Fourth-year student Christian Caceres shadowed UC Davis Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education Michael Bradford Nov. 7 as part of the UC Davis Leadership Job Shadow Program. Dean Bradford participated in the shadow program for the second year.

Caceres spent the day in The Grove attending meetings with Associate Vice Provost Matt Traxler and Executive Director of Academic Programs Meghan Johnson, as well as meeting with Bradford one -on-one. The Office of Undergraduate Education houses 10 units that provide services to UC Davis students, staff and faculty. 

“I didn't know what to expect when I got matched with Dean Bradford,” said Caceres, a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in education. “After spending the day together, I began to understand how roles like his impact the operation of UC Davis and how those units support students in many different ways.”

Chancellor Gary S. May launched the UC Davis Leadership Job Shadow Program in 2018 with the goal to introduce students to campus leaders and demystify what takes place behind closed doors.

"Allowing students to engage with campus leaders hands on helps them learn about the different qualities it takes to effectively guide a university and its varied units while also gaining insight into the many opportunities available to support their academic journey," Bradford said.

Participation in the job shadow program is offered through an online application. Each quarter, different campus leaders host students for a day to experience how their roles function. Universities the size of UC Davis function similarly to large corporations and the options offered are often beyond what students might think of when considering what this program may offer them. Opportunities to shadow leaders may include campus units in athletics, strategic communications, campus council, DEI and the Office of Research. 

“I didn’t realize what a crucial role Dean Bradford, and others in leadership roles, play in instilling the core values of UC Davis,” said Caceres. “It opened my eyes to how much happens behind the scenes.” 

The next opportunity for students interested in applying for the job shadow program is in April.