Two Undergraduate Education leaders received awards at the annual University of California Black Administrators’ Council Conference, or UCBAC, at UCLA last month.  Raynell Hamilton-Starks and Kayton Carter were recognized for their significant contributions to UC Davis and African American students, faculty and staff.

The annual UCBAC conference provides a professional learning experience centered on a systemwide effort to increase and support the Black presence on University of California campuses and to improve diversity in student recruitment, faculty retention, curriculum development and administration.

Raynell Hamilton-Starks, director of the Undergraduate Research Center, received the Walter A. Robinson Excellence in Service Award. 

In a career spanning close to 40 years, Walter A. Robinson championed equity and access to higher education. Walter retired from UC Davis in 2018 as associate vice chancellor of Enrollment Management. He was known as the “random acts of kindness king.” This award recognizes individuals who, like Robinson, demonstrate consistent servant-leadership and a dedication to uplifting African American students, staff or faculty at UC.

Kayton Carter received the Youlanda Copeland-Morgan Transformative Leadership Award. Carter leads Academic Advising Enrichment as the executive director.

The Youlonda Copeland-Morgan Transformative Leadership Award recognizes distinguished UC administrators who demonstrate consistent excellence, transformative leadership and a dedication to uplifting African American students, staff or faculty. The award honors former UCLA Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, who retired in 2022 after more than 35 years as a nationally recognized leader in higher education.

Academic Advising Enrichment and the Undergraduate Research Center are both units of Undergraduate Education.