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.
In his newly released documentary film, Umbria Jazz Feast, UC Davis Professor of Music, Pierpaolo Polzonetti, investigates the perceptions and identities of jazz as it intersects with the cuisine, art, and culture of locals and visitors in Perugia, a medieval town in central Italy. A musicologist specializing in music and food, Polzonetti focused on how the festival enabled a synesthetic experience; that is, one in which different senses are simultaneously engaged.
Shared experiences transcend borders, cultures and languages, shaping how people connect, process the world and find meaning in everyday life. Eight visiting Humphrey Fellows shared some of those universal themes in the Ignite Talk series this spring at International House Davis, delivering brief TED Talk-style presentations that distilled personal lessons into powerful reflections for the UC Davis community.
California and Africa have set the blueprint for a new model of international climate cooperation—a unique climate and economic partnership with Kenya and Nigeria delivering policy certainty, affordable technology and unlocking catalytic capital.
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.
View students’ final projects from the first-year seminar Demystifying and Unlocking the Beauty of Chinese Characters in the UC Davis International Center lobby through September 2026.
Supporting students from across the globe, Global Affairs’ Summer Start program offers early academic preparation, community building, and mentorship to incoming international undergraduate students. Embarking on this unique opportunity, third-year undergraduates Manasa (Mana) Rajnath and Yian (Patrick) Liao participated in the program from August through early September of 2023. Over six weeks of interactive activities, the pair made unforgettable memories with their cohort and learned valuable academic and professional skills. These experiences supported their transition into university life by combining in-class learning and real-world exploration.
UC Davis Professor Pam Ronald has received the Universitas 21 Award – Climate Action, honoring her work helping address one of the defining challenges of our time: food security in the face of climate change.
Starting college is already a big leap—but imagine doing it abroad in Italy. Through the University of California Education Abroad Program Global Start program, two first-year University of California, Davis students traded classrooms for the vibrant streets of Syracuse, gaining independence, cultural insight, and unforgettable experiences along the way. Their journey shows how stepping outside your comfort zone can transform not just your education, but who you become.
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.
A program offered by Global Affairs helps instructors “globalize” their courses through activities that demonstrate the interconnectedness of the world; identifying global learning outcomes for their courses; and develop student activities, assignments and projects to support those outcomes.
