A dedicated group of retirees, staff, and university administrators worked diligently between 2001 and 2006 to develop and implement the concept of the UC Davis Retirees Center. The Center opened in 2006 under Program Coordinator Doreen Barcellona Strnad, celebrated its fifth anniversary under Director Sue Barnes, and its tenth anniversary under Director Becky Heard.
A complete history of the Center is contained in the report, History of the UC Davis Retiree Center; From Concept to Reality.
2001
An initiative to increase the number of UC campuses with Retiree Centers was launched by the Council of University of California Emeriti Associations (CUCEA). Four of the nine campuses at that time had retiree centers that were staffed with either part-time or full-time staff. CUCEA members encouraged their colleagues on the five campuses without retiree centers to initiate plans to add centers to those campuses.
2002
The UC Davis Retiree Association (UCDRA) drafted a proposal to establish a retiree center at UC Davis. The UC Davis Emeriti Association (UCDEA) joined the movement, and the two associations co-drafted the final proposal for the formation of a retiree center, to be housed at the new hotel/conference center.
2003
Budget cuts and several lawsuits challenging the new hotel conference center delayed progress in gaining administrative support to establish the Center.
2004
Several members of the UCDEA and UCDRA met with university administrators to develop a plan to get the center planning back on track. Agreeing that a retiree center was a worthy project, the Provost established the UC Davis Retiree Center Planning Committee. The committee was charged with considering options, including the 2002 proposal, for strengthening campus connections with campus retirees.
2005
The Retiree Center Planning Committee met throughout the year, ultimately drafting an organizational plan and a division of responsibilities with the two associations. The organizational plan called for an Advisory Committee to work with the center’s director on the overall direction and focus of the center. The Advisory Committee consisted of representatives from the UCDRA and the UCDEA, as well as staff representatives from both the Davis campus and the UC Davis Health System.
2006
Several names had been considered for the center during the early formative years. After further consideration, the Advisory Committee chose “UC Davis Retiree Center” as the name for the new center. The UC Davis Retiree Center finally became a reality with the appointment of the Center’s first coordinator in June 2006.
2008
Sue Barnes joined the Retiree Center as Program Coordinator, later to become the director. Under Sue's direction, the Retiree Center began to take quarterly day trips, reach out to current staff in preparation for retirement and grew the association membership. Sue went on to serve as Retiree Center Director and worked for 8 years at the Retiree Center.
2012
The Retiree Center celebrated its five-year anniversary of keeping retirees and their families connected with UC Davis.
2013
The Retiree Center moved to its current location of suite 110 of the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center. Please drop in to view our resource library, sign up for events and trips, or just say "hi." Because we are a two-person office, please call ahead to be certain we will be here to welcome you. Directions and Parking
2016
Becky Heard, from the Cal Aggie Alumni Association Parent Programs, was named interim director to the Retiree Center upon Sue Barnes' departure, later to be named Director of Affiliate Programs for both the UC Davis Retiree Center and the Cal Aggie Alumni Association's Parent Programs. The Retiree Center celebrated its tenth year of serving retirees from UC Davis.
2017
The Retiree Center opened an office on the Sacramento UC Davis Health System campus, in Suite 2500 of the School of Nursing's Betty Irene Moore Hall.
2019
Kyle Urban, former staff member of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association, is named Retiree Center Director.