UC Davis Global Affairs

There’s so much to celebrate, Aggies! Thanks to those who were able to attend the Global Aggies Graduation Celebration earlier this month. Swipe through some photos from the event. Congratulations to you all!

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Image Descriptions:
1. Two graduates stand side by side, smiling for a photo while holding playful graduation-themed props. One wears star-shaped glasses topped with graduation caps, while the other holds oversized decorative glasses on a stick. Both wear graduation gowns and Global Affairs stoles. The blue UC Davis Global Affairs backdrop behind them creates a festive graduation photo booth setting.
2. Several students stand around a large table covered with colorful stickers, markers, scissors, paper, and graduation caps. They look through supplies and work on decorating their caps. The Global Learning Hub entrance is visible in the background.
3. A graduate stands smiling in front of a blue UC Davis Global Affairs step-and-repeat backdrop. They wear a navy graduation gown and a navy and gold Global Aggies stole while holding a glittery gold sign that reads “Just Graduated.” A photographer appears out of focus in the foreground, capturing the portrait.
4. A graduate poses for a portrait in full graduation regalia, including a navy gown and a black-and-gold Global Affairs stole. They stand in front of a blue UC Davis Global Affairs backdrop and smile toward the camera. Natural light from nearby windows brightens the scene.
5. Three students stand around a table covered with craft materials, including pom-poms, scissors, and a glue gun. One student appears to be assembling a decorative item while the others select materials. Sunlight streams through large windows behind them.

Congratulations to all the graduating Aggies! You’ve all worked incredibly hard to reach this major milestone, and it’s inspiring to see everything you’ve accomplished. We hope you have an amazing commencement weekend surrounded by friends, family and celebration. Cheers to you and what’s next, wherever you go in the world!

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Image Description: A graduate in academic regalia smiles and waves while walking across the commencement stage. A faculty member stands behind them, with other graduates and attendees visible in the background.

Meet Judi Eppele, a UC Davis graduate student whose passion for climate education and sustainability is creating impact both locally and globally.

From leading an SDG Symposium and serving as a Global Impact Fellow to studying sustainable cities in Northern Europe, Judi has embraced opportunities that connect environmental action with global learning. This summer, she will represent UC Davis at the International Students Summit on Food, Agriculture and Environment in Japan and the Universitas 21 School for Sustainable Policy Leadership in Canada.

Read more about Judi's inspiring environmental efforts: https://globalaffairs.ucdavis.edu/news/scholar-world-judi-eppeles-inspiring-environmental-efforts

UC Davis | College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UC Davis

Image Description: Judi Eppele sits smiling while on a field trip in Copenhagen in front of flower beds and ivy-covered brick buildings with large windows.

Scholar of the World: Judi Eppele’s Inspiring Environmental Efforts From leading UC Davis’s inaugural SDG Symposium to studying sustainable cities across Northern Europe, graduate student Judi Eppele is turning her passion for environmental education into global action. Discover how her experiences at UC Davis are preparing her to tackle climate and sustainability...

Join us at the Summer Open House for Students, Scholars and Families at International House Davis. Learn about the I-House Summer Learning Program and discover resources and opportunities designed to help the international community in Davis feel welcome and at home. Meet fellow community members, learn about upcoming activities and enter our raffle to win Summer Learning Program passes.

June 10, noon to 1 p.m. at I-House, 10 College Park.

Register today: https://goglobal.ucdavis.edu/register/?id=f8933675-47d4-4a3c-ba90-441614afc736

Image Description: Two women smile and string beads as part of a craft. They sit at a long table in a community room at International House Davis. In the background, another pair is sitting and working on the same craft, and two other pairs are standing while having conversations.

What happens when leaders from around the world bring their experiences and expertise to UC Davis?

At this year’s Humphrey Fellowship Ignite Talks, Fellows from eight countries shared powerful reflections on leadership, resilience, community and global challenges, creating meaningful opportunities for learning and dialogue.

Programs like the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship enrich the UC Davis community by connecting students, faculty and staff with international perspectives that strengthen research, education and cross-cultural understanding. Those exchanges don’t just benefit our campus. They help build the global relationships and collaborative leadership that serve communities in the U.S. and around the world.

Read more about the 2025–26 Humphrey Fellows and their Ignite Talks:

Humphrey Fellows Leave an Impact With Their 2026 Ignite Talks Shared experiences transcend borders, cultures and languages, shaping how people connect, process the world and find meaning in everyday life. Eight visiting Humphrey Fellows shared some of those universal themes in the Ignite Talk series this spring at International House Davis, delivering brief TE...

Looking to connect, unwind, and meet fellow international scholars?

Join us for the SISS Scholar Coffee Break, a welcoming virtual space for international faculty, visiting researchers, and the UC Davis community to connect, network, and build meaningful connections.

When: June 4, 2026
Time: 9:00–10:00 AM
Where: Zoom

Don’t miss out, join the conversation and register here: https://siss.ucdavis.edu/events/siss-scholar-coffee-break-june-2026

Image Description: A group of attendees sits around a table engaged in conversation in a meeting room. The bottom right corner displays the UC Davis Services for International Students and Scholars logo.

From the streets of Perugia to the global stage, jazz becomes more than music in UC Davis Professor Pierpaolo Polzonetti’s new documentary, Umbria Jazz Feast. The film explores how jazz, food and culture come together during Italy’s renowned Umbria Jazz Festival, creating moments of connection across traditions, generations and borders.

Read more at: https://globalaffairs.ucdavis.edu/news/umbria-jazz-feast-where-global-sounds-meet-italian-streets

UC Davis | UC Davis College of Letters and Science

Image Description: Giulio Angrisani plays the flugelhorn late at night in a square in Perugia, Italy.

From healthcare equity to study abroad preparation, the 2026 Global Learning Conference brought students together to explore what it means to lead with compassion in a connected world.

Hosted by the Global Learning Hub at the UC Davis International Center, the conference created space for students to build professional skills, exchange ideas and strengthen their global perspectives.

Read more about this year’s conference and student takeaways:

The 2026 Global Learning Conference: Gearing Up for a World of Connection The 2026 Global Learning Conference brought students together to explore what it means to become compassionate global leaders through inspiring presentations, networking, and hands-on learning. From healthcare equity to study abroad preparation, attendees gained valuable insights, built meaningful c...

Starting their UC Davis journey with Global Affairs’ Summer Start program, Manasa (Mana) Rajnath and Yian (Patrick) Liao built a strong foundation for academic success, community and global connection.

Designed for incoming international students, Summer Start offers early preparation through coursework, mentorship and hands-on experiences. Today, both students remain actively involved on campus, mentoring others and helping to foster the same sense of community that shaped their start at UC Davis.

Learn more about their journey at: https://globalaffairs.ucdavis.edu/news/summer-start-world-preparation-and-collaboration

UC Davis | College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UC Davis | UC Davis College of Biological Sciences

Summer Start: A World of Preparation and Collaboration Supporting students from across the globe, Global Affairs’ Summer Start program offers early academic preparation, community building, and mentorship to incoming international undergraduate students. Embarking on this unique opportunity, third-year undergraduates Manasa (Mana) Rajnath and Yian (Pa...