First Name

Kelly Mae Heroux

Field of Study

Soils and Biogeochemistry

Class Standing

Third Year

Graduation Year

2026

Virtual or In-Person

In-Person

Program Title, Location, Duration

Global Grad Grant Research Track & Global Leadership Pathway, Davis, CA

What motivated or led you to participate in your study abroad, global internship, on-campus global leadership or other global learning program?

Before entering graduate school, I had the privilege of leading an initiative I named the Giving Garden. With the help of a small grant, I planted a garden in which I hosted workshops on gardening and food preservation, and all the produce from the garden was donated to a local food bank. The experience reaffirmed my belief in the power of local food systems to address food security and foster community. Food, in my view, has always been more than sustenance; it is a way to build connections, share knowledge and strengthen the bonds between people and nature. Whether in the garden or the kitchen, food can serve as a bridge between individuals, cultures, and the environment.

This passion led me to UC Davis, where, for the past two years, I have grown an acre of assorted crops as part of my doctoral research on agrivoltaics. I only use a small fraction of the crops for my research, and the rest is left in the field. This year, I was motivated to apply for the Global Grad Grant in order to bring the ethos of the Giving Garden into my field research.

What was your experience like in this program? What did you learn from your experience: interacting with other people and cultures; academics; addressing global challenges; and/or developing global skills and leadership?

Living and working in Yolo County has reinforced the idea that global challenges are often best addressed at the local level. I moved here to research agrivoltaics as one solution to the food-water-energy nexus within the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, I was struck to learn that despite having some of the most agriculturally productive soils in the world, Yolo is ranked as the most food insecure county in the state.

Similarly to how the phrase “be the change you wish to see in the world” suggests starting within to make change throughout, I learned from my experience that addressing global issues can begin locally. Without leaving the county, my service project created opportunities for collaboration across diverse groups from academia, non-profits and local organizations. I saw that impactful initiatives can come from bridging local sectors. Being in the university community provided opportunities to work with folks from many other countries. Engaging with people from different backgrounds and perspectives has deepened my understanding of how shared global goals can be pursued through local partnerships. I've learned that leadership in addressing global challenges requires adaptability, empathy and the ability to unite stakeholders from various walks of life. This approach has shaped my view of global citizenship, giving me the experience of supporting meaningful change that starts from within communities and expands outward.

What was the most challenging part of your program and the most rewarding?

The most challenging part of my project, as well as the most rewarding, was working with others. Each human contains within them a lifetime of personal experiences, identities, culture and positioning that give them, among other things, a unique perspective, voice and values. Collaborating across sectors means negotiating differences to make progress toward a unifying goal. Fostering an environment of safety, respect, collaboration and comradery amongst this diversity requires I critically question my own perspective and be ready to think in new ways, but that stretching is expansive in both my mind and heart, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

What’s one of your most memorable experiences from your program?

I organized a potluck to celebrate the end of the field research season. Attendees were invited to bring a dish that was both meaningful to them, e.g., a family recipe or traditional dish from their home country, and which included some of the produce from the field. The result was an incredible, eclectic buffet of international cuisine. We all shared a lovely, relaxed evening with games and laughter. It was great to see how, in yet another way, the crops helped bring people together.

What was a typical day like on your program?

I had a lot of varying responsibilities throughout the season, so describing a typical day beyond “busy” is difficult. One thing I tried to be consistent with was checking in with my team at the start of each day. I communicated upcoming tasks and encouraged personal check-ins while stretching. This practice helped build trust and strengthen relationships. It fostered a supportive work environment by encouraging empathy and making team members feel seen and valued beyond their roles in the project. I believe this contributed to improved morale, collaboration and overall team cohesion.

What advice do you have for someone considering your program or a global experience, in general? What would you like to share with students who might have similar identities or experiences as you?

There is an idea in systems theory that the whole is contained in every part, meaning that each component of a system encapsulates aspects of the entire system. Similarly, our local communities and ecosystems are interrelated and interdependent parts of a global system, and a better understanding of the global system can often be gleaned from examining these local aspects. When considering global experiences, I’d invite others to first look internally and locally. The Global Grad Grant and Global Leadership training provided me with a meaningful opportunity to better understand myself in a global context without traveling, as well as the opportunity to apply my efforts toward positive change within my local community, understanding its inextricable connection to global systems.

What was your biggest concern in regards to participating in the program? Were you able to overcome that concern, and if so, how? What advice would you give someone who has similar concerns?

I was concerned that adding a service component to my research project would be too ambitious and that doing so would compromise the quality of both my research and service goals. My concerns were valid; it was a struggle for me and my team to keep up, and all my goals for both endeavors were not met. However, having limited resources alongside lofty goals required that I challenge myself and my team to step up to new levels, trust others, and practice flexibility and adaptability. In the end, everything I’d hoped we would do was not done, but what we did do was incredible! I witnessed our team expand well beyond the bounds of our comfort zones, connect with and take care of each other, and do meaningful work advancing progress toward the UN’s SDGs both locally and through globally applicable research. If I were to be asked for advice, I’d suggest folks prioritize taking care of each other. I’ve found that when people feel seen, safe and cared for, they look out for each other, and help one another rise together to overcome challenges.

What is something you wish you knew before joining the program? If knowing this previously, how do you think this would have impacted your experience?

I underestimated how much time it can take to coordinate with others. If I had a better sense of reply times for email, I would have reached out to potential collaborators further in advance. If I had known this previously, I suspect the community events I organized would have had more diverse representation.

How do you think your program experiences will benefit you in the future—thinking academically, future career goals, or personally?

My experience creating and managing my own service project with the support of the UC Davis Global Grad Grant has certainly added valuable experience in project management and getting to know more about food systems in Yolo County. I was especially impressed to learn more about the programs within UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and the great work they do in bridging the scientific community with Yolo County and beyond. Many of the folks I worked with expressed interest in continuing to collaborate and/or keeping in touch, and I look forward to that.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I conducted my service project with the Global Grad Grant while also participating in the Global Leadership Pathway and Widening Circles program. These opportunities together allowed me to engage critically with what service means to me, where the impulse to serve comes from and how best to be of service. I was also able to consider power dynamics, explore how best I can work with others, deepen my sense of cultural humility, and practice new ways of leadership and collaboration. I am grateful for the opportunity to do this work, for the people and institutions that made it possible, and for the folks who joined and supported me through the summer. I’m inspired by the prospect of what we can accomplish together and by the harmony that exists in all our diversity.