Joanna Regulska, Vice Provost and Dean, UC Davis Global Affairs

Joanna Regulska, Vice Provost and Dean of Global Affairs and Professor of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s studies at the University of California, Davis, has led large-scale programs that transform institutions, establish collaborative partnerships, and substantially improve globally focused services for over 30 years. Regulska oversees Global Affairs at UC Davis, where she strives to provide all students with global learning experiences through a Provost’s Priority of Global Education for All; engage faculty, staff, and students with the UN Sustainable Development Goals as part of UC Davis’s commitment to solving global challenges; and help promote understanding and address global inequities. 

Chancellor Gary S. May, 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.

Aaron Brieno, Chief of Staff, California State Senator Melissa Hurtado; Director, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law’s Legislative & Public Policy Clinic

Aaron Brieno presently serves as Chief of Staff to California State Senator Melissa Hurtado (SD-16) and Director of the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law’s Legislative & Public Policy Clinic. Aaron has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Masters of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.

​​​​As the grandson of Mexican migrant farmworkers, Aaron was born and raised in California’s rural San Joaquin Valley. The social disparities that observed growing up in the San Joaquin Valley instilled in him a passion for implementing social change through social activism, the law, and political engagement.

In 2016, Aaron founded Inspire California, a community-based organization that provides free college prep resources, scholarships, mentoring and college campus tours to high school students from Central Valley migrant farm working families. Inspire California has organized free trips to Stanford University, Fresno State, USC, Sacramento State, the California State Capitol, the Golden 1 Center and Google's global headquarters in Mountain View, California.

Aaron is an admitted member of the California Bar and presently lives in Sacramento. Aaron is very engaged in his Sacramento community and in 2021 Aaron was selected by the Sacramento Business Journal as a 40 under 40 recipient.

Randeep Kullar, Partnership Director, Diversity Initiatives, CEA CAPA Education Abroad

Randeep is a Career Counselor and International Educator who currently serves as a Partnership Director, Diversity Initiatives at CEA CAPA: Education Abroad. Her role gives her the opportunity to support institutions around the U.S in creating and supporting international programming for their students. Randeep spent the first part of her career developing global internship programs at UC Berkeley. She transitioned to supporting international institutions in creating experiential learning programs with CIEE and then returned to UC Berkeley to support adult learners with their career journeys, prior to returning to international education with CEA CAPA.  

Olivia Rosso, Academic Relations Representative, World Endeavors

Olivia recently graduated from Chico State in 2023 with degrees in Political Science and Psychology and is brand new to the international education field. She studied abroad in Cork, Ireland in the Spring of 2022 and worked at her university’s 2 international office the following year, developing a passion for international education. She now works as an Academic Representative for World Endeavors and Kaya Responsible Travel and is living out her dream of sharing her passion for traveling with students. She has visited 18 countries and has a huge bucket list of countries to visit in the future. 

Katie Davidson, Director of Academic Relations - Study Abroad, World Endeavors

Dr. Katie Davidson started working with World Endeavors in January 2024 after taking a five-year break from the field of International Education to open a brewery in her hometown. Prior to the break, she was Director of the International Center at the University of North Dakota. Katie knew she wanted to work in Study Abroad after spending a semester in Florence her sophomore year of college. After graduating with her BA in Philosophy she earned her MBA, specializing in International Business, and her PhD in Higher Education Administration, all from Iowa State. Her dissertation research focused on the skills students develop while abroad that make them most employable and which activities abroad result in the greatest amount of growth. Spoiler alert: it's self-reflection!

Kimberly Bellows, Experiential and Intercultural Programs Senior Analyst, UC Davis Global Learning Hub

Kimberly works in the UC Davis Global Learning Hub as an Experiential and Intercultural Programs Senior Analyst. She is passionate about developing and facilitating programs that help students make connections and see the world through a globally aware lens. Prior to joining UC Davis, Kimberly coordinated short term faculty-led study abroad programs at another university, and before that she worked on programs at a peace and reconciliation centre in Northern Ireland. She has also worked for a member of the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. and taught English in Chile. She graduated from UC Davis with a degree in International Relations with a minor in Spanish and has a MA in International Education Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. 

Emeline Diolot-Bobalik, Program Services Coordinator, UC Davis Global Learning Hub

Emeline Diolot-Bobalik grew up in France where she completed a B.A in British and American Literatures and Cultures before moving to the United States to pursue an M.A and a Ph.D in French and Francophone Studies. Over the course of her life, she has traveled, lived and worked in various countries. She also became fluent in German, English, Italian and is currently learning Spanish and Korean. Global Education has been part of her life for over a decade, and she is committed to guiding students in their exploration of cultures throughout the world.

Lisa Laughter, MA, ACC, Senior Career Coach, UC Davis Human Resources, Learning & Development

Lisa Laughter is a professional life coach and motivational speaker. She currently serves as the Senior Career Coach at the University of California–Davis after 22 years at Washington State University serving in a variety of academic advising and higher education administrative capacities. Lisa has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master of Arts in Education. Lisa is a multi-faceted, passionate trainer, manager, mentor and coach with in-depth experience working with constituents from a diversity of backgrounds and life experiences.

Natalie Coveyduck, Director, People and Operations, International Business Seminars

Natalie is extremely passionate about international education and personal development. A former study abroad student herself, she received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and graduate degree from the University of Westminster. Her time abroad truly changed her life direction, and Natalie dedicated her entire career to developing and administering innovative and inclusive programs for students and employees at various study abroad organizations, higher education institutions, and Fortune 500 companies both in the United Kingdom and United States. She is now the Director of People and Operations at International Business Seminars, based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Celeste Yarlagadda, Program Manager, International Business Seminars

Celeste has worked in the international education field for over 6 years. As a first-generation student at Arizona State University, Celeste interned with the State Department in Paris and studied abroad in Australia. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from UMKC. Celeste is currently a Program Manager with International Business Seminars, where she designs and leads study abroad programs with university partners. She previously worked as a career coach for students preparing to participate in international internships and has facilitated courses designed to help students reflect on their global experiences. 

Hannah Cole, Program Manager, International Business Seminars

Hannah currently works as a Program Manager with International Business Seminars. With over nine years of experience in higher education, leading study abroad programs, and teaching Global Marketing at Texas A&M University, Hannah combines her passion for student success with a deep love for traveling, outdoor adventures, and exploration. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Texas A&M University, Hannah hopes to blend her research with her passion for taking students abroad.

Grady Foster, Enrollment Manager, International Business Seminars

Grady has been working in the field of international education since 2017. As a student, he participated in multiple study abroad programs, including a Freshman Year Abroad program at Florida State University and earned his master’s degree in international education from Universidad Alcala de Henares in Madrid, Spain. These experiences weren't just about studying and learning abroad; they transformed his perspective and prepared him for a career in global education to guide more students towards experiences abroad. He currently works as the Manager of Enrollment at International Business Seminars.

Jolynn Shoemaker, Director, Global Engagements, UC Davis Global Affairs

Jolynn Shoemaker is the Director of Global Engagements in Global Affairs at UC Davis. In this role, she is leading the global engagement on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Centers Initiative and working on a variety of other strategic UC Davis international initiatives. She is also a consultant and writer on gender equality in international peace and security policy. She is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Our Secure Future: Women Make the Difference, a program of the One Earth Future, where she focuses on research and advocacy on the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.

Shagufta Fatema, Lecturer, UC Davis ME/SA Studies

Shagufta Fatema's academic journey began as a Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant at the University of California, Davis in 2011-2012. She later completed a Ph.D. in Indian English Literature, focusing on the connection between politics and literature, particularly the works of Shashi Tharoor. Shagufta's dedication extends to her role as a language educator, where she shares her expertise in Hindi and Urdu Languages and its culture with students, and she also teaches a course on Indian culture and cuisine. Her commitment to linguistic diversity, cross-cultural understanding, and the power of literature is evident in her multifaceted role as a researcher and educator. 

Ken Barnes, Assistant Director, UC Davis Career Center

Ken Barnes is an Assistant Director at the UC Davis Career Center and sees students interested in International opportunities and Student Employment. He graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Managerial Economics. He is also vice president of the Robla School District Board of Trustees in Sacramento, California. Through his education and experience, he has worked hard to keep students connected with the complex worlds of business, politics, education, and law.

Randeep Kullar, Partnership Director, Diversity Initiatives, CEA CAPA Education Abroad

Randeep is a Career Counselor and International Educator who currently serves as a Partnership Director, Diversity Initiatives at CEA CAPA: Education Abroad. Her role gives her the opportunity to support institutions around the U.S in creating and supporting international programming for their students. Randeep spent the first part of her career developing global internship programs at UC Berkeley. She transitioned to supporting international institutions in creating experiential learning programs with CIEE and then returned to UC Berkeley to support adult learners with their career journeys, prior to returning to international education with CEA CAPA.

Johanna Abasto, Marketing and Communications, International House, UC Davis

Johanna Abasto, originally from Argentina, has called Davis home for six years. Holding an MBA and a BA in Marketing, she is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Johanna's marketing journey includes marketing management roles at local food companies like the Davis Food Co-op, Raley's Companies, and Blue Diamond Growers, where she champions sustainable, locally sourced food. Currently Johanna runs Marketing and Communications at International House Davis. Additionally, Johanna is gearing up to launch her own Argentinian empanadas business. In her downtime, she enjoys tennis and exploring nature with family.

Baigalmaa Chinbat, UC Davis Fellow, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

Baigalmaa Chinbat is a sustainable finance professional with more than 15 years of experience in the renewable energy and financial and accounting areas. Her working experience includes public-private partnerships and finance planning of renewable energy projects and trading in the carbon markets. She also engages closely with professional accounting organizations to implement international financial reporting standards nationwide. In the last decade, Baigalmaa worked at the Clean Energy LLC, where she managed the entire financial operation of the Mongolian first wind farm, named Salkhit Wind Farm.

Brian Hom, Technical Account Manager, RTB House; Double MS in Business Analytics and Global Entrepreneurial Management

Brian Hom currently works as a Technical Account Manager at RTB House, a global company that provides state-of-the-art retargeting technology for top brands worldwide. He received his bachelor’s from UC Merced in Business Economics and Management, focusing primarily on economic and statistical research within local communities. Afterward, he pursued a Master's in Global Entrepreneurial Management, a joint program between the University of San Francisco, IQS in Barcelona and Fujian University in Taipei. 

Brian Vargas, Manager of Veterans Resources Center & Services; Veteran; MSW

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Brian joined the Marines straight out of high school in 2005. He was stationed with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines Lima Company, in 29 Palms. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, landing in Iraq in September 2006. On January 17, 2007, while on a three-day mission in the city of Hit, Brian was shot in the face and hand by a sniper, causing long term chronic injuries. He was medically evacuated and spent 30 days receiving treatment at Walter Reed Hospital. On August 30, 2009, Brian was medically retired from the Marine Corps with a Purple Heart. He spent his community college time at Diablo Valley College where he was a key component in establishing Veterans Resource Centers at the three Contra Costa Community College campuses.

Robb Davis, Assistant Director, Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center at UC Davis

Robb Davis is the Assistant Director at the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center at UC Davis, where his portfolio includes developing programming for housing-insecure students. Before coming to the Basic Needs Center, he worked for the Center Student Involvement and served as the Impact and Innovation Officer at Yolo Food Bank (YFB), where he leads assessments of the nutritional quality of the food YFB distributes, developed a nutrition policy, and supported the development of a county-wide food security policy. During his time at the Food Bank, he also supported the Healthy Davis Together initiative, focusing on testing and vaccination for underserved populations.

Pablo Reguerín, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, UC Davis Student Affairs

As vice chancellor, Pablo Reguerín oversees the nearly 30 units that make up the Division of Student Affairs, including programs and partnerships that promote student learning and success, personal growth, and lifelong education. Reguerín earned his doctorate in education from the UC Davis School of Education CANDEL (Capitol Area North Doctorate in Educational Leadership) Program in 2017, with a dissertation titled, “Graduating Students of Color: An Analysis of Public Four-Year HSI and Non-HSI in California.” He has served as principal investigator on multiple U.S. Department of Education Hispanic Serving Institution, or HSI, Title V and Title III grants, totaling more than $15 million. 

Sandra Perez, Former Director, UC CA Program Access to Care, CA Office Patient Advocate Member, Global Affairs Advisory Council

Sandra Perez has a three-decade career spanning healthcare, policy, higher education, and government affairs. Culminating her career, she was Director of the UC California Program on Access to Care at UC Berkeley where she bridged academia with policy-making to improve healthcare for the underserved. Previously she had served six years as the governor-appointed Patient Advocate for California. At Sacramento State University, Sandra oversaw the renowned California Executive Fellowship Program, shaping future leaders. Beyond academia, she navigated politics, working in the California State Legislature as staff for elected officials and as a consultant in the California Senate Office of Research.

Dr. Fadi A. Fathallah, Professor and Chair, UC Davis Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Fadi Fathallah is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at UC Davis. Professor Fathallah has over 30 years of experience conducting basic and applied research on ergonomics, biomechanics, and occupational health and safety related to workers in various industries, including farmworkers in the past two decades. At UC Davis, he has previously served as Faculty Director of Study Abroad and Associate Vice Provost for Global Education and Services within Global Affairs. ​​​

Dr. Andrew Tam, Oncology Clinical Pharmacist, UC Davis Medical Center

Dr. Andrew Tam is an inpatient oncology clinical pharmacist at UC Davis Medical Center. He completed a B.S. in Chemistry in 2015 and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Michigan in 2019. Afterwards, he completed a post-graduate residency in Pharmacy Practice at Michigan Medicine in 2020. He then escaped the raging winters of the Midwest and moved to the west coast to complete an Oncology Pharmacy residency at UCSF in 2021. Dr. Tam collaboratively works with doctors, advanced practitioners, and nurses to care for patients with a variety of different cancers as well as assist in the Acute Infections Management (AIM) clinic.

Joel Lovinger, Lead Senior Software Engineer, Particle Inc.

Joel Lovinger graduated in 2006 from Washington State University with two B.S. degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics. He took a job with Digi International, which had an office in Davis, working on embedded microcomputers for IoT. When the office closed in 2012, he began contracting independently based on relationships and contacts he had developed while working for Digi International. He stopped contracting and took another full-time job with Particle based in San Francisco in 2018 and has been working for them ever since. His career has primarily focused on developing firmware for embedded IoT applications, including commercial kitchen fryers, energy monitoring systems, spas, traffic light controllers, dental equipment, smart HVAC vents and much more.​​​

Shirley Wu, Registered Nurse, St. Davis's Surgical Hospital

Shirley Wu is a Medical-Surgical/Surgical Care Registered Nurse at St. David's Surgical Hospital. She completed her B.S. in Clinical Nutrition from the University of California, Davis, and afterward decided to pursue a career in nursing. After completing her nursing prerequisites and working as both a Certified Nursing Assistant and Medical Assistant in San Francisco, Shirley applied for the Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing program offered by Concordia University at their Austin, Texas campus. Upon completion of the program and passing the National Council Licensure Exam, Shirley began her nursing career at St. David's North Austin Medical Center's Emergency Department. 

Karen Klimowski, Development Diplomat in Residence - West, Residence USAID

Karen Klimowski, a career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, currently serves Development Diplomat in Residence - West, based in Long Beach, California. She has worked in the field of development for over 30 years. Most recently, she served as the Deputy Mission Director for USAID/India; and also served as a foreign service officer in the Philippines, Uganda, Kenya, and Indonesia, focusing on complex development challenges in health, education, economic empowerment, good governance, environment, and clean energy.​​​

Teron McGrew, San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development

Teron McGrew, M.S., Ph.D., Candidate's commitment to serve her community is stimulated by her background.  She is a native of Oakland, California. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavioral Science (1989) and a Master of Science (1991) in Urban and Community Development from the University of California Davis. She holds a professional certificate in construction and sustainability management from the University of California Berkeley (UCB) Extension Program Climate and Climate Stewardship at the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (2023).  

Sheila Gwaltney, Retired U.S. Ambassador

Sheila Gwaltney was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic where she served from 2015-2017. Previously, she served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Moscow from 2011-2014. Before that assignment, she served as Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg (2008-2011). Ms. Gwaltney joined the State Department in 1984 and held a variety of positions. She served as Deputy Director for the Office of Russian Affairs at the Department of State, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, and Director of Country Affairs for Eurasia in the Office of the Coordinator for Assistance to Europe and Eurasia. 

Maja Biggs, Peace Corps Recruiter

Maja studied at the Faculty of Literature and Linguistics in Poitiers, France and began her career with the International Organization for Migration in Belgrade where she began as a French and English language teacher and rose rapidly to become the Assistant Program Coordinator for the entire country. Subsequently, she moved to the United States and began working with the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration in Washington, D.C. Most recently, she served as a Recruiting Manager for the U.S. Census Bureau where she was the highest performing recruiter with over 2000 recruits.

Michael Bradford, Vice Provost and Dean, UC Davis Undergraduate Education

Michael Bradford is serving as the Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education at the University of California, Davis. Since February 2023, he has spearheaded key initiatives in Undergraduate Education and currently serves on campus wide committees, such as co-chairing sub-committees on the Student Success and Equitable Outcomes Task Force and the Future of Education committee of the Sustaining Teaching and Research Task Force. Prior to his current position, Bradford held roles at the University of Connecticut, where he served as the Vice Provost for Faculty, Staff, and Student Development, Department Head of Dramatic Arts, the Artistic Director of the Connecticut Repertory Theatre, and Faculty Director for the Scholars House Learning Community focused on supporting first and second year Africa-American men on sustaining academic excellence, while also preparing for graduate school. A recognized playwright, Bradford's stage plays, have been produced off-Broadway, numerous regional theatres, and internationally from London to Havana, Cuba. Among his various awards is a Research Fulbright to Granada, Spain. As a committed professor, playwright, and leader, Bradford aims to continue to shape the landscape of higher education and the arts with passion and a dedication to transformative education.