Dr. Timo Rico is responsible for improving the student experience and enhancing student learning.

Born and raised in East Los Angeles as a first-generation college graduate, Dr. Rico is passionate about creating access to higher education and all students’ degree attainment opportunities Dr. Rico values education and its power for social mobility among individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and underserved communities.

Dr. Rico has been at UC Davis for over 25 years, where Dr. Rico also served as the Undergraduate Admissions Director for Recruitment, Marketing, and Admissions. Leadership roles include directorship of the UC Davis Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) / P16 partnerships in the statewide SAPEP portfolio, federally-funded TRiO projects at Woodland Community College, and an education lecturer for the Office of Graduate Studies at CSU Sacramento’s College of Education.

Dr. Rico holds a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from UC Davis, a Master of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from California State University, Sacramento.