From leading UC Davis’s inaugural SDG Symposium to studying sustainable cities across Northern Europe, graduate student Judi Eppele is turning her passion for environmental education into global action. Discover how her experiences at UC Davis are preparing her to tackle climate and sustainability challenges around the world.
The 2026 Global Learning Conference brought students together to explore what it means to become compassionate global leaders through inspiring presentations, networking, and hands-on learning. From healthcare equity to study abroad preparation, attendees gained valuable insights, built meaningful connections, and discovered new ways to make an impact in an increasingly interconnected world.
From never leaving the country to studying human rights in Chile and conducting fieldwork in Rwanda, Chely Saens transformed her UC Davis experience into a global journey of purpose. Through study abroad and hands-on work with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, she discovered how education, sustainability, and policy intersect across cultures. Read how her travels are shaping a future in data analytics—and beyond.
Aubrey Vanson, a third-year design major and art history minor, loves all things creative and is deeply passionate about how creative disciplines are essential to her everyday practice. This past summer, Aubrey participated in the study abroad program Design in Japan, working to further explore the ways in which her designs could convey meaning.
Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many. Luckily, there are many valuable experiences offered at UC Davis that allow Aggies to develop new perspectives, both academically and personally. Paola Simi, a current fourth-year majoring in Political Science, can attest to this fact after her recent time abroad.
A six-week internship in New Zealand transformed Lauren Riggs’ understanding of mental health, blending hands-on clinical work with deep cultural immersion. From learning Māori approaches to well-being to serving underserved communities in Auckland, her experience shows how global perspectives can shape more compassionate, inclusive mental health care—and inspire future psychologists to think beyond borders.
When it comes to resilience, Andrea Solis Olguin clearly embodies it. As a recent UC Davis graduate with a B.S. in civil engineering and a minor in sustainability in the built environment, Solis carries the weight and strength of various identities: she was a reentry student, an international student, and a transfer student. She is also an engineer, a photographer, a storyteller, and a mosaic of lived experiences.
An article by Provost Croughan for the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) on the importance of global learning. Writing from both a professional and personal perspective, she reflects on the lasting value of international education and its impact on students, faculty, staff, and collaborators.
As the director of Global Professional Programs at UC Davis Global Affairs, Karen Beardsley has spent more than a decade building connections among UC Davis, international professionals and the local community. Helping facilitate and advance career development, education and mentorship across the world is a mission Beardsley has been deeply devoted to.
Warm greetings this season from UC Davis Global Affairs! We are excited to share our 2024-25 Annual Report with you. Wishing you peace, inspiration and hope in the year ahead.
