Blue ribbons at UC Davis in May indicate areas where philanthropic gifts have made a differnece

There are many ways philanthropy has inspired, transformed, energized, led and advanced UC Davis. During the month of May, UC Davis celebrates “By Philanthropy,” a special initiative to demonstrate how philanthropic gifts have touched thousands of people and aspects of life at UC Davis and helped the university solve some of the greatest challenges of our time.

On this page, we share some of the ways the generosity of our alumni and friends have strengthened the College of Letters and Science's goal to make a better world. A huge thank you to everyone who supports the College. Your generosity makes all the difference.

For our students

For our faculty 

For the physical places we do our research and teaching

Learn more about how giving has helped to provide places that bring the community into the university and move forward the College’s research and teaching. Check out the interactive map.

Ann E. Pitzer Center (#12 on the map)

Drawing of the Ann E. Pitzer CenterThe Ann E. Pitzer Center provides 17,000-square foot classroom and recital hall space, as well as rehearsal studios, a recording control room and a production office. Ann E. Pitzer ’58 donated $5 million toward to building, created the Ann E. Pitzer scholarship and donated $1 million to the UC Davis Education Abroad Center to create a study abroad award endowment. 

Rock Hall (#58 on the map)

Rock Hall at UC DavisPeter A. Rock Hall is named after the late chemistry professor who spent his entire career, 42 years, as a UC Davis faculty member until his death in 2006. Professor Rock was the founding dean of the Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, serving from 1994 to 2003.

C.N. Gorman Museum (#59 on the map)

Artwork at the C.N. Gorman Museum at UC DavisThe C.N. Gorman Museum was founded in 1973 by the Department of Native American Studies in honor of retired faculty member, Carl Nelson Gorman, Navajo artist, WWII code-talker, cultural historian and advocate for Native peoples. Gorman was the first faculty member to teach Native American art at UC Davis in 1969. For 45 years, the C.N. Gorman Museum has been dedicated to the creative expressions of Native American artists and artists of diverse cultural and histories.