Marvin Sands Endowed Chair in Viticulture and Enology, Department of Viticulture and Enology Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
The Marvin Sands endowment was created by Constellation Brands, Inc. (formerly Canandaigua Brands), to honor their late chairman and company founder, Marvin Sands. The pledge was made by the company and his many friends in industry. It seemed only natural for the Canandaigua/Constellation Brands management to recognize the value of leadership and administrative abilities by endowing the department chair position.
Marvin Sands passed away in 1999 at age 75. He was widely recognized for his leadership skills in business, community affairs, and philanthropic endeavors. Upon Mr. Sands death, the company’s Board of Directors of Canandaigua Brands issued this statement: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Marvin Sands. Marvin was a visionary leader for more than fifty years, and was the consummate gentleman in everything he did. His dedication to our customers and employees and his devotion to the community set an extraordinary example for everyone who knew him.”
List of Chair holders:
1st: Jim Wolpert 2000-2006
One of the more substantial ways to support the campus is through the establishment and naming of endowed chairs. In accordance with UCD Policy and Procedure, “It is the policy of UC Davis to attract and sustain outstanding scholars for key positions of faculty leadership through the establishment of endowed chairs…The holder of the endowed chair shall contribute to the scholarly activity and effective functioning of the academic unit in which he/she resides and, through teaching, seminars, or other intellectual contact with students, shall add to the enrichment of the academic life of the campus as a whole.”
The idea is to provide continuing financial support so that our faculty can continue to provide cutting edge teaching, research, and service to the community. Typically, the minimum total amount need to establish the endowed chair is $350,000.00. An individual is appointed for a period of five years and is reviewed at least once every five years, with the option of reappointment. Reports are filed annually, with the chair-holder submitting a brief narrative of the past year’s activities, an explanation of endowment funds spent, and a budget request for the upcoming year.
Endowments are critical to attracting and sustaining outstanding scholars for key faculty positions. Of the 91 endowed chairs enjoyed by the UC Davis campus, 23 belong to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Five faculty members in the department of Viticulture and Enology have distinguished themselves as leaders in their fields and hold the title, Endowed Chair. The endowments are: The Maynard Amerine Endowed Chair, held by Dr. Linda Bisson; the John E. Kinsella Chair in Food, Nutrition and Health Department of Viticulture and Enology, held by Dr. Andrew Waterhouse; the Stephen Sinclair Scott Endowed Chair in Enology Department of Viticulture and Enology, held by Dr. Roger Boulton, the Louis P. Martini Endowed Chair in Viticulture Department of Viticulture and Enology, held by Dr. Andrew Walker; and the Marvin Sands Endowed Chair, which supports the Department Chair.