Kathleen Socolofsky, assistant vice chancellor and director of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, has received the Lifetime Achievement Stewardship Award at the UC Davis Foundation Board’s 2024 Faculty and Staff Stewardship Awards Luncheon on October 19. The honor is a tribute to Kathleen’s 26 years of service, during which she has shaped the UC Davis campus into an inviting learning landscape and vibrant hub for community engagement.

Kathleen’s approach to building community is the heart of her work, creating a distinctive philanthropic environment that goes beyond securing financial support. Her efforts are rooted in providing meaningful ways for people to connect with and contribute to the university and the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. From helping create murals, offering input on educational signage, or volunteering, Kathleen’s philosophy centers on fostering a sense of ownership and belonging. As a leader at a public, land-grant institution, she prioritizes the mission of including the community in shaping the university’s future, ensuring that everyone has a stake in the campus’s growth and transformation.

Provost Mary Croughan captured this spirit in her remarks at the award ceremony, noting, "Kathleen Socolofsky is world-renowned for her work with public gardens, and she inspires those around her with the enthusiasm and creativity she brings to her role every day. Her vision…helped transform the entire campus into a healthy, peaceful environment where we can reconnect with nature. Kathleen, we can see the positive influence of your thoughtful and visionary work in the landscape around us, and we can also feel it in our hearts."

A skilled relationship builder, Kathleen brings a personal touch to every stakeholder interaction, nurturing connections that foster a supportive community around the Arboretum and Public Garden. For many of UC Davis’s donors, she’s more than a liaison; she’s a trusted friend. Under her leadership, the garden’s donor pipeline has grown substantially, featuring membership, annual giving, and special campaign opportunities that encourage deeper engagement. Unique, immersive experiences celebrating donor contributions, such as the hummingbird banding and release event led by Professor of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Lisa Tell, create lasting impressions and a personal connection to UC Davis’s environmental mission.

This strategic approach to fundraising has brought remarkable success: the Arboretum and Public Garden has achieved a 17-fold increase in total fundraising, a five-fold increase in endowments, and record-breaking success in 2022-2023. Her dedication has set a foundation for long-term support that will sustain the garden’s mission well into the future.

Beyond her work in landscape transformation, Kathleen is a champion for student environmental leadership. Learning by Leading™, a program that was created and nurtured through her leadership, empowers students with hands-on experience in sustainable practices and leadership skills that extend beyond the classroom. 

"Establishing Learning by Leading is perhaps the greatest achievement of Kathleen’s tenure at the Arboretum and Public Garden," said Dr. Ernie Lewis, donor, board member of the EXCELerate Foundation. "Its effectiveness has gained the attention and respect of many donors and foundations. The EXCELerate Foundation has, over the last decade, awarded a million dollars in grants to the program. Multiple individual donors have likewise recognized its value and effectiveness."

Congratulations, Kathleen, on this well-deserved recognition. Your legacy of inclusive leadership has cultivated a thriving community around the Arboretum and Public Garden and set a standard for stewardship felt across UC Davis.

Learn more about other award recipients.