive spirit – UC Davis offers collaborative and interdisciplinary curricula through graduate groups and designated emphasis options, bringing students and faculty of different academic disciplines together to address real-world challenges.

UC Davis graduate students and postdoctoral scholars become leaders in their fields: researchers, teachers, politicians, mentors and entrepreneurs. They go on to guide, define and impact change within our global community.

For information on Graduate Studies’ current strategic initiatives, visit the Graduate Studies strategic plan page.