Chancellor's Convocation 2016 with Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye '84

  • by Kevin R. Johnson

To mark the beginning of the new academic year, UC Davis has chosen the theme "Inspiring Dialogue and Community" for the Chancellor's Fall Convocation. Students, staff, faculty, local political leaders, and UC Davis friends and neighbors were invited to the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

Convocation hall

Ralph J. Hexter, interim chancellor, ushered in the new year with a scholarly speech about the importance of free expression on a public university campus. UC Davis and King Hall alumna Tani Cantil-Sakauye '84, Chief Justice of California, gave a spellbinding keynote address on the importance of respectful and thoughtful dialogue in times of great conflict and discord.  I had the honor of serving as the master of ceremonies.

Stage party
Chief at podium

Several UC Davis students gave inspiring and thought-provoking Spoken Word presentations following short videos touching on issues of dialogue, conflict and mutual respect.

With students

It was great participating in the event and beginning what hopefully will be a continuing discourse about inspiring dialogue and community.  I must admit that it always is great to catch up with the Chief Justice, who always make me proud that she is an alum of our great law school named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.