Rosani Matoso Silva from Brazil and Kara Roopsingh from Trinidad and Tobago are experiencing American culture for the first time as Humphrey Fellows in the 2023-24 cohort. Fellows are encouraged to enjoy activities outside of the program, and those activities often introduce them to American traditions or cultural events. Rosani and Kara wrote about two of their favorites from their Humphrey Fellowship experience.
"My participation in this five-day seminar in Washington, D.C., was an enriching experience, offering insights into U.S. institutions, federal agencies and international organizations." -Pilar Lillo, 2023-24 Humphrey Fellow
Humphrey Fellow Kara Roopsingh (2023-24, Trinidad and Tobago) offers a lesson on how cultural history can lead to conservation, preservation and learning.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, a prestigious program bringing accomplished mid-career professionals from countries around the world to host universities throughout the United States, returns to UC Davis as 12 Fellows from 12 different countries arrive on campus.
Humphrey Fellowship has been fruitful for me both professionally and academically as I have experienced international exposure. Professionally, I have broadened my networking with different organizations and individuals in the U.S. by taking part in workshops, conferences, trainings and meetings. Among them, Global Leadership Forum (GLF), Esri Federal GIS Conference 2023 in Washington D.C.
I chose to work with an American institution that shares my dreams. After a thorough search and consultations, I found time to work with the Yolo Basin Foundation in Davis. One thing I am glad about is that I have no regrets about my decision to work here. I became interested in working with this organization when I first paid a visit and volunteered over the weekend in Summer 2022. Since then, I have wanted to go back and spend more time working there.
In March, I attended the 10th North American Strawberry Symposium (NASS) and North American Strawberry Growers Association (NASGA) 2023 Conference in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
I am an official at the Department of Extension of the Ministry of Agriculture of Equatorial Guinea, and I am involved in extension work, though not formally trained in it. My work entails empowering the farmers through trainings and projects; I also conduct research to produce data that can lead to informed policies in the sector.
As a mother of two young children and a social entrepreneur and community influencer in Tibet for over a decade, my Humphrey Fellowship at UC Davis has been an invaluable experience that has shaped my personal and professional growth. I have focused on women's empowerment through beekeeping and marketing varietal honey by descriptive honey tastes to zero-use pesticides to produce unadulterated honey in Shangri-La.
From NASA to the National Parks Service, Smithsonian to USAID, numerous federal agencies are using ArcGIS StoryMaps and geographic information systems (GIS) to share compelling, digital stories with the world.
