Abiel Malepeai is guided by an old Samoan proverb that translates to English as “The pathway to leadership is service.” The recent UC Davis graduate has advocated for Pacific Islander students, served as a student EMT with the UC Davis Fire Department and helped meet the basic needs of students.
With more than two decades as a prosecutor under his belt, Thien Ho ’95 is no stranger to putting people behind bars — in fact, he was the lead prosecutor on the case that sent Joseph DeAngelo, the “Golden State Killer,” to prison for life in 2020 for more than a dozen murders and kidnappings. But as Sacramento County’s newest district attorney, he said he hopes to focus on building relationships with the community.
How much do you know about the pesky insects that buzz and bite in your everyday life? Nazzy Pakpour ’99 has dedicated her career to studying mosquitos and other parasites, and now she’s uncovering their mystery with her upcoming children’s book, Please Don’t Bite Me!
“These insects are easy points of entry to learning about science because we see them or interact with them all the time,” Pakpour said. “People say ‘don’t let the bedbugs bite,’ but do they know what a bedbug is?”
David Suh ’17 pursued his dream to become a photographer, but offers more than a service. He wants everyone to feel confident in their own body and reaches a wider audience on TikTok.
The Cal Aggie Alumni Association recognizes the recipients of the 2022-2023 Special Interest & Affinity Network Awards and APFA Scholarship.
On behalf of the donors and volunteers with the African and African Alumni Association (5A), Sword and Sandals, Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association, and the Aggie Parent and Family Association (APFA), congratulations to the 2022-2023 recipients with outstanding leadership and dedication to the UC Davis community.
Chidubem Nnaji ’22, a Donald A. Strauss Foundation Scholarship recipient, has dedicated his career to public service through engineering and project management.
Poet, mentor and educator Denisha Bland, also known as Coco Blossom, empowers young adults throughout the region with spoken word and writing in her role as associate director of Sacramento Youth Area Speaks.
Former UC Davis football player and co-captain Rudy Kadlub ’71 Cred. ’72 is breaking records as a 70-plus-year-old powerlifter. He shares his journey and how to achieve New Year’s fitness resolutions.