Michael C. Child
Senior Advisor, TA Associates, Inc
B.S. Electrical Engineering, ‘76
Michael C. Child earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UC Davis in 1976 and an M.B.A. from Stanford University in 1980. Mike has shown exceptional leadership and service to his alma mater UC Davis. He has served multiple terms on the UC Davis Foundation Board beginning in 2000, serving as Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee and as the Foundation Chair from 2014 to 2016. He is a past member of both the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Graduate School of Management and the College of Engineering Dean’s Executive Committee. Currently he is a member of the UCD Athletics Advisory Board. Mike has also been a lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Currently, Mike is a Senior Advisor in the Menlo Park office of TA Associates, Inc., a leading global growth private equity investment firm headquartered in Boston. Mike joined TA in 1982 and helped open the West Coast office, focusing on investments in the technology sector. He became a Managing Director in 1986 and a Senior Advisor of the firm in 2011. Mike served on TA's Executive Committee from 2002 to 2008. During Mike’s involvement, TA has grown from managing funds totaling approximately $200mm to over $25 billion with cumulative funds raised of over $32 billion.
We took a moment to chat with Mike to learn more about what technology excites him, and also to reflect on his biggest influences when he was a UC Davis student.
What research or technology are you most excited about right now, and why?
I am most excited by some the interdisciplinary research that is taking place at UCD. Examples include using sensors, imaging, and drone technology to improve agriculture outcomes, or using biomedical imaging to improve treatments and clinical outcomes.
How did your time at UC Davis impact you and/or prepare you for your career?
UC Davis encourages student as to get a well-rounded education. In addition to engineering, I was able to take classes in rhetoric, accounting, economics, viticulture, and human sexuality which all important to my career and future life.
Did you have a favorite course or instructor at UC Davis?
My favorite courses at UCD were taught by Dr. Rick Branner in microwave component design. They were fun because they involved real design opportunities.
What advice would you give to young people who are currently seeking a degree in electrical and computer engineering?
Electrical and computer engineering is a challenging but relevant major that prepares its students for a wide variety of career options. My advice is to carefully use your limited free classes to explore the other parts of the campus.