Annual Report 2022-23
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Contents 2
Letter from the Vice Provost and Dean
3 About UC Davis 4
UC Davis Global Highlights
7 Tackling Global Challenges 9 Transforming Global Partnerships 13
Taking Care of Global Community
15 Telling Global Stories 17 Helping Students Excel
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LETTER FROM THE VICE PROVOST AND DEAN Dear Friends, I am proud to share our Annual Report with you. Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated staff, faculty and students and to collaborative efforts with our UC Davis campus and global partners, we made important strides to advance our mission. In many ways, however, this has been a challenging and heartbreaking year; war, terrorist attacks and aggressions, antiSemitism and Islamophobia, climate catastrophes and natural disasters have resulted in the tragic loss of life, human rights violations, discrimination and oppression. These events leave deep scars, and we continue to hope for healing and lasting peace. This fall, we released our new Global Affairs Strategic Plan and the inaugural UC Davis Global Strategic Plan. These plans outline strategies and objectives for advancing global engagement over the next five years and will guide our work as we collaborate with partners in an ever-changing world. This year, we continued advancing our goal of providing Global Education for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals by engaging students in innovative ways, supporting faculty research and strengthening meaningful partnerships on campus and worldwide. We hosted two exceptional global professional programs— the Humphrey Fellowship Program and Mandela Washington Fellowship—and provided critical services for nearly 9,000 students, faculty and researchers from over 100 countries and six continents. In November, in partnership with UC Santa Cruz and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, we were honored to host the APEC University Leaders’ Forum on “Investing in Tomorrow’s Biodiversity.” The forum convened nearly 100 international leaders for a daylong event focused on sustaining and strengthening biodiversity amid climate change. This year, we also joined UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May in delegation visits to Chile, Mexico and Australia to facilitate and elevate equitable and transformative partnerships. To further support our commitment to being accessible, affordable, inclusive and relevant to the communities we serve, we welcomed a new assistant director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and an external relations manager. Thank you for joining us in our mission! May 2024 bring peace, joy, health and an even deeper sense of connection and belonging.
All the best,
Joanna Regulska Vice Provost and Dean - Global Affairs Professor of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies University of California, Davis 2
ABOUT UC DAVIS 40,722
students
6th
best public institution
190+
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$1.006 billion
$12.6 billion
external research funding
annual economic activity
7,521
1,606
international students
international scholars
138
2nd
190+ visitors as a part of 38 delegations from 37 institutions in 23 countries
138 international agreements across 34 countries
2nd in top public university performers on social mobility
2022-23 Top Producer of Fulbright Students
2023 Emil M. Mrak International Award Mari Pangestu
#3 for Large Universities with Students Studying Abroad as Gilman Scholars
UC DAVIS GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTS
COLLEGE OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Rice Breeding Breakthrough to Feed Billions
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Professor Alissa Kendall Presents on Environmental Justice to the UN Environment Programme
COLLEGE OF LETTERS AND SCIENCE Five Fulbright Grants Awarded to Letters and Science Students, Alumni
GRADUATE STUDIES Supporting Iranians’ Fight for Freedom
BETTY IRENE MOORE SCHOOL OF NURSING Nurse-Lead Mobile Health Care Clinic to Serve Vulnerable Communities
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT Business and Culture in Chile: Our Whirlwind MBA Study Trip
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION My South Africa Journey
SCHOOL OF LAW Professor Aldana, Kari Peterson ‘23 Meet with Indigenous Women in Colombia
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Gastroenterology Team Members Care for Patients in Rwanda
SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE Professor Christine Kreuder Johnson to Serve as U.S. Science Envoy
CONTINUING AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION Global Study Program Student Embraces Diversity, Self-Expression and Art
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION Asian American Cowboys and Native Erasure
GRAND CHALLENGES Searching for the Next Deadly Virus, Before it Ignites Another Pandemic
OFFICE OF RESEARCH Nutrition Leaders Call for Scale-Up of Intervention that Prevents Child Malnutrition and Mortality
PUBLIC SCHOLARSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT International Honors for Two Public Engagement Champions
SUSTAINABILITY Sustainability Fellows Take On Sustainable Development
UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES Quarter at Aggie Square: Multilingual Education for California
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
The Lightness of Water Vapor Adds Heft to Global Climate Models
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GLOBAL AFFAIRS STRATEGIC PLAN 2023-28 Toward a Just, Resilient and Interconnected World VISION A UC Davis community that engages, thrives and leads in a just, resilient and interconnected world.
MISSION To inspire and advance global curiosity, understanding and engagement.
Overarching Principles Tackling Global Challenges Transforming Global Partnerships Taking Care of Global Community Telling Global Stories
Key Commitments Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Global Education for All United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Goal 1 Communities
Bridge diverse communities through dialogue to establish a strong foundation for action
Goal 2 Collaborations
Model transformational global collaborations that are intersectional, transdisciplinary and equity-focused
Goal 3 Leadership
Develop globally-minded, inclusive leaders to help solve the world’s pressing challenges
Goal 4 Growth
Position Global Affairs for sustainable growth in a constantly changing world
UC DAVIS GLOBAL STRATEGIC PLAN 2023-28 Advancing the Global Good in California and Around the World VISION We envision a more knowledgeable, resilient, healthy and equitable world.
PURPOSE To cultivate a diversity of people, ideas, partnerships and solutions that advance the global good in California and around the world.
To Boldly Go The Global Strategic Plan expands upon the goals within “To Boldly Go,” the UC Davis 10-year strategic plan to guide the university’s global efforts.
Goal 1 Teaching and Learning
Provide an education that prepares all of our students to successfully meet the needs, challenges and opportunities of a diverse and interconnected world
Goal 3 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Embrace diversity, practice inclusive excellence and strive for equity. Make UC Davis a first choice for education and employment by supporting a culture that values the contributions and aspirations of all students, staff and faculty, promotes wellness and cultivates the open interchange of ideas.
Goal 4 Partnerships
Goal 2 Research
Enable and support research that matters at the frontiers of knowledge, across and between the disciplines, in support of the health of the planet and the physical and societal well-being of its inhabitants.
Support our community, region, state, nation and world through mutually beneficial and impactful partnerships that reflect a firm commitment to teaching, research and service and increase the visibility and reputation of the university.
Goal 5 Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Create an intellectual and physical environment that supports the development of an innovative and entrepreneurial culture that extends the benefits of our research, education and outreach activities beyond the boundaries of the university. 6
TACKLING GLOBAL CHALLENGES Taking Action Locally
Fulbright Chair from Brazil Brings Research on Child Nutrition in the Amazon to UC Davis
Blog by Simone Nelson, SDG Intern, Writing Intern
“Most of us, myself included, tend to think on a macro-level when we think about making a difference in the world—but in truth, there are so many groups and organizations in our own communities already doing so much of that work. Global Affairs hosts the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Internship, an opportunity for students of all disciplines to engage directly with UC Davis SDG work and to contribute to various projects advancing the goals. I joined the SDG intern team in the Spring of 2022 as an opportunity to engage deeper with the SDGs and collaborate on the work our university is doing to advance them. My intern cohort and I focused our efforts on creating a Student Guide to the UN Sustainable Development Goals,, with the ultimate goal of Goals reaching students with little or no exposure to the SDGs.”
161 students participated in First-Year Aggie Connections, First-Year Seminars and Summer Sessions tied to global learning outcomes
“The World Food Center in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences worked with Global Affairs and the Fulbright Commission in Brazil to attract the first Fulbright Chair,” said Ermias Kebreab, director of the UC Davis World Food Center. Marly Augusto Cardoso, UC Davis’ inaugural Fulbright Chair from Brazil, Brazil, collaborated with UC Davis Professor Christine Stewart, director of the Institute for Global Nutrition, on a research proposal to prevent obesity and promote healthy eating behaviors among Amazonian children and initiated collaborative research, teaching and service activities in support of UN SDG 2: Zero Hunger. “As a Fulbright Chair, I’ve already been able to facilitate the invitation for the University of São Paulo to be part of the SDG Goal 2 consortium being led by UC Davis and EARTH University in Costa Rica,” says Cardoso.
351 students attended the Global Learning Fair
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students lived in the Global Engagement Opportunities Living Learning Community
UC Davis Students Present Article 26 Backpack at the 2023 World Forum on Human Rights UC Davis students Dheera Dusanapudi, Valerie Lima, Ella Ross and Emma Tolliver represented UC Davis Human Rights Studies and Article 26 Backpack at the UNESCO 2023 World Forum on Human Rights (#FMDH23) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and wrote blog posts about their global learning experiences.
Addressing Sustainable Development Goals Through Micro-Internships
As part of a broad commitment towards helping solve global challenges and providing a global education for all students, UC Davis is an active member of Universitas 21 (U21), a global network that connects 28 research universities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and engagement with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Last year, 45 UC Davis students participated in the program, program, which tasked interns with providing solutions to a challenge related to SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 5: Gender Equality, and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.
International Connections
Chancellor Gary S. May honored Michael R. Carter and Jennifer Chow with the Chancellor’s Award for International Engagement. Jaimey Fisher and David Masiel received the 2022 Excellence in Teaching of Study Abroad Awards.
(L-R): 2022-23 Excellence in Teaching of Study Abroad Awardee David Masiel, Global Affairs Associate Vice Provost Michael Lazzara, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Croughan, 2022-23 Chancellor’s Awardee Jennifer Chow, 2022-23 Chancellor’s Awardee Michael R. Carter, Chancellor Gary S. May and Global Affairs Vice Provost and Dean Joanna Regulska at the 2023 International Connections Reception.
This year’s Seed Grant projects were supported in partnership with UC Davis colleges and schools, the Office of Research and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and were awarded to faculty taking on innovative research, service and engagement projects around the world. These 11 projects bring together more than 19 researchers across UC Davis and collaborating institutions worldwide and foster long-term international research collaborations, create innovations in internationalizing the curriculum, and grow or build global partnerships. The Sustainable Development Goals grants are offered in partnership with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Sustainability and Grand Challenges to faculty promoting multidisciplinary collaborations focused on advancing one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s five projects bring together more than 15 researchers across UC Davis and collaborating institutions worldwide.
Global Affairs celebrated the accomplishments of faculty, staff and scholars who have worked to advance global higher education at the eighth annual International Connections Reception. UC Davis 8
TRANSFORMING GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS Latin America and the Caribbean •
Chancellor Gary S. May, Global Affairs and the Consulate of Mexico in Sacramento Visit Mexico
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UC Davis Delegation Visits Chile
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Crump, Zepeda Win Grant for Sustainability in Mexico
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UC Davis Chile Works with Farmers to Prevent and Mitigate Damage Caused by Fires
Sub-Saharan Africa
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Face to Face with Chancellor Gary S. May: Building Green Futures with a Mandela Washington Fellow
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Cameroon Justice Ngassa Speaks to CILC’s Global Audience About Protecting Women’s Rights
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Humphrey Fellowship Alumnus Earns Impact Award for Education and AntiPoaching Work
Europe •
Biodiversity Genomics Europe Aims to Reverse Biodiversity Loss
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Art History Professor Yonan Collaborates on UC/French Conference Supported by France-Berkeley Fund
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UC Davis Telehealth Leader James Marcin Collaborates with Ireland as Part of Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
Asia and the Pacific •
Government of Telangana and UC Davis Partner to Drive Zero Emission Vehicle Research and Knowledge Exchange
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APRU, UC Davis and Universiti Malaya Launch Third Cohort of Asia Pacific Women in Leadership Mentoring Program
Oceania
Middle East and North Africa •
Controlled Environment Engineering Lab receives U.S. - Egypt Collaborative Research Grants
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UC Davis Researchers Awarded $28M to Combat Rift Valley Fever Virus in Africa
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Times Higher Education Summit: Collaborating for Greatness in a Multidisciplinary World
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University of Adelaide and UC Davis Sign Agreement to Collaborate on Space Research, Viticulture and Enology and the Business of Wine
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TRANSFORMING GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS UC Davis Introduces Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows Joining Campus
(Nepal, 2022-23) and students participating in a First Year Aggie Connection—a collaboration between Global Affairs and Sustainability—discuss Sustainability—discuss solutions to resolve the climate change crisis as part of a negotiation simulation.
UC Davis welcomed its 31st cohort of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, Program, including 12 Fellows from 12 different countries.
Grant Supports New Humphrey Fellowship Enhancement Workshop
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. Karen Beardsley, director of Global Professional Programs at UC Davis Global Affairs, is a leader in GIS instruction who received a $25,000 grant from the Institute of International Education to provide a four-day GIS Enhancement Workshop for Humphrey Fellows.
Humphrey Fellows Put Students in the Driver’s Seat on Climate Action Emilio Edu Nguema (Equatorial Guinea, 2022-23), Rudo Chasi (Zimbabwe, 2022-23), Sushila Thing 11
The 2023 UC Davis Mandela Washington Fellowship UC Davis welcomed 25 Fellows from 15 African countries for its seventh cohort of the Mandela Washington Fellowship. For six weeks, Fellows participated in the Leadership in Public Management Institute at UC Davis, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. “Mandela Washington Fellows are making an enormous impact in their communities and the world. We are honored to guide, learn from and collaborate with them as we tackle critical issues, including climate, renewable energy, conservation, healthcare, women’s rights and education,” said Joanna Regulska, vice provost and dean of UC Davis Global Affairs.
APEC UNIVERSITY LEADERS’ FORUM Worldwide Leaders Convene to Protect and Advance Global Biodiversity UC DAVIS HOSTS APEC UNIVERSITY LEADERS’ FORUM
Nearly 100 international leaders convened at the APEC University Leaders’ Forum on November 13, 2023, in San Francisco for “Investing in Tomorrow’s Biodiversity,” a daylong event focused on sustaining and strengthening biodiversity amid climate change. Co-sponsored by the University of California, Davis, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, the event took place on the sidelines of the annual APEC CEO Summit. The forum included high-level conversations between CEOs, policy leaders, university presidents and top researchers to drive investment in biodiversity. The forum featured keynote addresses by Food Systems for the Future CEO and Managing Director Ertharin Cousin, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and
Agriculture, and by California Academy of Sciences Executive Director Scott Sampson. Four panel discussions focused on sustaining the evolving biodiversity landscape, strengthening the resilience of coastal communities, protecting water and investing in economic opportunity, and innovating food systems for the survival of the planet. “It’s our responsibility to take action in the face of devastating global biodiversity loss and climate change,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “As leaders, we must continue to drive breakthrough scientific research and collaborate on innovative solutions to preserve the health of our planet. By working together, we can mitigate the impact of biodiversity loss and protect our ecosystems for generations to come.” As universities continue to adapt and evolve in a rapidly changing world, this forum provided a crucial platform for fostering global leadership and innovation.
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TAKING CARE OF GLOBAL COMMUNITY International and Academic English
International and Academic English led Summer Start to ensure academic success for multilingual undergraduate students, provided intercultural communication opportunities through the Pal Program, delivered more than 2,200 one-on-one sessions through Language and Culture Coaching for graduate students and offered the Test of Oral English Proficiency to prospective teaching assistants.
Global Ambassador Mentorship Program Welcomes New International Undergraduate Students to UC Davis
As new first-year and transfer international undergraduate students adjust to their new home, they have the opportunity to receive mentorship, support and guidance through the Global Ambassador Mentorship Program, Program, administered by the Global Learning Hub and Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) within Global Affairs. “The transition to Davis is going to be different for each individual. Some will make a smooth transition, whereas others may face some hurdles... I am here as a mentor, friend, or peer advisor,” shares Trisha Talla, a Mentor Fellow and fourth-year biochemistry and molecular biology major.
Helping International Scholars Thrive at UC Davis Each year, UC Davis Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) provides day-to-day support and long-term expertise to around 10,000 international students and scholars—including scholars—including
Global Affairs staff, faculty and students provide programming and support to the UC Davis community to inspire and advance global curiosity, understanding and engagement. 13
accompanying family members—from more than 100 countries and six continents. “SISS serves as the campus resource for comprehensive immigration and visa advising and processing. Our experts help create a diverse and global community that supports the university’s teaching, research and outreach mission. This is our most critical service. Our international scholars greatly contribute to UC Davis’ success,” said Simone Kueltz, associate director of international scholar services.
Interactive Art Exhibit Highlights the International LGBTQIA+ Graduate Student Experience
Collaborative Partnership Supports International Students
Although no one expects to face academic probation and be subject to dismissal, it can happen to even the most prepared students. A partnership between Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) and the Strategic Asian and Pacific Islander Retention Initiative (SAandPIRI) is sharing resources and addressing cultural stigmas with a new series of quarterly meetings to support international students who are navigating academic probation and dismissal. The team shared their collaboration by submitting a poster that won the award for Best Poster: Model Practices in International Student and Scholar Services at the NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo in Washington, D.C.
International LGBTQIA+ graduate students encounter unique challenges and experiences navigating the UC Davis landscape. These experiences were translated into an interactive art installation by the Queer Trans Lab at the UC Davis LGBTQIA+ Resource Center, which was on display in the UC Davis International Center in Spring 2023. Alienation and Liminality: An Installation on International LGBTQIA+ Graduate Student Experiences on Campus was created by students Kait Murray, Santhoshi Ramanathan and Iris Xie, the inaugural recipients of the Global Aggies Award for LGBTQIA+ Rights, an annual award established through the generosity of former UC Davis Provost and Interim Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter and his husband, Manfred Kollmeier.
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TELLING GLOBAL STORIES Global Aggies: Extraordinary Abilities Lead to Permanent Residency
Beyond Vet School: A One Health Approach to Cheetah Conservation
Bob Kiaii, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at UC Davis Health, is an international expert in robotic heart surgery. Born in Iran, Kiaii immigrated to Canada as a child with his family. His path in medicine eventually brought him to UC Davis Health. Services for International Students and Scholars helped him on the journey to secure his O-1 Visa. Thanks to his international acclaim as a sought-after heart surgeon, Kiaii was also granted permanent residency based on his “Extraordinary Ability.”
Ruth Goins (D.V.M. veterinary medicine, ’23) participated in a Cheetah Conservation Fund Veterinary Internship in Namibia. In her blog, Ruth shares “Besides augmenting my veterinary knowledge, I learned a lot about the various threats to the natural world and its inhabitants. And I learned how a cohesive yet diverse group of people with strongly held convictions can function beautifully towards an end.” She participated in an intercultural leadership orientation provided by the Global Learning Hub, and reflected on her experience through her blog and a video screened at the annual School of Veterinary Medicine Global Programs Dinner.
Sophia at Sea: What Being a Global Citizen Means to Me “Global Aggies Sophia at Sea” Sea” is a blog series chronicling undergrad Sophia Mares de Juan’s journey as she traveled, by ship, around the world studying abroad in the Semester at Sea program.
Global Aggies: Project-Based Learning with Communities in Nepal
Sudikshya Bhandari (Ph.D., geography, ’24) participated in the Quarter Abroad Nepal— Community, Technology, and Sustainability program. 15
In her blog, Sudikshya writes “My experience in this program has been life-changing in many ways. This was the first time I worked with an interdisciplinary team. I realized the significance of working across disciplines while conducting community-engaged projects.” Sudikshya is one of approximately 1,000 UC Davis students who study or intern globally each year.
Global Aggies: UC Davis Summer Abroad Italy—Science of the Mind
Haley Vandermey (B.A. linguistics and psychology, ’23) participated in UC Davis Summer Abroad Italy, Science of the Mind. In her blog, Haley writes “Cognitive Neuroscience is a topic within psychology that I have often struggled with, but I knew that I would be even more highly motivated to learn within the context of study abroad. My biggest concern about the time and cost of studying abroad was whether or not I would be able to justify the cost of the program while also not being able to work during that time. Fortunately, I was chosen for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program as well as a Study Abroad Award through the Global Learning Hub.”
SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
Real Places of UCD is a video
series showing different places across the UC Davis campus where you can find your community and get the support you need. This episode explores Services for International Students and Scholars.
Global Learning 60 is a video
series where UC Davis students answer common questions—in 60 seconds—about global learning programs and opportunities available on campus, in the region, nationally and across the globe. In this video, video, a student answered some common questions regarding the UC Davis Global Studies Minor.
Thursday Thoughts is a weekly
Instagram feature with UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May and Leshelle May where they answer questions from students and community members. This episode was filmed at the Global Learning Hub.
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Helping Students Excel Evie White White is pursuing a degree in International Relations with a minor in Communications and Technology Management as she explores the many global learning pathways available to her through Global Affairs. She currently works as a communications student assistant, serves on the Global Affairs Advisory Council and spent this summer abroad interning in Spain. “Global Affairs has had an incredible impact on my college experience and brings together a community of people who strive to be leaders in this interconnected world.” Providing support to our students, like Evie, helps them access opportunities, programs and mentorship that prepare them to be the global leaders of tomorrow.
IMPACTS OF GIVING Thank you to our Global Affairs Advisory Council and all of our donors for their support in helping us achieve our mission. This past year, Global Affairs distributed more than $232,000 in philanthropic awards to 153 students.
globalaffairs.ucdavis.edu