University of California President Mark G. Yudof welcomed newly elected legislators to the UC Center Sacramento Wednesday night (2/27) and urged them to seek the university's research expertise to help in their work.

"I’d ask that you never hesitate to let us know if there’s anything we at the university can do to help you—whether it’s helping with a piece of policy analysis, finding you a researcher or a speaker, or providing district support," Yudof said. "We’re here as a service to you."

Yudof hosted the reception for the 40 new members of the California Legislature with UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi at the center,  which the campus operates on K Street near the Capitol. The center provides public policy training and internships in governmental and public and private organizations for students throughout the UC system. The center also connects policymakers with UC faculty and research experts to address critical issues facing California.

"The University of California—its campuses and its medical centers—is an important part of your history as Californians," Yudof said in his remarks to the newly elected state assembly members and senators. "And as new California legislators, you will share in its legacy."

Center students had something to call home about after Gov. Jerry Brown dropped by the reception and gave them an impromptu history lesson. After students clusters around the governor to snap photos on their cell phones, he spent more than 30 minutes talking to them about history and their educational goals.

Students said the governor urged them to read more books, study political theory and learn lessons from the state’s earliest settlers and the many hardships they endured.

“One of the benefits of our program is that we can put our students in the same room as the governor and the policymakers,” said Scott MacKenzie, a UC Davis political science professor who teaches the California Policy Seminar at the center. “I think that’s unique to our program.”

The students also had a chance to mingle with state assembly members and senators who attended the reception as well as President Yudof, Chancellors Katehi, UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, UC Riverside Acting Chancellor Jane Close Conoley, UC Regent Charlene Zettel, retired California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott and other dignitaries.