Position Title
In Memoriam
Professor Emeritus, Dean of CA&ES
1931-2019
CHARLES E. “CHARLEY” HESS
Birth: December 20, 1931, Paterson, New Jersey
Death: April 13, 2019, Davis, California
Education:
- B.S., Plant Science, Rutgers University
- M.S., Horticulture and Plant Pathology, Cornell University
- Ph.D., Horticulture, Plant Physiology, and Plant Pathology, Cornell University
Military Service:
- First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Chemical Corps, 1956–1958
- Project Leader, Crops Division, U.S. Army Biological Laboratories
Employment:
- 1958–1966: Purdue University, Department of Horticulture (Assistant to Full Professor)
- 1966–1975: Rutgers University
- Chair, Department of Horticulture and Forestry
- Acting Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (1971–1972)
- Founding Dean, Cook College (1973–1975)
- 1975–1989: Dean, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UC Davis; Professor of Environmental Horticulture
- 1989–1991: Assistant Secretary for Science and Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- 1992–1998: Director of International Programs, UC Davis
- 1994–2019: Professor Emeritus, UC Davis; Special Assistant to the Provost and Chancellor; Interim Chair of Nutrition; Interim Vice Chancellor of Research
Honors, Awards, and Professional Societies:
- UC Davis Medal (2014), the university’s highest honor
- USDA Distinguished Service Award (1988)
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Fellow, American Society for Horticultural Science; Inductee, Horticulture Hall of Fame
- Charles E. Hess Founders Award (UC Davis Emeriti Association, 2016)
- Namesake, Charles E. Hess Community Service Award for graduating CA&ES seniors
Research Contributions and Impact
Trained as a plant scientist, Hess specialized in the physiology of plant growth regulators and horticultural science. His early research at Purdue and Rutgers earned recognition for advancing knowledge of plant propagation and development.
At UC Davis, his scientific expertise informed administrative leadership, connecting horticultural research with statewide and national priorities, including integrated pest management, sustainable agriculture, and biotechnology. His support for the UC Davis Student Farm (founded in 1977) reflected his belief in hands-on, sustainable approaches to agricultural education.
Publications and Scholarly Leadership
Hess authored and co-authored numerous articles on plant physiology and horticulture and played leadership roles in scientific societies. He served as President of the American Society for Horticultural Science and as Chair of Agriculture (Section O) in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was active in international agricultural development and biotechnology policy, publishing influential reports and reviews.
Teaching and Mentorship
Although his career became increasingly administrative, Hess remained committed to student learning. As dean, he recruited young faculty who became national leaders, and he championed student engagement programs, including the Student Farm. He also continued teaching and mentoring through the Department of Environmental Horticulture and later through his leadership roles in international programs and nutrition.
Collaboration and Community
Hess was a key figure in bridging academia, industry, and government. He facilitated the relocation of the USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center to UC Davis and played a central role in creating California’s Integrated Pest Management Program and advancing campus biotechnology initiatives. Nationally, he helped design the USDA National Research Initiative, which evolved into the competitive grants program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Internationally, Hess advised agricultural universities and development programs, served on boards such as the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR), and advocated for global agricultural cooperation. He was deeply involved in retiree advocacy at UC Davis, leading to the establishment of the UC Davis Retiree Center.
Legacy
Charles Hess is remembered as one of UC Davis’s most influential deans and as a national leader in agricultural science and policy. His 14-year tenure at UC Davis transformed the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences into a global leader. His vision advanced biotechnology, sustainable agriculture, and integrated pest management. Through his service at USDA, NSF, and UC, he shaped research priorities and funding mechanisms that continue to influence agricultural science today.
His legacy lives on through the UC Davis Student Farm, the Hess Community Service Awards, and his enduring contributions to the integration of science, education, and public service.
References
For additional tributes, interviews, and biographies, see the following resources: