Welcome to the FOA Critter Crew!
A little winter cheer from our creature counterparts
Here’s a closer look at all of our FOA Critter Colleagues, along with links to download digital artwork. Find your critter colleague below (or pick another favorite, we won’t tell!) and make sure to share with your human coworkers. We've prepared a Box folder with digital artwork, including the character avatars below and full-screen digital backgrounds. You can use them in:
- Virtual meeting backgrounds
- Desktop wallpaper
- Email signatures
- Social media icons
We hope these iconic critters brighten work days throughout winter break and into the New Year!
Share the FOA Critters to brighten winter work days!
Which FOA Critters did your team members get? Feel free to share the FOA Critter Colleagues quiz with other UC Davis coworkers too.
Squirrels
Squirrels know that preparing for winter takes work, bulking up, caching nuts and creating a cozy den. You have a similar talent for planning ahead. You’re already thinking about what’s next — the next project, the next idea, the next big improvement. You see patterns others miss and help the rest of us prepare for tomorrow. You plan thoughtfully, lead with intention and inspire confidence in the path forward. If planning were an Olympic sport, you’d already be training for next year’s games.
Rosa Li
Multimedia Designer
Digital illustration
Cows
Cows are highly social animals that play and form bonds with each other. You have a similar knack for fostering connections and facilitating collaboration. Your workplace superpower is empathy. You help smooth edges, lift moods and make sure everyone feels included. You bring people together to make the workplace stronger.
Anjie Cook
Multimedia Designer
Digital illustration
Ducks
With UV-sensitive eyesight, nearly 360-degree vision and a tendency to sleep with one eye open, there's not much that gets by a duck. This ability to see every detail almost rivals your own. You keep us all on track. From catching the tiny typo to double-checking the plan, you make sure excellence never slips through the cracks. You’re careful, consistent, and dependable — the kind of person others trust with the fine print and the big picture. You may not seek the spotlight, but your precision keeps the lights on for everyone else.
Duke McAdow
Web Manager
Pen and ink illustration, with AI‑generated background
Horses
For thousands of years humans have relied on horses for conveyance, plowing and partnership. This time-tested reliability is reflected in your work — fixing, juggling and saving the day without ever asking for credit. You’re calm under pressure and grounded in purpose, the steady heartbeat of your team. You prefer to let the results speak for themselves — and they always do.
Lailey Elliot
Student Designer
Digital illustration
Cats
Cats on campus have an uncanny ability to brighten people's days — if the dozens of Cheeto photos posted online are anything to go by. You bring the same kind of light to the workplace. Whether it’s a quick laugh, a shared playlist, or a perfectly timed snack drop, you remind us that joy is serious business. Your optimism keeps teams bright and connected — even on the grayest days. You model what it means to balance hard work with heart.
Olka Bodnor
Student Designer
Hand cut paper, ink and colored pencils
Tardigrades
Tardigrades are microscopic marvels (with the exception of the not-so-microspopic statue outside of the Bohart Museum). They're resilient, adaptable and quietly extraordinary. You embody the same balance and endurance: calm under pressure and ready to thrive no matter the environment. You’re the ultimate hybrid: a planner, a teammate, a fixer, a detail-checker and a bright spot all in one.
Andrew Larsen
Creative Director
3D digital illustration