The United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (UN SDGs) is a framework created in 2015 as a call to action for countries and their contribution to the Earth’s sustainability. The goals range from individual to structural levels, culminating in a brighter future for the Earth’s inhabitants. On our campus, the UN Sustainability Development Goals at UC Davis aim to promote collaboration and student involvement in achieving these goals. One of the ways students can get involved is through the SDGs Internship, where interns develop SDG-focused programming, identify SDG implementation opportunities, outreach about the SDGs, and more.

Meet some of our recent interns!

Becca Libby is a third-year design major minoring in sustainability in the built environment. She’s involved in many student organizations, such as holding the Vice President position of UC Davis’s Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA) and serving as the design manager for the Aggie Reuse store, an ASUCD initiative focused on providing students with zero-cost second-hand clothing. Becca applied to the SDG internship to gain more experience with promoting sustainability and work with individuals outside of her major. 

One of Becca’s favorite experiences in the internship was speaking on a student panel at UC Davis’ Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) Thematic Forum, which was held in April 2024. She felt honored to speak alongside talented undergraduate and graduate students while sharing her perspective on important sustainability-based topics. Becca shared that her biggest takeaway from the internship was learning how to reach diverse audiences about the importance of sustainability. Additionally, the internship provided opportunities for Becca to work on her public speaking and outreach skills through speaking at and organizing events such as a workshop for the Aggie Reuse store and the Whole Earth Festival.

In recalling her experience on the AIEA “Student Leadership for the Global Goals” Panel, Becca shared that:

 “One of the best questions I received was, “What is the best avenue for engaging undergraduates in the SDGs?” This question sparked an interesting conversation about engaging Gen Z — the most common generation for undergraduates — in campus-published media, like newsletters and social media posts. The other panelists and I spoke about the importance of authenticity and short-form content, as many undergraduate students have competing demands for their time. Attending and speaking at the AIEA forum was an enriching experience I am immensely grateful for!" 

Meg Van Note is a third-year International Relations major. In her free time, she loves running, reading, hiking, and crafting. On campus, outside of the SDG internship, she’s a part of Alpha Chi Omega and holds a job at King Hall. Meg shared that she joined the internship as her life mission aligns with the purpose of the SDGs. Specifically, she wants to help bring change to gender and climate inequalities and, overall, to help spread peace at a local level. She stated the localization of the SDGs within Davis and Yolo county highlights the capability of our community to make change. One of her favorite parts of the internship was working with her fellow intern, Eileen, on a project that highlights SDG 8.5 to showcase the Redwoods SEEDs Scholar Program. Additionally, she also shared that she really enjoyed working alongside Jolynn Shoemaker, director of global engagements, and fellow intern Alecia in preparation for the Sacramento Youth Commission coming up in the Winter of 2025.

April Engelmeier is a fourth-year majoring in environmental science and management with a minor in economics. In addition to being an SDG intern, April also works as a Sustainability Peer Educator, educating students about the planet and how to protect it through the Office of Sustainability at UC Davis. April applied to the SDG internship because of its focus on sustainability and the planet on a large scale, expanding on the narrower topics discussed in her environmental science classes. The internship provided space for April to get involved with the international effort to bring sustainability to the forefront. One of April’s highlights of the program was the AIEA forum because of the collaboration and connections she experienced. She felt inspired and hopeful for the planet’s future being surrounded by UN representatives and university leaders working together to improve the world. April shared that her biggest takeaway from the internship “was that beyond policies and higher-up efforts to incorporate sustainability, one of the most valuable ways to improve our planet is to simply educate others.” The experience helped April highlight the importance of teaching the benefits of sustainability to anybody and everybody.

Below is an excerpt from April’s reflection on an experience she had during the AIEA Forum:

“It’s nice to talk about implementing the SDGs, but it’s always better to see them in action. In an agriculturally literate campus like UC Davis, there is no shortage of places to prove it, and the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden’s meadow overlook is certainly no exception. Given that it was a beautiful day and my allergies were nowhere to be seen, you couldn’t possibly go wrong. The purpose of touring the area was to allow participants from other institutions to see how locations on campus can be connected to the SDGs. The tour guide was kind, accommodating and knowledgeable. She explained how the Arboretum advances several SDGs, such as eliminating candidacy barriers in hiring new employees to support SDG10- Reduced Inequalities. It was such a beautiful day, and it was amazing to explore parts of campus where I would likely never have been able to find myself. It was the perfect way to end the forum.”

Amy Yang is a fourth-year majoring in international relations. One of her current passions is collaborating on the creation of a site called PeaceKraft where “students, teachers, entrepreneurs, and investors can talk about their SDGs-related projects and activities while also giving them the option to create political systems and budgets where people can donate towards building sustainable infrastructure or programs that involve a multitude of projects in places that need them.” Amy applied to be an SDG intern to gain experience working with professionals in supporting the implementation of SDG goals here at UC Davis. One of her favorite experiences in the internship was tabling during the Global Learning Fair this past Fall quarter, as she enjoyed being able to talk to students and inform them about how to get involved with the SDGs. She shared, 

“One of the things I remember saying a lot was (in the beginning), “If this was a game, this meeting is the key point where you learn that you have the chance to save the world,” and to end it after a bit of conversation, I’d say “Now go on and save the world!”

Application to participate in the SDG Internship program opens each quarter, creating a space for students to delve into their passions of sustainability and creating environmental good. Please visit the SDG internship webpage for more details.