IN THIS COLUMN
- Omega Lee, executive director of Summer Sessions
- Patrick Seward, mission continuity planner
- Bill Kisliuk, crisis communications manager
Omega Lee, executive director of Summer Sessions
Omega Lee, who joined UC Davis in March 2020, started as the new executive director of Summer Sessions July 12.
Lee will oversee campus-wide programs that enhance and promote Summer Sessions operations. She’ll also be responsible for managing summer programs, communications, student outreach and collaborating with other academic units to develop and implement their summer course offerings.
Lee has worked in higher education administration for more than 10 years. Most recently, she served as deputy director of the Online MBA program with responsibility for managing student experience, program oversight and operations. She started at UC Davis as veterans services coordinator at the Veterans Success Center on campus.
Born and raised in Oakland and a self identified “California girl,” Lee said she is in her element on campus and in the city. “Davis is such a warm city,” she said. “I love the culture — everyone is so nice. All my colleagues are very collaborative and welcoming.”
Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in science with a concentration in business management, a Master of Business Administration and a Doctorate in Education — all from the University of Phoenix.
— Shreya Kumar
Patrick Seward, mission continuity planner
Patrick Seward came aboard June 27 as the new mission continuity planner in Safety Services.
He’ll be responsible for helping campus units prepare and update UC Ready business continuity plans and assisting with emergency preparedness efforts.
Previously, Seward was an environment health and safety program manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise in Roseville. He was responsible for managing global environmental programs, International Organization for Standardization health and safety audits, as well as environmental compliance and safety for HP Enterprise’s California locations. He started at HP Enterprise in its Professional Rotational Experience Program for new graduates, where he gained experience in various fields including global real estate strategy and indirect procurement.
Raised in the small farming community of Guymon, Oklahoma, by professors of molecular science and geology, Seward said he feels at home working at UC Davis.
“I’m thoroughly enjoying my role and settling in well,” he said. “Everyone has been extremely welcoming.”
Seward holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Rogers State University in Oklahoma and a law degree with a focus in environmental and natural resource law from Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law.
— Shreya Kumar
Bill Kisliuk, crisis communications manager
Bill Kisliuk has been named crisis communications manager in the Office of Strategic Communications, the first to fill this role.
In collaboration with colleagues in the department and across campus, he will guide efforts to strategically address and inform the public, the media and the campus community about issues that may affect the reputation of the university.
Bill comes most recently from the UCLA Office of Strategic Communications, where he fulfilled a similar role. Previously, he led the media, marketing and communications teams for the UCLA School of Law and the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.
He came to higher education after two decades in journalism, including seven years as managing editor of the Napa Valley Register and work as a news reporter and editor in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Born in Los Angeles, Bill earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from UC Berkeley.
Media Resources
Cody Kitaura is the editor of Dateline UC Davis and can be reached by email or at 530-752-1932.