Parade Marshals

The Parade Marshals represent Picnic Day and are chosen based on their active participation in the community, their positive impact on others, and their embodiment of the theme.

Our Parade Marshall for Picnic Day 111 is Laci Gerhart, the Associate Professor of Teaching, Evolution and Ecology at UC Davis.

Many students know me as one of the instructors of the massive intro bio course, BIS 2B. I’m teaching that course this quarter to 965 students, about 80% of which are first quarter freshmen. While that makes fall quarter a little more hectic since the students aren’t just learning biology, but also learning how college works, one of the things I love about having lots of first quarter freshmen is being part of their introduction to Davis and to college life. That’s part of what I love about this year’s theme: Welcome to Wonderland. College can feel like falling down the rabbit hole, but there are so many people here to help you find your community and navigate the tricky parts. And Picnic Day is a great chance to step back from the daily grind and celebrate what makes this campus and this city special, which is the people in it and the connections we build with each other. I am very honored to have been chosen as the marshal for this year’s parade and I look forward to working with the board of directors and campus partners to help usher in yet another welcoming and enjoyable Picnic Day. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this historic and iconic event.

Past Parade Marshals
2024 - Dr. Sheri Atkinson
2023 - Cecelia Maikai-Beard
2022 - Dr. Nam Tran
2021 – Dr. Maisha T. Winn and Dr. Lawrence Torry Winn
2020 – Dr. Jamie Peyton
2019 – Sarah T. Steward
2018 – Thomas and Michelle Famula
2017 – Bryan Enderle, Isao Fujimoto
2016 – Ramsey Mussallam
2015 – Jane Eadie, Richard Kossak
2014 – Sandy Holman, Hal and Carol Sconyers
2013 – Dick and Marilyn McCapes
2012 – Ruth Asmundson, Rich Engel, Cathy Carr West
2011 – Mark Champagne, Jim Sochor
2010 – Tom and Meg Stallard
2009 – Bob Black, Gabriella Wong
2008 – Antoinette “Butterscotch” Clinton, Martin Yan
2007 – Yvonne Marsh, Bay Butler, Bryan Jenkins
2006 – Douglas Gross, Steven James Tingus, Lois Wolk, Liz Applegate
2005 – Jack Farmer, Kelly Albin, Dawn Imamoto Yamaguchi
2004 – Stylianos Spyradakis and Klea Bertakis, Niels Pedersen
2003 – John Boe, Richard and Evelyn Rominger
2002 – Robert and Margrit Mondavi
2001 – Randolph Siverson, Ted Adams, Jackie Speier
2000 – Francisco Rodriguez, Jamila Demby
1999 – Stephen Robinson, Marya Welch, Thomas Duncan
1998 – Deanne Vochatzer, Vic Fazio, Yvonne Lee, Celeste Turner Wright
1997 – Delaine Eastin, Dennis McNeil, Ann Veneman, Ken Verosub
1996 – Carol Wall
1995 – Ida Mae Hunter, Peter Dietrich
1994 – Tom Dutton, Darby Morrisroe
1993 – Orville and Erna Thompson
1992 – Wayne and Jacque Bartholomew
1991 – Fred Wood
1990 – Harry O. Walker
1989 – Leslie Campbell
1988 – Ted Hullar
1987 – James H. Meyer
1986 – Warren D. Mooney
1985 – Jim Sochor
1984 – Harry W. Colvin, Jr.
1983 – Philip Dubois
1982 – Marilyn Etzler
1981 – Gary Ford
1980 – Lawrence Shepard
1979 – Arnold Sillman
1978 – Bob Krieger
1977 – Ruth Anderson
1976 – Thomas L. Allen
1975 – Celeste Turner Wright
1974 – Dick Lewis
1973 – G. Ledyard Stebbins
1972 – James H. Meyer
1971 – Wilson Riles
1970 – Earl Warren, Sr.
1969 – Emil Mrak
1968 – Chester O. McCorkle
1967 — Maynard A. Amerine
1966 — Blaine McGowan
1965 — Glenn M. Anderson
1964 — Emil Mrak
1963 — Edwin C. Voorhies
1962 — Robert Sproul
1923 — Mrs. D. L. Roberts, Dean Thomas F. Hunt, Ralph P. Merri
1922 — Peter J. Shields, Dean Thomas F. Hunt, Director C.B. Hutchison
1920 – H.M. Kilburn, L. Barnard, O.W. Karn, Peter J. Shields, Fred Shaffer, Thomas F. Hurt
1919 – R.H. Crab Tree, C.G. Wells, Allen Sproul, W.M. Johnson, H.D. Fish, A.D. Wilson, Pardo Hooper
1918 – N.H. Davis, R. Servier, C. Dunshee, W.B. Browning
1917 – J.T. Hunsaker, M.W. Hurford, I.F. Swift, W.D. Heron