Allen Tollefson’s remarkable 25-year journey at UC Davis Facilities Management began when he joined as an assistant superintendent in 1999. He retires on July 1, 2024, as the Facilities leader of the largest UC campus in terms of acreage, keeping our 5,300 acres and 14.6 million square feet of campus facilities safe, clean and operable through severe winter storms, wildfire smoke events, COVID, Picnic Day, and many perfect spring days.

Having served as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Management since 2009, Allen played a pivotal role in transforming the department to better serve its employees, while keeping the facilities that conduct world-class teaching and research running smoothly and improving sustainability in ways that make our campus a model for others. Allen’s impact on ensuring employees, students, and visitors positively experience our campus has been immense.

“Leading campus facilities is no easy task, especially given the size and age of our campus and our limited financial resources. Despite these challenges, Allen was able to pivot every day to meet the needs of our many stakeholders and respond quickly to the most pressing and complex needs,” said Clare Shinnerl, vice chancellor for Finance, Operations and Administration. “Allen’s leadership ensured our facilities were always safe, sustainable, and operational. He was “on” 24/7 and always made UC Davis his focus and priority.”

Pioneering Employee Engagement and Development

One of Allen's lasting accomplishments is the establishment of an internal employee engagement committee. As the largest employer in FOA, Allen recognized the importance of fostering a supportive culture that emphasizes employee recognition, creativity, innovation, and belonging. In 2019, Facilities launched its Future Leaders program to grow leaders internally and the program has thrived, empowering and training future leaders while promoting continuous learning and inclusivity within the workforce. “I count this among my biggest accomplishments,” remarked Allen. “It’s important to me that we put our workforce first and I applaud the way we develop and promote the next generation of Facilities Management leaders."

A Commitment to Sustainability and Not Deferring Maintenance

Allen’s tenure was marked by a relentless focus on sustainability – both environmental and financial. 

Facilities has never been content with simply keeping things running. In spring of 2020,  construction began on a large-scale project that will reduce the campus’s reliance on fossil fuels, while immediately decreasing its energy and water use. Called the Big Shift, because the project shifts the campus’s energy system away from natural gas to electricity, Allen helped set in motion the project. When complete, the Big Shift will reduce fossil fuel use on the Davis campus by 80%. That’s quite a legacy!

While Facilities crews do a tremendous job prolonging the useful life of many of our buildings and systems, similar to most other universities, internal resources at UC Davis are not sufficient to upgrade and update all campus buildings.

Fortunately, under Allen’s leadership, Facilities Management secured state deferred maintenance funding by developing a roadmap to show how we’re instituting proactive and preventative operational practices that extend the life of expensive building components like HVAC, electrical systems, elevators and roofs. “Our decision to invest in tools that would help us better assess our facilities’ condition so we could make the best use of limited dollars was the smart move,” remarked Allen. “Combining that data with more robust preventative maintenance programs will help keep things from breaking and be cheaper in the long run.” Under Allen’s leadership, Facilities has also been very successful augmenting UC Davis financial resources with funding from grants and energy incentives.

Looking Forward: Retirement and New Adventures

As Allen embarks on a well-deserved retirement, he eagerly anticipates spending more time with his family, especially his grandchildren, and taking some trips to ski and attending IndyCar races in far-flung places. "Not getting up at 5 a.m. every morning to prep for work will be a welcome change," he shared with a smile.

A Grateful Farewell

Reflecting on his 25 years at UC Davis, Allen marveled at the remarkable transformations on campus, particularly around its physical expansion and technological advancements. “Yet amidst these changes, what I will miss most are the connections forged with individuals and the dynamic atmosphere that constantly evolves,” noted Allen. “My hope is that UC Davis and Facilities Management continue being recognized for leading in so many areas, taking care of its people, and delivering top-notch work.”

Meet Incoming AVC Clint Lord