Entomology Shares Spotlight in Video Salute to UC Davis Emeriti

Entomology shared the spotlight in a newly released UC Davis video tribute to emeriti, an annual public service project by UC Davis distinguished professor Walter Leal.

Leal creates an annual video tribute to UC Davis faculty transitioning to emeriti, "as a way of celebrating their accomplishments as they enter a new chapter in their lives." It is a zero-budget, one-person production.

UC Davis distinguished professor emerita Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology for 34 years until her retirement on Feb. 1, 2024, is among the 17 emeriti featured. They represent about 20 percent of UC Davis faculty who retired in 2023-24.

Kimsey is a recognized authority on insect biodiversity, systematics and biogeography of parasitic wasps, urban entomology, civil forensic entomology, and arthropod-related industrial hygiene. A UC Davis entomology alumna, she received her undergraduate degree in 1975 and her doctorate in 1979. 

Kimsey joined the entomology faculty in 1989 and became the Bohart Museum director in 1990. Although officially retired, she continues her research and as executive director of the Bohart Museum Society. She writes and publishes the quarterly newsletter.

Provided Insect Diagnostics 

In the video, Leal notes that Kimsey "is an entomologist interested in the systematics of stinging wasps, insect biotic diversity, and urban entomology...she provided insect diagnostics for the public and corporations, non-profit organizations,  and governmental agencies."

"Her research focused primarily on cuckoo wasps, hornets, and tiphiid wasps, describing more than 30 new genera and 300 new species of wasps. Her fieldwork included biotic surveys of the insect fauna of various desert sand dune systems in California and tropical habitats in Central America and Southeast Asia."

Kimsey served as president of the International Society of Hymenopterists from 2002-2004, and as a member of the board of directors of the Natural Science Collections Alliance in 2000 and 2001. The Pacific Branch, Entomological Society of America (PBESA) singled her out for its highest honor, the C. W. Woodworth Award, in 2020. She received the PBESA Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity Award in 2014 and was a member of "The Bee Team" that won the PBESA Outstanding Team Award in 2013. The UC Davis Academic Senate honored her with its Distinguished Scholarly Public Service Award in 2016 in recognition of her outstanding work. And in 2023, CA&ES selected her as the recipient of its Exceptional Faculty Award.  She was honored with a 21-insect net salute in April.

In addition to the faculty highlights, Leal included brief messages by Chancellor Gary May, Provost Mary Croughan, and Suad Joseph, the UC Davis Emeriti Association (UCDEA) president. UCDEA interviews and records emeriti who have made "significant contributions to the development of the university." See Video Records Project.

'Important Part of Our Success'

"I know our emeriti are feeling the energy at UC Davis as we prepare to greet our incoming class of students," said Chancellor May in the video transcript. "I want to extend a welcome to all our emeriti professors and encourage you to remain involved in our vibrant campus activity just as you've been such an important part of our success." 

Those featured on the video tribute, in order of appearance: 

• Stuart Meyers,  professor emeritus, Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine 
• Peter Mundy, emeritus distinguished professor, Department of Education, and the Department of Psychiatry, College of Letters and Science
• Vaidehi Ramanathan, professor emerita, Department of Linguistics, College of Letters and Science
• Scott Simon, distinguished professor emeritus, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Bruce German, distinguished professor emeritus, Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
• Lynn Kimsey, distinguished professor emerita, Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
• Leonard Abbeduto, professor emeritus, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine
• Lynette Hart, professor emerita, Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine
• Frank Sharp, distinguished professor emeritus, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine
• Stephen Wheeler, professor emeritus, Urban Design and Sustainability, Department of Human Ecology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
• Esther Kim, professor emerita, Eye Center, School of Medicine
• Julia Menard-Warwick, professor emerita, Department of Linguistics, College of Letters and Science
• Mohamed Hafez, professor emeritus, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
• Geoffrey Schladow, professor emeritus, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
• Gail Taylor, distinguished professor emerita, Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
• Paul FitzGerald, distinguished professor emeritus, Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy and Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, School of Medicine
• Alan Balch, distinguished professor emeritus, Department of Chemistry, College of Letters and Science

Additionally, Leal spotlighted (1) an emeriti “caught on camera” (Geerat J. Vermeij) heading to work two years after his retirement ("to stress how many members of the Emeriti remain engaged in UC Davis affairs"), and (2) UC Davis faculty member (Alan Balch) who broke the record on the number of years of service to the University of California (56 years, which included 52 at UC Davis).

Leal launched his first "Tribute to Our New Emeriti," featuring 24 professors from eight colleges and schools who transitioned to emeriti in 2021-2022. (See news story.) The 2022-23 video tribute is here. (See news story)

Leal, a member of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology faculty since 2013, is a former professor and chair of the Department of Entomology. He is the first UC Davis faculty member to win all three of the Academic Senate's most coveted awards: in research, teaching, and public service.  Leal received the 2020 Distinguished Teaching Award for Undergraduate Teaching; the 2022 Distinguished Scholarly Public Service Award; and the 2024 Distinguished Faculty Research Award. 

Seven ENT Faculty Retired

Seven faculty from the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology (ENT) retired in the 2023-24 academic year and were honored June 11 at an ENT celebration at the UC Davis Alumni Center.  Together they amassed 247 years of service.

• UC Davis distinguished professor James Carey, 44 years, faculty member since 1980 
• UC Davis distinguished professor Richard Karban, 42 years, faculty member since 1982
• UC Davis distinguished professor emerita Lynn Kimsey (retired Feb. 1, 2024), 35 years, faculty member since 1989
• Robert Kimsey, adjunct professor, 35 years, faculty member since 1989
• UC Davis distinguished professor Jay Rosenheim, 34 years, faculty member since 1990
• UC Davis distinguished professor Diane Ullman, 29 years, faculty member since 1995
• Sharon Lawler, professor emerita (retired in January 2023), 28 years, faculty member since 1995