Global Aggies Blog

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 connections, and discovered new ways to make an impact in an increasingly interconnected world.

Supporting students from across the globe, Global Affairs’ Summer Start program offers early academic preparation, community building, and mentorship to incoming international undergraduate students.

The University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) Global Start Program offered at UC Davis is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for incoming Aggies to begin their university experience abroad.

From never leaving the country to studying human rights in Chile and conducting fieldwork in Rwanda, Chely Saens transformed her UC Davis experience into a global journey of purpose.

Aubrey Vanson, a third-year design major and art history minor, is passionate about creative expression and the role of design in everyday life. This past summer, she participated in the Design in Japan study abroad program to further explore how design and advertising can communicate meaning.

Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many. Luckily, there are many valuable experiences offered at UC Davis that allow Aggies to develop new perspectives, both academically and personally. Paola Simi, a current fourth-year majoring in Political Science, can attest to this fact after her recent time abroad.

Through the Global Grad Grant research track, Sungwon Heo, a Ph.D. candidate in Cultural Studies, conducted fieldwork on queer activism in Seoul, South Korea.

Andrea Solis Olguin’s journey from international and re-entry student to UC Davis civil engineering graduate highlights how resilience and global learning shaped her path, culminating in community-focused sustainability work in Mexico.

John Cadiz participated in the Korea University Climate Corps Program to examine South Korea’s approach to clean energy and transportation policy, gaining global insights that directly informed his PhD research on hydrogen infrastructure.

A six-week internship in New Zealand transformed Lauren Riggs’ understanding of mental health, blending hands-on clinical work with deep cultural immersion.