Seven faculty and staff members from UC Davis are being recognized for their outstanding global engagement work with two key awards: the Chancellor’s Award for International Engagement and the Excellence in Teaching for Global Learning Award. These awards recognize the outstanding work of UC Davis faculty and staff in international education, research and service.  

“UC Davis faculty and staff are deeply engaged in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges, fostering global collaboration, and shaping the next generation of inclusive and innovative leaders,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “Their commitment to international engagement, transformative research, and global learning strengthens our university and empowers our students. I am proud of their remarkable efforts and look forward to celebrating their achievements.”

The Chancellor’s Award for International Engagement was created in 2017, and the Excellence in Teaching for Global Learning Award was created in 2019. This year’s awardees bring the total number of recipients to 39. 

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

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

Ana Kormos is the UC Malaria Initiative (UCMI) program administrator and engagement director 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.”  

2024-25 Excellence in Teaching for Global Learning Award  

The Excellence in Teaching for Global Learning Award recognizes UC Davis instructors of the Academic Senate or Academic Federation who go above and beyond in designing and teaching UC Davis global learning programs. The recipients of this year’s award from the Academic Senate are David de la Peña and Kathy Stuart, and from the Academic Federation is Eleftheria Arapoglou.

David de la Peña

David de la Peña is an associate professor and director of the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design program in the Department of Human Ecology in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. His work focuses on participatory urbanism, exploring both how communities create meaningful cultural landscapes and also how professionals can create design processes that best engage with those communities.

De la Peña’s outstanding contributions exemplify UC Davis’ core values of global engagement and its commitment to fostering global learning. He has made a significant impact through his innovative teaching, serving on the program review committee for the Global Learning Hub and his commitment to engaging students through the Housing and Urbanism in Barcelona study abroad program. His ability to lead students through fieldwork and theoretical study ensures that their global learning experiences are enriching and impactful.

De la Peña’s nominators shared that his “creative and thoughtful teaching methods, deep expertise in the city of Barcelona, and passion for design” have created transformative opportunities for students to experience the intersection of urban design and community.

Kathy Stuart

Kathy Stuart is an associate professor in the History Department in the College of Letters and Science. She specializes in early modern German history and researches the history of crime and deviance. She is passionate about global learning and loves to guide students through their experience abroad, especially if it is their first time leaving the country.

Stuart has made significant contributions to global education through her design and leadership of the Vienna: Crossroads of Central Europe Summer Abroad Program. This program offers students an immersive experience in Vienna, where they explore historical landmarks, engage with Holocaust memorial initiatives, and work alongside local organizations like the Stones of Remembrance Foundation. Her innovative teaching style empowers students to engage deeply with history while enhancing their intercultural competencies. Through her dedication to teaching and mentorship, she has inspired students to expand their intellectual boundaries and pursue careers informed by a global perspective.

Stuart’s nominators shared that she “carefully designed and flawlessly orchestrated a program that maximized the experience of living abroad, combining intellectual rigor with cultural exploration.”

Eleftheria Arapoglou

Eleftheria Arapoglou  is a continuing lecturer in the Department of American Studies in the College of Letters and Science. She brings expertise in global education, innovative pedagogy, and the fostering of intercultural competencies, empowering students to engage with complex global issues through critical thinking and collaboration.

Arapoglou has demonstrated exceptional leadership in global education at UC Davis, particularly for her significant role in serving on the committee that revised the Global Studies minor and co-leading the creation of the new Global Thinking course. Through her leadership and committee work, she has also influenced the direction of global education at UC Davis, enriching students' educational experience across disciplines and fostering cross-cultural dialogue that aligns with the university’s mission of advancing global engagement. Arapoglou’s colleagues and students praise her engaging teaching style and ability to build strong student connections.

Arapoglou’s nominators shared, “Professor Arapoglou finds the perfect balance of encouraging students to engage with their interests while also challenging them to expand their horizons.”

International Connections Reception  

Chancellor May will recognize the awardees on Wednesday, March 12, at the 10th annual UC Davis International Connections Reception, hosted by Global Affairs. This event brings together the UC Davis community for an evening of networking and celebration of globally engaged faculty, staff and scholars. Global Affairs will also acknowledge the 2024-25 recipients of Seed Grants for International Activities and Grants for Advancing Sustainable Development Goals and participants in the Global Strategy Advisory Committee and Global Education for All Steering Committee. 

"Faculty and staff play a pivotal role in expanding global learning, research, and engagement opportunities for our entire community," said Joanna Regulska, vice provost and dean of Global Affairs. "Their dedication to international collaboration and innovation is shaping a more connected and inclusive world, and we are proud to recognize their outstanding contributions."

The International Connections Reception is open to the UC Davis community. If you are interested in attending, please register to attend. 

Register to attend the International Connections Reception on Wednesday, March 12, 2025