Global Learning Conference – Program

Joanna Regulska, Vice Provost and Dean, UC Davis Global Affairs
Joanna Regulska, vice provost and dean of Global Affairs and distinguished professor of gender, sexuality and women’s studies at the University of California, Davis, has led large-scale programs that transform institutions, establish partnerships, and substantially improve global services for over 30 years. In 2022, she was honored with the Charles Klasek Award for outstanding service to the field of international higher education from the Association of International Education Administrators. A respected scholar, Regulska’s research concentrates on women’s political activism, grassroots mobilization, decentralization, democracy and democratization, with a focus on Europe and the Caucasus.

Gary S. May, Chancellor, UC Davis
Chancellor Gary S. May is a highly engaged leader with a passion for helping others succeed. He believes success is best judged by how we enhance the lives of others. Throughout his career, he’s championed diversity, equity and inclusion in both higher education and the workplace. He developed nationally recognized programs that attract, mentor, and retain underrepresented groups in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. In 2015, President Obama honored him with the Presidential Award for Excellence in STEM Mentoring. May earned his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering and computer science at UC Berkeley.  

Marc Ross Manashil
The purpose of this session is to introduce the key ideas of adaptive leadership and their relevance at this time of uncertainty and global complexity. Challenging conventional thinking, we will present leadership as an activity rather than as a position and how this shift can bring about greater collaboration, compassion, equity and global impact across boundaries. We will focus on the concept of adaptation and three key questions we can use to accompany people in making needed change. To model the power of collaborative leadership and surfacing diverse perspectives, attendees will engage in an interactive exercise that they can use in their future careers and global changemaking work.

Sophia Mattingly
In this interactive workshop, students learn practical tools for navigating cultural and interpersonal differences in global learning settings. Through identity reflection, demonstrations, and small-group role-plays, participants explore how their identities shape communication and practice three strategies: Reflective Listening, Listen–Affirm–Respond, and Values-Based Communication. Students leave with a toolkit for fostering understanding, building trust, and engaging compassionately across differences. 

Bob Ritter
In this interactive session, participants will identify the fundamental personal values that define who they are and shape their decisions, actions and worldview. They will explore how global learning experiences can challenge assumptions, refine core values, and then connect both concepts to strategies for professional growth through an introduction to the concept of global workplace competencies.

David Wick
Who are you? Who are you when you go abroad? How does an international experience allow you to see your identities differently? What superpowers did you notice and develop when you were abroad? How can you use these to imagine and lead in your future? In this session, students will explore these questions and consider how their identities shaped their global learning experiences and what they learned from these experiences. Reflecting on stories or moments when they negotiated their intersecting identities abroad will allow students to determine how to create spaces of belonging, how to maintain global perspectives, and how to leverage what they learned abroad in their personal, academic, and professional pursuits.

Rasa Kent, Allyson Zeedrich, Randy Chester, Daniel Bailey, and Blaine Johnson

Former USAID officers present a participatory session on an empathetic, community-centered approach to global problem solving. Through hands-on design exercises modeled on international development practice, students learn to center the lived experiences, cultural contexts, and priorities of communities affected by development challenges. By practicing problem definition grounded in listening, humility, and partnership, participants develop the mindset and skills needed to lead with compassion across cultures. The session also highlights how collaborative development work can serve as a form of ethical global leadership, strengthening international relationships while addressing shared challenges such as climate change, food security, and public health.

Dr. Jai Apate
Many undergraduate students feel they don’t yet have a “real story” to tell or that they lack the kind of important life or work experiences that seem worth sharing. This workshop begins by gently questioning that assumption. What if the moments that feel ordinary, awkward, or unfinished are already full of insight? Using the Memorable Moment Method, students explore everyday experiences, figuring something out the hard way. They navigate differences, adapting to new environments, getting lost and finding their footing again to be able to shape them into short, personal stories. Through writing, sharing, and listening, participants practice speaking across differences. They notice how identity, place, and movement shape the way stories are told and heard. The session is reflective, dialogic, and low-pressure. While these stories may later be useful in interviews or applications, the deeper aim is confidence and connection: helping students recognize that they already carry meaningful experiences, and that the most local moments often travel the farthest.

Justin Owens
Global leadership isn’t defined by where you’ve been—it’s defined by how you lead across difference. In this interactive session, participants will uncover the global experiences they already have and translate them into compassionate leadership actions with real-world impact. Using visual slides that define core global leadership skills and a guided participant worksheet, attendees will reflect individually, collaborate in small groups, and map experiences to skills to actions. The session emphasizes empathy, cultural humility, adaptability, ethical decision-making, and collaboration, helping participants connect personal goals to broader global impact they can apply immediately in their academic, professional, or community roles.

Ken Barnes and Mike Hower

A meaningful sustainability career rarely follows a straight plan. Instead, it’s built through curiosity, adaptation and a commitment to purpose even when the path isn't clear. This session explores how to stay stubborn about your goals while staying flexible about your methods, why some of the best career moves look like mistakes at the time and what it actually takes to find your footing when sustainability careers rarely look like anyone expected. You’ll also learn how to use campus resources to start building a purpose‑aligned career in sustainability, whether you’re just beginning to explore the field or already wondering how to chart your next steps.

Renetta Garrison Tull is Vice Chancellor for Inclusive Excellence and adjunct professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, at UC Davis. Read full bio.

Jessica Vollmer, Senior Environmental Scientist with California’s Nutria Eradication Program, applies expertise in ecology and GIS to support wildlife management and conservation efforts. Read full bio.

Sandra Perez is an experienced leader in healthcare policy and public service, with decades of work advancing access to care and shaping future leaders across California and beyond. Read full bio.

Shourav Yathindranath is a data engineer who builds scalable pipelines and analytic tools to turn complex data into actionable insights across industries.. Read full bio.

Rosemarie Scharf
Rosemarie Scharf is a Clinical Trials Manager leading a first-in-human Rift Valley Fever vaccine study in Tanzania, with expertise in global health research and cross-cultural public health. Read full bio.

Katie Ranney, Assistant Ombuds at UC Davis, specializes in conflict resolution and mediation, bringing extensive experience in facilitation and program development. Read full bio.

Aaron Forburger is a California State Assembly staffer specializing in climate, energy, and public policy, with international experience in education and service. Read full bio.

Allyson Zeedrich is a public health leader and former USAID Foreign Service Officer who now manages adolescent and maternal health programs for California. Read full bio.

Blaine Johnson is an energy and policy expert with experience across USAID, BCG, and government, advancing clean energy and infrastructure initiatives. Read full bio.

Justin Owens is a global business transformation leader at IBM specializing in human-centered design and digital innovation across industries. Read full bio.

Farid Ismayilzada is an entrepreneur and investor leading global ventures in advanced materials and technology, focused on building scalable, innovative companies. Read full bio.

Kadi Kenk is a sustainability consultant and PhD candidate researching circular economy systems and recycling policy, including California’s SB54. Read full bio.

Lokesh Sikaria is a venture capitalist and founder of Moneta Ventures, backing early-stage technology companies and scaling high-growth businesses. Read full bio.