Dean H. Rao Unnava: February 2026 Big 3 Video

Dean H. Rao Unnava's February 2026 edition of the Big 3 features:

From UC Davis to the Airline Industry’s Front Lines

Allegiant Travel Company Chairman Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr. returned to UC Davis to reflect on risk, resilience and reinvention, and how hard lessons and bold decisions shaped his 40-year journey as an entrepreneur in the airline industry. View video.

U.S. News Ranks UC Davis Online MBA among Top 7% in Nation

The UC Davis Online MBA, the first and only online MBA in the University of California system, is ranked among the top 7% of programs nationwide and No. 2 in California in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. Read more.

We Are GSM: Sebastian Colonico Turns Data into Decisions that Protect Minds and Lives

How do you turn massive health data into better patient outcomes? Assistant Professor Sebastian Calonico uses machine learning and econometrics to uncover insights shaping smarter, more equitable care decisions. Read more and view video.

Video Transcript

• Airline maverick Maury Gallagher shares his 40-year journey. 
• Our Online MBA earns national recognition. 
• Faculty research bridges machine learning and management science.

Welcome to the February 2026 edition of the Big 3 video newsletter.

What 40 Years in Aviation Taught Maury Gallagher About Leadership
We were honored to welcome UC Davis alumnus Maury J. Gallagher, Jr., chairman of Allegiant Travel Company, as our Dean’s Distinguished Speaker. A true airline industry maverick, Maury transformed Allegiant into a niche travel agency with wings. A recently announced $1.5 billion deal to acquire Sun Country Airlines would further expand its reach.

Speaking to a standing-room-only audience, Maury traced his 40-year journey from airline deregulation in the 1970s to building three ventures—West Air, ValuJet and Allegiant Air. He shared candid lessons on risk, innovation, resilience and navigating industry turbulence and tragedy.

He described how deregulation opened the door to aviation entrepreneurship, how ticketless travel reshaped distribution systems, and how Allegiant’s leisure-focused, low-cost model redefined value creation. Maury also signed copies of his new book, continuing the conversation beyond the stage.

The strength and quality of our degree programs is reflected not only in the success of our students and alumni, but also in how they are recognized nationally.

UC Davis Online MBA Ranks Among Top 7% Nationwide
In the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report, the UC Davis Online MBA is ranked No. 26 nationally, placing it among the top 7% of online MBA programs and No. 2 among California business schools.

Rankings shift from year to year. What remains constant is the quality of our faculty, the rigor of our curriculum and the flexibility we provide working professionals advancing their careers. As the first and only online MBA in the University of California system, the program continues to set a high standard for accessible, high-impact business education. By that measure, the UC Davis Online MBA remains among the nation’s strongest programs.

How Faculty Research Is Improving Health Care Outcomes
Our faculty’s research isn’t just advancing knowledge—it’s improving lives. Assistant Professor Sebastian Calonico bridges machine learning and management science to improve health care outcomes. A leading expert in econometrics and data science, he develops novel statistical methods to address challenges in public policy, health policy and business analytics.

Most recently, he has used large-scale health data to better understand how treatments like statins and blood pressure control may reduce dementia risk—informing smarter, more equitable health care industry decisions. Supported by two National Institutes of Health grants, his work is featured in UC Davis’ From Labs to Lives initiative, highlighting how federally funded research drives real-world impact.

This is research within reach—moving from analysis to action and from discovery to difference.

Thank you for watching the Big 3 video newsletter!