Global Education for All

Congratulations, Class of 2021

In celebration of your hard work, dedication, resilience, and determination, Services for International Students and Scholars and Global Affairs has a special message for the graduating international students in the Class of 2021.

Chidubem Nnaji wins Donald A. Strauss Foundation Scholarship

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.

Global Aggies: Bridging Technical and Cross-Cultural Skills to Improve Access to Clean Water

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.

Regulska takes lead on shaping international education

Joanna Regulska, the vice provost and dean of Global Affairs at UC Davis, is among 23 international educators inducted this spring into the inaugural class of the National Academy for International Education, an honorary society and think tank charged with shaping the future of international education.

UC Davis Takes Top Spot for Diversity in National Rankings

The University of California, Davis, has taken top spot among universities in the nation for its inclusiveness, diversity and internationalization in rankings released today (May 5). In the second annual QS USA University Rankings, UC Davis ranked sixth overall among public universities (34th among all institutions) in the nation and fourth among public universities (seventh among all universities) in California. In the diversity and internationalization category, the campus tied for top spot with the private New York University; last year it also tied for first in the category with New York University and UCLA.

Utilizing Education Abroad Alumni with Intentionality to Increase Students’ Access and Engagement

Alumni engagement is one of the most powerful tools the field of international education has, but it is an often-overlooked piece of the education abroad experience. University of California-Davis (UC Davis) recently expanded the traditional returnee conference model and created the Global Learning Conference, which was open to all students interested in solving global issues—whether they had done a formal study abroad program or not. By actively bringing together study abroad participants, international students, first-generation college students, and students who have navigated intercultural spaces, the conference expanded each attendees’ network and knowledge in myriad ways. The conference launched in 2020 with more than 150 attendees, and participation is expected to double this year.