UC Davis welcomes 12 Fellows in the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, a prestigious program that brings accomplished and exceptional mid-career professionals from around the world to host universities throughout the United States. The UC Davis cohort will spend the 2024-25 academic year strengthening their professional skills, improving their leadership abilities and engaging in meaningful collaboration and connections across campus. 

This is the 33rd cohort of Humphrey Fellows hosted by UC Davis. Since 1986, the university has welcomed 344 Humphrey Fellows from more than 100 countries. UC Davis is one of 13 universities that host the Humphrey Fellowship program, an initiative of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, which is administered by the Institute of International Education. Earlier in the year, UC Davis Global Affairs announced that the university had again secured a five-year grant to continue as a partner campus for the Humphrey Fellowship. 

A Global Group

“We are honored to once again be selected as a partner campus for the Humphrey Fellowship Program for the next five years. This cohort is outstanding, and we are eager to introduce them to the UC Davis and Davis communities,” said Jennie Konsella-Norene, associate director of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship in UC Davis Global Affairs. 

Fellows in the 2024-25 cohort have careers spanning many industries, including climate change, air quality, renewable energy, agriculture, public health and natural resources. The Fellows’ work directly addresses the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 goals adopted by all UN member states that aim to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. This year’s cohort represents 12 countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mexico, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam and Zambia.

The Year Ahead

“We look forward to the coming year as we get to know this cohort and learn about their interests, passions and career goals. Our Humphrey Fellowship program has many opportunities for Fellows to connect with campus and local professionals to grow their networks and enhance their professional development,” said Karen Beardsley, director of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program in UC Davis Global Affairs.  

Over the next nine months, the cohort will connect with campus partners, local non-profit organizations and government units as they explore collaborations, engage in community events, and attend and speak at conferences and seminars.  

“This is one of the most exciting times of the year,” said Joanna Regulska, vice provost and dean of UC Davis Global Affairs. “Our Humphrey Fellows will soon develop professional and personal connections that will take them through their time at UC Davis and beyond. This mutually beneficial and inspiring program provides critical opportunities to share, learn and engage with one another to build expertise and help solve pressing global challenges.” 

Connecting with the Fellows

Those interested in connecting and collaborating with the Humphrey Fellowship Program at UC Davis should contact Director Karen Beardsley at kbeardsley@ucdavis.edu or Associate Director Jennie Konsella-Norene at jknorene@ucdavis.edu. 

2024-25 UC Davis Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows :

• Gella Patria Abella, Philippines

• Begaim Alipova, Kyrgyzstan

• Ana Celis Hernandez, Mexico

• Forhat Chowdhury, Bangladesh

• Linda Lapiso Dilebo, Ethiopia

• Tung Do, Vietnam

• Laxmi Jha, Nepal

• Muki Nampokolwe, Zambia

• Seungcheol Shin, South Korea

• Abdourahamane Sow, Guinea

• Kunan Vesselly, Liberia