Our work is rooted in helping UC Davis teams communicate clearly, creatively and effectively
The FOA Communications team is proud to support the important work happening across UC Davis. Along the way, some of our projects have been recognized externally for excellence in communications, marketing and design. We're grateful to our university partners whose collaboration made these achievements possible.
2026 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education, or CASE, presents their Circle of Excellence Awards each year to showcase outstanding work in communications, fundraising, and marketing at colleges and universities throughout the world.
UC Davis Commons - CASE Circle of Excellence, Bronze Award
The UC Davis Commons received a bronze Circle of Excellence Award in 2026, for leadership and talent management. FOA Communications created the Commons as an internal marketplace designed to keep more work within the university and retain institutional expertise during a time of budget challenges. Judges hailed the UC Davis Commons as a “thoughtful approach that not only addressed a budget crisis but preserved internal talent in the process.” They suggested it’s an idea that other institutions could also adopt. Read the article about the Commons and this CASE Award for more details.
2025 “Best of District VII” CASE awards
In 2025, the FOA Communications team won two "Best of District VII" awards from CASE, which encompasses five Western U.S. states and two territories. This UC Davis News article lists all of the District awards won by campus teams in 2025, for more.
Arboretum Waterway video - CASE Award, Best of District VII
The Arboretum Waterway Reimagined video received a CASE Best of District award in the category of short promotional videos. This video helped define this infrastructure project as a story of renewal and resilience. , we successfully shifted public perception and inspired community support.
Nature Rx - CASE Award, Best of District VII
Nature Rx received a CASE Best of District award in the category of targeted engagement. Nature Rx is the snappier name for the UC Davis Nature Prescription program, which is a collaboration between Student Health and Counseling Services, the Arboretum and Public Garden, and Healthy UC Davis to integrate nature-based wellness into campus healthcare practices. Promotions included posters, a website, social media campaigns, and follow-up emails further to reinforce the message for both students and providers.
Cozy Campus Illustrations - CASE Award, Best of District VII
As part of the FOA holiday message, these Cozy Campus Illustrations received a CASE Best of District award in the category of illustration. The illustrations helped frame a uniquely UC Davis take on winter cheer, grounded in campus critters, unofficial mascots and other insider campus details. These illustrations were shared with staff members in multiple versions, including a coloring page, Zoom backgrounds, email graphics and more.
2024 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards
In the team's first year applying for awards from CASE, their projects were selected for two Circle of Excellence gold awards. Read the article for more details about each award.
Davis Day of Reflection - CASE Circle of Excellence, Gold Award
The Davis Day of Reflection received a gold award in the single-day event category. In response to a series of high-profile tragedies in 2023, the Davis Day of Reflection invited the Davis community to mourn together, share support, and envision a path forward on a collective journey through tragedy and hope. FOA Communications organized the event, in collaboration with partners from the City of Davis, Yolo County, and over two dozen UC Davis units.
Judges called the event “a beacon of hope and support for their community,” commending its attention to detail and meaningful impact despite budget constraints.
IDEA$ at Work - CASE Circle of Excellence, Gold Award
The IDEA$ at Work campaign received a gold award, in the communication initiatives category. FOA Communications developed this strategic communications campaign in partnership with the UC Davis Budget team and the Revenue Generation and Institutional Savings Task Force, to engage university employees and raise awareness about the budget challenges.
Judges highlighted success in raising awareness and engaging frontline staff in a challenge facing many universities: “Kudos to UC Davis on solving this challenge and doing it collaboratively with their community.”