McDonald Endowment supports grad students who impact California
Funding for Graduate Student Research awards comes generously through the James Monroe McDonald endowment, in partnership with the University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources. GSR award recipients go on to impact all of California and beyond, supporting healthy food systems, healthy environments, healthy communities and healthy Californians.
In 1927, the Mary J.L. McDonald Fund was established and used to set up the James Monroe McDonald Scholarships for educational purposes related to agricultural and horticultural research. Administered by ANR, funds from the McDonald Endowment now provide Graduate Student Research awards to trainee scientists who are undertaking a wide range of graduate-level projects with our stakeholders and partners.
GSRs are awarded for two years to M.S. students, and four years to Ph.D. students. GSR funding is matched by the students’ supervisors. Graduate students also are able to generate additional funding from granting agencies. On average, about $400,000 is used annually through the McDonald Endowment. An equal amount, or more, comes from the graduate student supervisors as matching funds and additional awards funded through other sources. This funding helps support approximately 10 to 20 graduate students each year.
These awards are critical to the academic success and future careers of many future scientists, and the students are grateful for this essential financial support.
Here, we post updates from just a few people who received early support in their studies through the McDonald Endowment-funded GSR awards. Many award recipients go on to careers within UC ANR. They are extending UC research and innovation to a wide range of users. Read how they have gone on to impact California: GSR grants from the McDonald Endowment are, truly, seeds planted wisely, year after year!
Recent GSR awardees
- Grant Johnson, UCCE Advisor in Orange and Los Angeles Counties
- Johnny Campbell, Rice Nutrition
- Kelsey DeRose, Rangeland Management
- Grace Woodmansee, UCCE Advisor
- Whitney Brim-DeForest, UCCE Director in Sutter & Yuba Counties
- Betsy Karle, UCCE Director in Glenn & Tehama Counties
- Mark Lundy, Associate Professor of Cooperative Extension
- Jennifer Baumbach, UCCE Master Gardener Coordinator
- Leslie Roche, Associate Professor of Cooperative Extension
- Catelyn Bridges, doctoral student in the horticulture and agronomy graduate group
- Anca Barcu, doctoral student in the horticulture and agronomy graduate group