Congratulations to Dr. Kimberly A. Dodd, Ph.D. ’14, D.V.M. ’15 upon receiving the Young Alumna Award from the Cal Aggie Alumni Association (CAAA) on May 7. The virtual event honored recipients of the 48th annual Alumni Awards. These Aggies have more in common than their alma mater: They are stars in their fields who are dedicated to improving the lives of others, profoundly impacting the university and the world.

Young Alumna Award

Kimberly A. Dodd, Ph.D. ’14, D.V.M. ’15 — A veterinarian and virologist, she became the director of the National Veterinary Services Laboratories’ Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory less than three years after graduating from the School of Veterinary Medicine. 

Dodd safeguards animal health in the United States and is recognized nationally and internationally, as a leader in the diagnosis and response to high-consequence animal diseases. She is the first member of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to be appointed to the Senior Science and Technology Service by the secretary of agriculture. 

She maintains her UC Davis ties through collaborations with the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory and the One Health Institute. She champions efforts to develop the next generation of scientists; in addition to establishing a national training program for graduate and veterinary students, she serves as an invited reviewer for graduate research fellowships.  

Dodd is an accomplished scientist with strategic leadership qualities that were quickly recognized by national organizations such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she has made significant contributions to animal and public health.

Other recipients included: Prem Jain, a tech entrepreneur; Scot Marciel, a career Foreign Service officer; and Caroline Flores Cabias, whose public service includes a career in state government and advocacy for disadvantaged students. Read more about them.

You can watch the recording of the event here.