L&S Strategic Vision

Greater Together for the Greater Good

The 2025-2030 Strategic Vision for the College of Letters and Science

Looking Forward, Together

WE ARE PROUD to present Greater Together for the Greater Good, the 2025–2030 strategic vision for the College of Letters and Science at UC Davis. Higher education is at a defining moment, challenged by rising costs, by evolving workforce needs, and by the demand for skills that are relevant, adaptable, and resilient. Now more than ever, we must lead the way, ensuring that a college degree remains rigorous, purposeful, and transformative.

The College of Letters and Science stands out for its remarkable breadth and depth across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and physical and mathematical sciences. As the largest and most comprehensive college at UC Davis, we play a vital role in the education of every student at the university. Our greatest strength lies not only in the breadth of our disciplines, but in our expertise in each, and in the passion of our faculty, staff and students to facilitate interdisciplinary exploration.. We foster collaborations that enable us to tackle society’s most complex challenges and to empower students to lead meaningful, engaged, productive lives.

Greater Together for the Greater Good sets forth four ambitious goals to advance our college and renew our commitment to transformative education and research: Create Community and Connection; Advance Exploration and Discovery; Encourage Contribution and Impact; and Ensure Financial Sustainability and Effectiveness. These goals are more than aspirations; they represent a call to action. Through them, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing research frontiers and turning discoveries into real-world solutions. We aim to redefine what a college of letters and science can accomplish within a leading top-tier research university. With this strategic vision, we will advance breakthrough research, create innovative solutions to pressing societal challenges, and inspire the next generation to drive meaningful change.

When we come together as one community, our achievements multiply. Greater Together for the Greater Good embodies our commitment to:

• Build an equitable, inclusive, and welcoming community

• Offer an education without boundaries, preparing students for a life of boundless impact

• Advance fundamental knowledge and translational research

• Cultivate creative endeavors that deepen our connections to ourselves and to the world

• Make significant contributions to California, the nation, and beyond

Greater Together for the Greater Good is a call to action for everyone within our college: faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners. Thank you for coming along with us on this journey. I am confident that, together, we will create a lasting impact for the greater good!

Estella Atekwana, Dean of the College of Letters and Science


Estella Atekwana
Dean, College of Letters and Science at UC Davis