Paul Cody, Ed. D ’17, prepares to take his place as this year’s Picnic Day parade marshal, a role that celebrates his more than two decades of dedication to the beloved tradition. Picnic Day is set for April 18, 2026.
“It’s an honor,” said Cody, a senior research associate in Student Affairs who served as staff advisor for Picnic Day in the Center for Student Involvement for 25 years. “I take great pride in serving as the marshal.”
Picnic Day became student run in 1912, just three years after its inception in 1909. Today, the event is organized and managed by a board of directors composed entirely of 51ԹϺ Davis students, who plan everything from the parade route to the hundreds of activities across campus.
As an advisor, Cody had various responsibilities to help the board facilitate logistics and operations. He navigated relationships with the city of Davis, local agencies, and campus constituents. During the parade, Cody could be spotted driving around in a gator, troubleshooting wherever needed. In his down time, he made it a tradition to check out a new event each year.
Cody was first nominated for parade marshal while still in his advisor role — but he said no.
“I said no because there were more qualified people,” he recalled. When the nomination came again this year, he reconsidered. He explains his decision to accept the role was led by the words of a previous marshal and the longtime AS51ԹϺD business manager, Marc Champagne, who assured him that it was a great experience.
Selected by the student-run Picnic Day board of directors, Cody joins a legacy of parade marshals, including Peter J. Shields, the second chancellor Emil Mrak, philanthropists Robert and Margrit Mondavi, and many more. As marshal, he’ll deliver a speech at the grandstands for the opening ceremonies and ride in a float.
“[The parade] is a little out of my comfort zone, but I want to embrace the entire experience,” Cody said.