Think of friendships forged at UC Davis and you might picture first-year students gabbing in dorms, or recent graduates tossing their caps into the air, but the university fosters countless close ties — from the classroom to the boardroom. 

A shared commitment to philanthropy and scientific learning is what sparked a friendship between two longtime UC Davis supporters, Elena B. “Lin” Weaver and Deborah J. “Deb” Neff ’76.

The two women took different roads to UC Davis. Neff came to the university as an undergrad to study physiology and went on to an influential global career in the life sciences, including serving as worldwide president of BD Biosciences. Weaver, who was raised in Europe, found her connection to UC Davis after her husband, David Weaver, died suddenly before a planned sabbatical at the UC Davis Genome Center in 2006-07. She established gifts in his memory and became a dedicated volunteer, launching a lasting relationship with the university. 

Neff and Weaver cemented their friendship in 2017 when Mark Winey, then dean of the College of Biological Sciences (CBS), tapped both to serve on a reconstituted Philanthropy Leadership Council (PLC). Neff and Weaver quickly recognized each other as kindred spirits. 

“At events or galas, we often migrated to each other and had lots of conversation about our dresses. And Deb always wore a very nice dress,” Weaver said, smiling. 

Out of those chance meetings has grown a close friendship. They occasionally even finish each other’s thoughts. 

In conversation, Weaver who reads aloud to blind people, explains, “Reading medical books for the blind is quite a job because of the diagrams —”

“Because you have to describe them, right?” asks Neff.

A History of Meaningful Giving

Similar philanthropic priorities have deepened their connection. 

“We had a bond really fast,” said Neff. “Not only do we both believe in what UC Davis and CBS are accomplishing, we also wanted to honor family members, and felt one of the best ways to do that was to help expand long-term, impactful research. I think that’s why we connected so well and still do.”  

In a testament to their dedication and generosity to the university, both were recently recognized at the UC Davis Alumni Awards gala on May 7, 2026. The annual event is hosted by the Cal Aggie Alumni Association.

Weaver, trustee emerita of the UC Davis Foundation and a longtime member of the college’s PLC, was recognized as a Distinguished Friend of the University for her campus leadership and advocacy. She and her three sons established the David L. Weaver Endowed Lecture Series in Biophysics and Computational Biology in the Genome Center andthe David L. Weaver Award in Center for Neuroscience; both are interdisciplinary research centers of CBS. One of Lin’s sons, Tim, has been a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology since 2006.

“When I lost my husband so suddenly, I wanted to honor him and I came to Kenneth Burtis [the dean of CBS at the time], and I was welcomed with such kindness and warmth,” said Weaver. “That was a turning point, not just in my life, but because UC Davis was a place that understood what I wanted to do. That was true for Deb as well, because she had some great sorrow in her family.” 

Neff — who completed a two-year term as chair of the UC Davis Foundation Board on June 30 and is a member of the Chancellor’s Board of Advisors — received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her half-century of service. In 2023, she gave $8 million to the College of Biological Sciences to establish an endowed deanship and fund research into Alzheimer’s disease at the Center for Neuroscience, in honor of her late sister Janet, who succumbed to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. 

Advancing a Love of Learning

Despite their different backgrounds, the two profess warm mutual admiration. 

“When I first met Deb, fortunately I hadn’t read her bio, because I would’ve been incredibly intimidated,” said Weaver. “There I was, not a scientist, coming out of nowhere, and there was Deb. But I liked her immediately. Everybody that I met at UC Davis, they’re very inspiring people and humble, like Deb.”

Neff replied in kind: “Really early on in working with Lin, I knew she wasn’t a scientist, and it didn’t matter at all. Lin is just sharp. She has this ability to really listen and understand, so when the dean or a faculty member would talk about what they hoped the impact of their research would be, Lin could zero in on what really mattered for us. It’s a phenomenal talent.” 

Both have enjoyed the learning opportunities their service affords. 

“I’ve served on other boards, but I’ve never been as happy as I am on this one, because Dean Winey organized the meetings in a wonderful way,” said Weaver. “They bring in faculty talks, the Under the Microscope series, and other opportunities for learning. We love UC Davis because it’s very innovative in terms of transforming knowledge.”

For Neff, relationships like the one she shares with Weaver are at the core of her service. 

“In my life now I have a choice, and I gravitate to things where the people that I engage with are good at the core,” she said. “You like the time you spend with them, you feel appreciated, and you’re getting something back and doing something that matters. And that is how I always feel when I’m at UC Davis.”