Media and Communications Training Workshops
As a faculty or staff researcher or graduate student at UC Davis, you have a powerful platform for sharing research and insights, communicating the university’s mission and values, and contributing to public discourse. Our Strategic Communications team – which includes former journalists, public speakers and digital communicators – can help you communicate with precision and impact.
We offer a half-day workshop to help craft, sharpen and deliver messages for media, policymakers, funders, donors, alumni and other audiences. Emphasizing hands-on interaction, these sessions are geared toward research faculty and staff across all levels of experience and comfort with public speaking, and can help with self-confidence, poise, and translating technical or difficult topics for general audiences.
This training is held on select dates at Mrak Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The cost is $100, which is recharged to the faculty/staff member’s appointed department of choice. The fee includes a booklet of tips and resources as well as a book on communicating by Alan Alda or Faith Kearns.
Trainings occur on the following dates in 2026:
- Sept. 18, 2026
- Oct. 2, 2026
- Nov. 6, 2026
- Jan 2027 - TBD
- Feb 5, 2027 (tentative)
- March 5, 2027 (tentative)
- April 2, 2027 (tentative)
- May 7, 2027 (tentative)
For questions or to register, contact Gerda Albright.
Advanced trainings
For those who have completed our comprehensive communications training course, we offer the following specialized trainings:
Social Media Training
This twp-hour session will help you use social media to break through the noise and communicate messages effectively to diverse audiences. Participants will learn practical tips on how to navigate the particulars of each platform, use hashtags and other tools to broaden reach and impact, and develop a compelling bio. Sign up for a session or contact Karla Fung for more information.
Presentation Training
Conducting research is one thing but communicating it with the public is another. If you want to develop a presentation that’s TED Talk-worthy, this workshop is for you. Learn how to craft an engaging narrative, design impactful slides, communicate effectively and leave a lasting impression. At the end, everyone has the opportunity to practice presenting to the safest and most supportive environment imaginable. Sign up to register, or reach out to Aaron Cheesman for more information, including to be contacted when future dates are added.
2026 Training Sessions
- Wednesday, Sept 16, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1 – 3:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
On-Camera Training
In this session, participants learn the fundamentals of visual presentation, including body language, and how to break down complex topics in a succinct manner and parry tough or unexpected questions in a live setting. We will have at least two rounds of interviews so participants can practice their message delivery and pivoting to their key message points. For questions or to register, contact John Mounier.