Don Roth is the executive director of the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis. A native of New York City, Roth joined the Mondavi Center in June 2006. In his time at the Center, he has overseen the addition of the “Just Added” program of special concerts as well as programs intended to expand engagement with UC Davis faculty and students, such as the biannual festivals with UC Davis Music department and the free voucher program for first-year students. Via two Mellon Foundation grants of almost one million dollars, the Mondavi Center has expanded its artist residency programs, as well as its commitment to new and unusual work in the “Visions” series. Under Roth’s leadership, the MC launched its tenth-anniversary celebration with the first Mondavi Gala and the U.S. premiere of Ballet Preljocaj’s Blanche Neige. During the 1980s and 1990s, Roth held leadership positions on the West Coast at the San Francisco Symphony as general manager and the Oregon Symphony as president. Roth received a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, a master’s degree from Yale University in American History, and holds a doctorate from the University of Texas with a specialty in African-American History. 

This year, thanks to a grant from Mentoring at Critical Transitions at UC Davis, the music department is hosting a series of forum events focusing on career preparedness, public scholarship, and career options in music.