UC Davis Leaders Selected for Prestigious UC-Coro Leadership Collaborative
Career development isn’t just about advancing skills – it’s about nurturing the people who shape the future of our organizations. At UC Davis, we believe in investing in our employees’ potential, knowing that their growth fuels innovation, builds collaborative teams and solves complex challenges.
The UC-Coro Systemwide Leadership Collaborative exemplifies this commitment. It offers a unique opportunity for employees to enhance their skills, expand their networks and work collectively on solutions to systemwide challenges faced by UC campuses and health systems.
This year, we are proud to announce that 10 exceptional leaders from UC Davis and UC Davis Health have been selected as participants in the 2025 program. Among 60 participants systemwide, these individuals earned their spots through a rigorous and highly competitive process. Nominated by their supervisors and direct managers, they were chosen for their expertise, commitment and dedication to upholding and advancing a tradition of organizational excellence at UC Davis and UC Davis Health.
The Coro program is dedicated to developing outstanding leaders throughout the UC system and has been a tremendous asset to UC Davis, helping us cultivate exceptional talent while creating pathways to lasting relationships across our campus and the broader UC system. We are thrilled to support this year’s program participants from UC Davis and UC Davis Health and wish them a truly remarkable experience! -Tammy Kenber, Chief Human Resources Officer
Meet the 2025 UC Davis and UC Davis Health Participants
From February 2025 to February 2026, these leaders will embark on an extraordinary journey. Over the course of 11 sessions – including a mix of in-person and virtual workshops hosted at different UC campuses – they will sharpen their leadership skills, tackle a capstone group project addressing a systemwide challenge, and present their innovative recommendations to UC senior leaders. Their year of growth will culminate in a graduation ceremony celebrating their achievements and contributions.
UC Davis and UC Davis Health is excited to champion these remarkable individuals as they continue to grow as leaders and deepen connections across our university and the greater UC system. Congratulations to the 2025 cohort!
Ralph Aldredge
Executive Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies; Associate Dean for Facilities and Capital Planning, College of Engineering
Ralph Aldredge oversees undergraduate studies, facilities management and capital planning, ensuring students have an innovative environment for learning. His expertise in mechanical and aerospace engineering includes research in combustion, fluid dynamics, and bio-fluid dynamics, with a focus on vascular blood flow and flame propagation. He is a passionate advocate for holistic admissions and has served in multiple leadership roles shaping UC-wide enrollment practices.
Natoshia Benvenuti
Director of Executive Operations, UC Davis Health
Natoshia Benvenuti has dedicated 18 years to UC Davis Health, where she currently supports Chief Administrator Michael Condrin in overseeing key initiatives and strategic projects. Her in-depth knowledge of UC Davis Health’s operations and her strong organizational skills contribute to a seamless and high-performing administrative environment. Natoshia is passionate about continuous improvement in healthcare administration, enhancing both operational efficiency and patient care.
Christina Blackman
Director of Support Services, Facilities Management
Christina Blackman leads a diverse team in Support Services, overseeing key operations such as safety, training, communications and data management. Her leadership style focuses on collaboration, empowerment and removing barriers to success, helping staff achieve individual and collective goals.
Christina is committed to succession planning and has launched initiatives to identify and develop future leaders within her organization. Through the Future Leaders Program and targeted learning opportunities, she ensures staff are prepared for future vacancies and challenges. Christina recognizes that effective leadership requires vulnerability and a commitment to work-life balance, lessons she integrates into her team’s culture.
Christina is enthusiastic to participate in the UC-Coro Leadership Collaborative. She says it represents an exciting opportunity to further enhance her self-awareness and leadership skills, expand her professional network, and gain insights that will enhance her contributions to Facilities Management. Through the UC-Coro Leadership Collaborative, she looks forward to applying new tools and strategies to support her team and strengthen the organization’s success.
Nicole Capdarest-Arest
Deputy University Librarian and Associate University Librarian for Research and Learning, UC Davis Library
Nicole Capdarest-Arest leads initiatives that support research, education and public engagement. With a background in academic libraries at Stanford and the University of Arizona, Nicole’s work focuses on organizational resiliency, leadership development and the evolution of library services. She encourages collaborations that broaden the impact of library services across the UC system.
Holly Evans
Senior Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing
Holly Evans brings over 25 years of experience in higher education to her role at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, where she leads business strategy, financial management, human resources, and operations. Her leadership played a pivotal role in launching medical schools at UC Riverside and Kaiser Permanente. Holly is a champion for diversity and inclusion and is committed to advancing healthcare education through strategic collaboration and purposeful missions.
Sean Lynch
Assistant Dean and Chief Business Officer, Continuing and Professional Education (CPE)
Sean Lynch oversees daily operations at CPE, including business intelligence, project management and strategic planning. Focusing heavily on data and financial analytics, Sean focuses on how CPE can better serve current and future leaders and continue to align its goals with the university's mission. His passion for analytics and strategic development drives his efforts to enhance educational opportunities.
Michelle K. Simmer
Director of Fleet Services, Safety Services
With over 20 years of service in the U.S. Army, retired Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michelle K. Simmer brings a wealth of experience in fleet operations, logistics, and leadership to her role as Director of Fleet Services at UC Davis. During her military career, she developed resilience, adaptability, and a “service before self” mindset—qualities that continue to guide her leadership style and decision-making today.
After transitioning from military service, Michelle sought a role that emphasized teamwork, problem-solving and achieving organizational goals. UC Davis stood out to her for its emphasis on innovation, sustainability and commitment to community. In her current role, Michelle oversees the Fleet budget, policy and long-term plans, with a focus on operational efficiency and team empowerment. Her commitment to collaboration and continuous growth has positioned Fleet Services as a vital contributor to the university’s mission of innovation and sustainability.
Through the UC-Coro Leadership Collaborative, Michelle looks forward to refining her leadership approach, gaining new strategies that challenge her perspective, and bringing back tools to enhance team cohesion and adaptability, promote personal and professional growth, and drive collective success.
Carl Sotherland
Executive Director of Market Analytics and Strategic Intelligence, UC Davis Health
Carl Sotherland leads data-driven analysis and intelligence efforts for UC Davis Health, supporting enterprise strategic planning and business development. With over 15 years of experience at Sutter Health, Carl has expertise in market surveillance, competitive analysis, and developing enterprise-wide analytics strategies.
Jackie Velásquez
Aggie Enterprise Service Delivery Director, Admin IT
Jackie Velásquez oversees service delivery for Oracle Cloud Financials and Enterprise Performance Management systems, known as Aggie Enterprise, while also managing the Campus Finance IT Portfolio. Her leadership helped drive and implement Aggie Enterprise, a large-scale cloud ERP project that transformed campus financial processes. Reflecting on the experience, Jackie describes it as both the most challenging and rewarding project of her career, and that leadership has come to mean achieving an agreed understanding and outcomes with other teams.
With a diverse background in finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and law enforcement, Jackie brings a well-rounded approach to IT service management. Stepping into her current role while still managing Aggie Enterprise, Jackie built a new team from the ground up, focusing on collaboration and shared outcomes to support the university's financial transformation.
Through the UC-Coro Leadership Collaborative, Jackie looks forward to learning insights, tools and other tips from participants that will help improve her inclusive decision-making and improve service delivery and collaboration within UC Davis and across other UC campuses.
Evan White
Director of Marketing and Communications, College of Biological Sciences
Evan White leads a team of freelance writers and student assistants in delivering communications and crafts content strategies that align with the college’s mission. His experience in event marketing at the Robert Mondavi Institute shaped his storytelling approach, blending visual and written narratives to engage diverse audiences.