Grand Opening of the Diane Bryant Engineering Student Design Center
(This is an edited version of remarks given on May 5, 2023)
Hello, everyone. We’re glad you could join us today.
It’s great to see you all for the grand opening of the Diane Bryant Engineering Student Design Center!
This is a historic moment for campus. After all, this is a space where the Aggie Engineer is born.
Here, students will have the tools and guidance to tackle the world’s greatest challenges with project-based, experiential education.
As the university’s primary prototyping shop for student teams and research groups, the ESDC offers critical education, resources and support.
This new center reflects how our world-class College of Engineering and its programs are becoming even greater.
As an engineer myself, I’m thrilled to open these doors for the next generations. I may have to drop in to try out the brand-new equipment.
The vision for this game-changing facility was years in the making. Standing in front of it now is truly a milestone for campus and brings our legacy of innovation ever forward.
I’d like to recognize some distinguished guests who joined us for this special occasion: That is, our donors and partners.
Your tremendous generosity helped make this state-of-the-art building turn from a dream into a reality. Each of you played a critical role in making a difference for our students and campus community.
Your generous support also furthers our university-wide fundraising campaign, “Expect Greater: From UC Davis, For the World.” It’s the most comprehensive campaign in UC Davis history, with a goal to raise $2 billion dollars to strengthen the university and improve the world.
Along with the Tschannen Eye Institute and the Edwards Family Athletics Center, these newest buildings on campus are landmarks of the campaign’s success.
They represent the innovative ways that we are improving and expanding our campus facilities. Our students and community will benefit greatly.
We’re ever grateful for your support and trust in us. On behalf of the entire university, thank you!
It’s now my honor to introduce one very special guest today, the visionary and philanthropist who helped make all of this possible: Diane Bryant.
Diane is a global leader in technology. She has held a long and illustrious career in the tech world since graduating in 1985 from UC Davis with a degree in electrical engineering.
Diane is currently the Chairman and CEO of NovaSignal, a medical robotics company that develops and commercializes technology to measure and track brain health.
In 2015 and 2016, Diane was named among Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. Further, Business Insider ranked Diane #6 amongst the Most Powerful Female Engineers in 2018.
She’s a longtime supporter of engineering at UC Davis and created the Diane Bryant Endowed Scholarship for Women in Engineering.
In addition, Diane gives her time and talent by serving on the Dean’s Executive Committee at the College of Engineering and as chair on the Chancellor’s Board of Advisors.
This new center not only transforms our engineering students’ educations. It underscores UC Davis’ and Diane’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Diane is a tireless advocate for women and underrepresented minorities in the fields of engineering and technology.
Seeing Diane’s name on the building every day shows students from all backgrounds that they can achieve anything they work for. We are incredibly grateful and excited to be officially opening it.
Now it’s time to hear from Diane herself.
Welcome, Diane!