Karen Harding, often the first welcoming face international students and scholars meet at UC Davis, brings warmth and understanding to her role at the Global Affairs front desk. Shaped by her own journeys abroad, her story reveals how personal experience can inspire a lifelong commitment to connection, community and global curiosity.
UC Davis is honored to receive the Open Doors 75 Seal of Excellence, which recognizes our participation in the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors survey since its inception in 1949.
We are deeply saddened to share the loss of Daniel Padron, a scholar intake advisor with Global Affairs’ Services for International Students and Scholars, who passed away unexpectedly on December 5, 2024, after 20 years of service at UC Davis.
Mary Alurwar, international scholar advisor in Global Affairs’ Services for International Students and Scholars, received a Fulbright International Education Administrator Award for 2024-25.
A leading biomedical engineer and physicist, Roncali focuses on medical imaging and the effectiveness of medical treatments for cancer patients. Her work involves molecular imaging and therapy, with an emphasis on new technology for positron emission tomography (PET).
In keeping with its commitment to the equitable representation and advancement of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), UC Davis continues to welcome and support women working in STEM fields as they arrive on campus from all over the world. Through a network of faculty, staff, centers and clubs, UC Davis provides university resources and mentorship.
Navigating a large international airport in a foreign country can be confusing. Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) within Global Affairs, wants you to have a good experience from the moment you land in California. Many international flights arrive at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Bob Kiaii, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at UC Davis Health, is an international expert in robotic heart surgery who leads a surgical team that treats complex diseases of the chest using minimally invasive techniques. Born in Iran, Kiaii immigrated to Canada as a child with his family. His path in medicine eventually brought him to UC Davis Health, a relocation feat that was not without its challenges.
Global Affairs provides a plethora of training resources that help staff support scholars and students throughout their global educational journeys by offering staff learning and development courses through Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) and the Global Learning Hub.
