A scholar of American advertising and public relations, Roland Marchand served as a Professor of History at UC Davis from 1964 until his death in 1997.  In addition to his scholarship, he was a widely respected award-winning teacher.  With his wife Betsy, Roland was dedicated to both history education and the university’s public service mission. 

Public education plays an essential role in preparing students for their participation in the world.  The Roland Marchand Initiative works to realize California’s promise of an engaging, relevant, and impactful public education for all students.  Hosted by the Center for Public Service and Education, the Initiative is an innovative and collaborative partnership between the UC Davis History Department, the California History-Social Science Project (CHSSP), the Office of Academic Diversity and the Hispanic Serving Institutions Initiative. The Marchand Initiative continues and expands upon Roland's legacy: it empowers diverse members of the academic community through applied research, advances UC Davis' public service mission to the state of California, and works to fulfill the democratic promise of education.

Claudia Martinez, Executive Director of Educator Programs and the California Subject Matter Project at UC Office of the President, is excited about the new program.  "The Marchand Public Engagement Initiative demonstrates, once again, the University's deep and ongoing commitment to public service and education in California.  Moreover, this unique collaboration between UC Davis' Department of History and the California History-Social Science Project offers yet another exciting model for how academic departments can engage in substantive and productive work with CSMP offices across California."

"The Marchand Public Engagement Initiative demonstrates, once again, the University's deep and ongoing commitment to public service and education in California." - Claudia Martinez, Executive Director of Educator Programs and the California Subject Matter Project at UC Office of the President.

The initiative is designed to improve classroom instruction at both the K-12 and postsecondary level, apprentice students in community-based historical research and public service, and inform public discourse through increased and regular access to relevant historical scholarship. 

The Roland Marchand Center for Public Engagement supports:

• Marchand History Labs. The Marchand Center supports History Labs that facilitate research collaboration between faculty, graduate student researchers, undergraduate student researchers, other researchers, archivists, and community stakeholders.
• Scholarship and Civic Engagement.  TK-university teachers partner with community members and students to engage in substantive historical research to address current issues.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  A pipeline for underrepresented students’ engagement, mentorship and ongoing support in public service.
• Careers in Public Service.  Increasing the number and scope of undergraduate and graduate students who consider public education and public service as career goals.
• Student Engagement.  An internship program that offers students substantive public education and public service experience, while enrolled at the university.
•  New opportunities for substantive collaborative work between K-12 and university faculty on classroom pedagogy and curriculum.

Interested in supporting this program?

You can make a gift online to support the Marchand Center for Public Engagement and the Marchand Initiative. Click here to donate!