Mandela Fellows are “returning” to UC Davis! Thirty young African leaders from 20 countries will participate in public management training that the fellows will then put to use in their homelands. UC Davis had planned to host its fifth cohort of fellows a year ago, until the pandemic forced the program’s cancellation. This summer’s program, which starts Monday (June 21), will be virtual.
On June 21, the University of California, Davis, virtually welcomes 29 leaders from 20 African countries for a six-week Leadership in Public Management Institute as a part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the U.S. Department of State Young African Leaders Initiative. The institute, organized by UC Davis Global Affairs, will build practical knowledge and leadership capacity in topics such as public management, community engagement, public speaking, and the intersection of public health and local government. The UC Davis Mandela Washington Fellows will participate in discussion forums, professional networking, cultural connection activities, leadership sessions, community service, and focus project coaching from their home countries through July 30.
Howard Chiang, an expert in East Asian studies with a dedication to advancing LGBTQ history through international collaborations, joined the faculty of UC Davis in 2017 and is now an associate professor in the College of Letters and Science’s Department of History. His pioneering three-volume Global Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) History, for which he served as editor-in-chief, won the 2020 Dartmouth Medal thanks to its merging of global LBGTQ history into one resource. Born in Taiwan and raised in Canada, Chiang says that throughout the cross-cultural editorial and research process, he thoroughly appreciated working with experts in fields different from his own area of specialization.
On June 1, 2021, the University of California, Davis and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in Pakistan signed an agreement of cooperation to partner on research and capacity building collaborations in horticulture and animal science. The agreement builds upon past agreements between the two universities signed in 2008 and 2013 as well as ongoing collaborations between UC Davis and Pakistan.
Aligning with the campus goal and Provost’s Priority of Global Education for All UC Davis students, Global Affairs has launched two new courses starting this June through Undergraduate Education’s Summer Sessions and is starting the launch of a revamped Global Studies minor in fall 2021.
Civil and environmental engineering student Chidubem Nnaji has been named a 2021 Donald A. Strauss Foundation Scholar for his project titled “Using Solar Power to Empower.” The annual scholarship was established as a memorial to the late Don Strauss—a successful business executive who had a lifelong interest in education and public service—and awards $15,000 to up to fifteen college sophomores or juniors from pre-selected institutions in California. Nnaji’s project is focused on bringing accessible, clean water to his village in Nigeria and to educate residents on the importance of sustainable water practices. The goal of this project is to install a solar-powered, self-sustaining water pump that will alleviate the shortage of clean water in the community.
On March 12, the National Academy for International Education was launched. The Academy includes Joanna Regulska, the UC Davis vice provost and dean of Global Affairs. Regulska has been advocating for global learning at UC Davis since September 2013.
Tiven Buggy, a 2020 graduate of the UC Davis College of Engineering's civil and environmental engineering master’s program, now serves as director of water and sanitation for the nonprofit Puente, based in Constanza, La Vega, Dominican Republic. In this role, Buggy relies on data collection and analysis technology to help solve water crises in remote parts of the region. His passion for improving access to clean water ignited during his time in the Peace Corps and continued to be fueled by his global experiences while at UC Davis.
Below are some UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) opportunities (events, competitions, courses, and funding) for Spring 2021. Please share widely and always feel free to reach out with questions and ideas about UC Davis SDG engagement.
UC Davis reaffirmed its commitment to a better planet by joining global leaders on recent statements calling for actions on sustainability, equality, equitable economic growth and climate change.
