When international students and scholars arrive at UC Davis, oftentimes the first face they see on campus is Karen Harding’s. Harding has been working at the Global Affairs front desk within Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) for the past three years, where, in addition to providing administrative support, she has welcomed and assisted thousands of students and scholars from around the world.

“Creating a space for people who come through the door from around the world and making them feel at home—I think that is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. Knowing I am representing SISS, Global Affairs, and UC Davis — I take that very seriously. I care about UC Davis, our vision, and our principles of community,” Harding explained.

Her responsibilities are part customer service and part community-building, but 100% making international students and scholars feel comfortable during an often stressful and challenging transition.

A Journey Shaped by Travel

Harding has also been in the position of being an international student. While an undergraduate at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, with the goal of becoming a physical education teacher in California, she spent a year studying in Mexico.

“I picked Mexico because I wanted to help the kids I was teaching. I wanted to know more than a little bit of Spanish from a textbook—I wanted to know about their culture and more about the people,” shared Harding. “It really was the beginning of my travel journey because up until that point, my family didn't travel a lot, they just went on little vacations in California … I really wanted to branch out and spread my wings.”

The adjustment to the program was difficult and eye-opening for Harding, but the experience has helped inform her approach to customer service at Global Affairs. 

“When I went to Mexico, I knew very little Spanish… It was tricky going to the embassy in Mexico City. It's stressful having to navigate everything, especially when you're young. I can relate and be there for international students because I experienced studying in another country firsthand,” stated Harding. 

She now encourages students to study abroad if possible, which she believes is an opportunity that can broaden perspectives and contribute to a better world.

“I think everyone should experience, if they can, studying in another country or living in another country, because it gives you a great perspective. You see that we are all just people. We have some cultural differences, but at the heart of it, we all just want to be happy, take care of our families, and contribute in whatever way we can to making the world a better place.”

Travel has been a core component of Harding’s life beyond studying abroad. With her wife and daughter, Harding went on a four-month trip around the world, traveling to Thailand, Japan, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, and Italy. Her daughter Makenna, a current student at the University of Southern California and a music composer, chronicled the trip in over 60 blog posts on hdworldtrek.com.

Harding’s international experiences left a lasting impression that she has thought about throughout the years. In South Africa, Harding experienced self-guided safaris in Kruger National Park and visited Robben Island, the island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. 

“Going back to South Africa would be great and exploring more of the country… We have Mandela Washington Fellows who come to Global Affairs every summer, and they have inspired me to travel not just to South Africa, but to the rest of the continent,” explained Harding.

Career at UC Davis

In Harding’s current position at Global Affairs, she also serves as a Wellness Ambassador within SISS. As part of her role, she coordinates quarterly events for staff where trivia parties, cultural potlucks, holiday gift exchanges, and community building come to life.

Before working at Global Affairs, Harding managed the UC Davis Big Bang Business Competition at the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship for six years. In this position, she organized mentor sessions, volunteer judges, and workshops to assist new entrepreneurs in gaining the support they needed to expand on their visions. Before that, Harding worked for the Northern California Training Academy. Overall, she has now dedicated more than a decade of her career to UC Davis.

One of Harding’s favorite memories in Global Affairs is the cultural potlucks that take place during the holiday season. 

Harding shared, “It is rewarding helping to bring SISS together in whatever way I can so that people enjoy their job a little more.” 

Specifically, the cultural potluck events involve international staff sharing holiday dishes from their respective cultures, leading to a large cultural exchange where stories and memories are shared. These events not only build community but also reflect the multicultural community that exists there on a daily basis.

Beyond the Office

Outside of the office, Harding loves to hike, swim, play tennis, cook, watch women’s college basketball, and keep up with the University of Southern California Football and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Harding also meditates regularly and enjoys time spent with family and friends. Before becoming a collegiate swimmer and making the national swim team in college, she grew up swimming for her local swim team, serving as a gate guard, working as a lifeguard, and later as a swim instructor and coach. On the swim team Harding grew up competing for, she shared, 

“It was a really amazing community where the families would look after the kids. I think that is why connection is so important for me now… I grew up in a really tight-knit community. The value for connectedness stems from my childhood, the swim team, and the community swimming pool I spent my summers at.” 

Harding’s number one strength on CliftonStrengths is “Connectedness,” which reflects the impact her upbringing has had on her daily life, particularly in her role at Global Affairs.