Congratulations to the 2024-25 Chancellor’s Award for International Engagement Recipients
The Chancellor’s Award for International Engagement recognizes faculty and staff members for outstanding global engagement in advancing the university’s teaching, research and service missions. This year’s award recipients are faculty members Beth Greenwood and Laura Van Auker, and staff members Ana Kormos and Mitsuko Leonard.
Beth Greenwood
Beth Greenwood is an associate dean for global legal education and lecturer in law in the School of Law. Her visionary leadership has transformed UC Davis into a prominent international hub for legal education.
Greenwood’s pioneering work with the UC Davis Threatened Scholars Committee has ensured academic freedom in the face of global challenges. Her dedication to advancing human rights, facilitating educational exchanges and mentoring international students underscores the vital role that UC Davis plays in shaping future leaders and advocates for justice across the world.
Throughout her 40+ year career at UC Davis, Greenwood’s work has not only enhanced the reputation of our institution but also advanced the values of justice, equity and cooperation that are more crucial than ever on the global stage.
Her nominators shared that she has “created or developed a variety of international degree and non-degree programs, building a network of invaluable connections with UC Davis…that have transformed our global relationships.”
Laura L. Van Auker, DNP, FNP-BC, APRN, MSN, SN-C
Laura L. Van Auker is an associate clinical professor of health sciences at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. She brings expertise in health care policy promoting the use of advanced practice registered nurses to improve community health and access, particularly for underserved, diverse and rural communities.
Van Auker’s outstanding work over the years exemplifies UC Davis’ core values of global engagement and its commitment to fostering global learning. She has made remarkable contributions through her clinical expertise, innovative teaching, and deep commitment to improving healthcare access for underserved populations worldwide. The global networks Van Auker has helped build will continue to enrich UC Davis for years to come.
Her nominators shared that she “leveraged [her] 25 years of volunteer experience with the Health Education Africa Resource Team to create transformative opportunities for UC Davis students and faculty to engage in primary care medical camps in rural Kenya, enhancing healthcare access and empowering communities through team-based care.”
Ana Kormos, MPH
Ana Kormos is the program administrator for the University of California Malaria Initiative (UCMI) and works in the Vector Genetics Laboratory in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology in the School of Veterinary Medicine. She takes a comprehensive approach to global health, integrating scientific progress with local empowerment.
Kormos’ dedicated leadership and collaboration are making a lasting impact on global health. Her ability to build trust with local communities, government officials and international stakeholders has been key to the success of the UCMI. Her work with the Open Philanthropy Foundation enabled the expansion of infrastructure and capacity building globally, including scholarships for local students and the development of critical scientific facilities.
Kormos’ nominators shared that she has “worked tirelessly with colleagues to lay both the scientific and social/ethical groundwork” for UCMI’s mission to combat malaria in São Tomé and Príncipe in West Africa.” They also highlighted her “innovative strategies, inclusive partnerships, and impactful communication.”
Mitsuko Leonard
Mitsuko Leonard is the director of undergraduate recruitment in Undergraduate Admissions in Enrollment Management. For over two decades, she has played a pivotal role in UC Davis’s international recruitment efforts, consistently leading with an eye toward equitable access for students from all over the world.
Leonard is a true collaborator, working across campus to ensure that international students’ needs are met with empathy and care. Her leadership and vision have been integral to growing UC Davis’ international student population, and her ability to blend logistical expertise with genuine empathy has set a new standard for international recruitment, ensuring that every student feels welcomed and supported.
Leonard’s nominators praised her leadership, noting that “her thoughtful, compassionate approach to guiding prospective students and their parents through the often overwhelming admissions process has been instrumental to making UC Davis the first-choice university for countless international students.”