2024 Conference Schedule

8:30–9:15 a.m. – Registration Check-in and Refreshments

• Includes refreshments, mingling and a chance to talk with exhibitors

9:30–10:45 a.m. – Aaron Brieno, Chief of Staff and Director

• Join us for our conference kick-off event! We will welcome everyone to the Global Learning Conference with introductions from Global Affairs Vice Provost and Dean, Joanna Regulska, and UC Davis Chancellor, Gary S. May. We will close out the opening ceremony with keynote speaker, Aaron Brieno. 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 Master 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.

11–12:00 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

• Option 1: Beyond Dichotomies: Understanding our Biases
  • The English language is rooted in the power dynamics that govern our society. Through the simplicity of dichotomies, we are taught to create “us” vs. “them” and black/white value judgments related to all aspects of life. Attendees will boldly participate in exercises designed to assess conscious and subconscious biases to examine how we may unknowingly uphold and model an inequitable and outdated status quo. How do we unpack dichotomies and embrace complexities? Join to learn more.
• Option 2: Packing and Unpacking Identity Abroad
  • When traveling abroad, we carry more than just our suitcases; our diverse identities also come with us. This session will explore our multifaceted identities and how they shape individual experiences while adapting to a new culture. We'll discuss ways to prepare for these experiences by examining them through the lens of our personal identities, offering insights and strategies for navigating our journeys while considering our unique distinctions.
• Option 3: Navigating Cultural Differences: QA Pre-Departure Workshop
  • This session is offered exclusively for students planning to study abroad on a UC Davis Quarter Abroad program in fall 2024. This interactive workshop will help you prepare to engage across cultures. Learn about frameworks for thinking about cultures, cultural differences, and encountering those differences so that you have strategies to help you unpack and better understand your intercultural experiences abroad (and at home!)
• Option 3: Vision Boarding as a Manifestation Tool
  • Come participate in a fun and creative exercise designed to guide you as you reflect on your global experiences and think about how you will apply them moving forward. Vision boards can serve as a powerful tool for identifying your values and applying them moving forward in our interconnected world. 

12–12:50 p.m. – Catered Lunch

• Personal Grab-and-Go rice bowls from Falafel Corner

1–2:00 p.m. – Concurrent Sessions

• Option 1: Effectively Translating Your Global Experience to Employers
  • Global experiences allow us to meet amazing people, gain new perspectives, determine passions, and identify future pathways. However, the impact of these global experiences can be hard to describe. In this session, we’ll highlight top skills employers desire, work collaboratively to determine how these skills were strengthened or gained during the global experience, and highlight how to articulate these skills to future employers in resumes, cover letters, and interviews.
• Option 2: Exploring Careers in Global Policy 
  • Interested in career opportunities in the diplomacy, national security, or international development fields? Hear from Global Affairs staff who have worked for the U.S. Department of State, the UN, other U.S. Government agencies, and non-governmental organizations to advance peace and security, human rights, and gender equality issues. Learn about pathways for these types of careers, opportunities, and challenges in engaging with global policy issues, and professional competencies that are important to develop. 
• Option 3: Navigating Identity, Academics, and Careers
  • In this session, you'll delve into the experiences of professionals/students who have successfully navigated the intricate interplay between identity formation, academic pursuits, and career pathways. Our panelists, drawn from diverse backgrounds and academic disciplines, will offer insights into the challenges, triumphs, and valuable lessons learned along their academic and professional journeys.

2–2:45 p.m. – Exhibitor Fair

• See exhibitor list on homepage right hand bar

2:45–4 p.m. – Career Skills Plenary

• This plenary will focus on career prep through a global lens. You will learn about the skills and experience employers are looking for and how to highlight skills you already have! We will cover tips for acing your interview questions and the importance of networking to make yourself stand out to global and multinational employers.

Speakers:

• Ken Barnes, Assistant Director, UC Davis Internship & Career Center
• Randeep Kullar, Partnership Director, Diversity Initiatives, CEA CAPA Education Abroad

4–4:15 p.m. – Break

4:15–5 p.m. – Structured Networking Sessions, offered in partnership with UC Davis Alumni and Affiliate Relations (join one room from below)

• Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Baigalmaa Chinbat, UC Davis Fellow, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
  • Brian Hom, Technical Account Manager
  • Johanna Abasto, Marketing and Communications
• Education, Community Development and Nonprofits
  • Brian Vargas, Manager and Veteran
  • Pablo ReguerÍn, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
  • Robb Davis, Assistant Director
  • Sandra Perez, Former Director
• Global Health, Science, Technology and Engineering
  • Dr. Andrew Tam, Oncology Pharmacist
  • Dr. Fadi A. Fathallah, Professor and Chair
  • Joel Lovinger, Lead Senior Software Engineer
  • Shirley Wu, Registered Nurse
• Public Service, International Development and Government
  • Karen Klimowski, Development Diplomat in Residence - West
  • Maja Biggs, Peace Corps Recruiter
  • Sheila Gwaltney, Retired U.S. Ambassador
  • Teron McGrew, San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development

5–5:30 p.m. – Closing Ceremony, Raffle and Refreshments

• Join us for a raffle, prizes, refreshments, a group photo and some brief encouraging closing words.