In 2017, the United Nations Academic Impact, in partnership with Millennium Campus Network, launched the Millennium Fellowship, a selective undergraduate leadership development program that engages students in creating more awareness of and action upon the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at universities worldwide.

Through the Global Learning Hub, within Global Affairs, UC Davis supported undergraduate students to apply, reflecting the university’s goal to engage all UC Davis students in global learning.

This is one of many programs promoted through the Global Learning Hub that offer students the opportunity to learn about and take action on global challenges and build the capacity to collaborate equitably across cultural and geographic boundaries.

UC Davis has acquired the status of a Millennium Fellowship Campus Hub, with 18 fellows part of the 2022 class, recognized as some of the most promising young leaders in the world.

Chancellor May along with Vice Provost and Dean of Global Affairs, Joanna Regulska, recently congratulated the 2022 cohort of Millennium Fellows in a letter:

Thank you for your service and commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Academic Impact Principles. The meaningful action that you took towards your Millennium Fellowship Project is a vital part of addressing the global challenges we face around the world. We are thrilled to see the number and quality of projects that have been completed and to hear about the curriculum and reflection that you and the other UC Davis Fellows took part in over the course of the Fellowship.”

Benefits

• Certificate of recognition from United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and Millennium Campus Network
• Training and coaching
• Valuable leadership experience
• Network of worldwide leaders
• Experience in community social change
• Access to an international community platform (7,000+ peers from over 300 Universities in 50+ countries) 

2022 Millennium Fellowship in Numbers

• Applications submitted worldwide: 30,000 applicants from 2,400+ campuses across 140+ nations
• Millennium Fellows selected: 3,000+
• Hosting university campuses: 207 (just 8% of the total who applied)
• Nations represented: 36
• UC Davis Fellows: 18, including 2 Campus Directors

Fellow Testimonials

Michelle Arias, a managerial economics major, who served as one of the Campus Directors for UC Davis, shared, “my experience as a Millennium Fellowship Campus Director for our campus was very exciting and fulfilling. Personally, I love meeting new people and this fellowship allowed me to connect with people both on my campus and around the world. I loved how everyone I met had their own goals and ideas, but we all agreed on the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals and how it was our responsibility to work towards them.”

Michelle teamed up with two other UC Davis Millennium Fellows, Paige Campbell, an environmental science and management major, and Ashley Gastineau, an environmental policy analysis and planning major, for a project focusing on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. For their project, Climate Change Initiative, they held an event to raise awareness around climate change. “We worked hard to create a fun, social event that people would attend, all revolving around the dangers of climate change and what we can do to make it better. The results were great, and the night was an overall success” said Michelle of the event. As a result of the program and the success of their project, Michelle, Paige, and Ashley plan to continue their work advancing the SDGs and have begun discussions to hold another event focusing on a different SDG.

Guanbiao Li, a managerial economics major and statistics minor, and the other Campus Director for UC Davis, focused on SDG 1: No Poverty with his project Homelessness Eradication Program. Li shared that “the time spent in the Millennium fellowship program has given me invaluable experience that not only improved my leadership skills but also made me friends who are passionate about community service. During each session, I had a discussion with other fellows about the huge events that happened around the world and what we do to change the status quo of our societies. I realized that we can innovate and improve our methods to attract more people to join social organizations and give back to society, rather than following the traditional way of contributing to society. My project to help the homeless in Davis made a profound impact by educating people about the situation of homelessness and the ways to help them, which made me feel fulfilled and proud.”

2022 UC Davis Millennium Fellows and Projects

About the Global Learning Hub at UC Davis

As a part of Global Affairs, the Global Learning Hub aims to inspire global curiosity, understanding, and engagement.

Through the Global Learning Hub, each and every UC Davis student can find global learning opportunities available on campus, in the region, virtually, and internationally. The Hub offers global learning programs, workshops, and resources that enhance all UC Davis students’ academic and career pursuits through four broad areas of opportunities: Community Engagement; Global Skills and Leadership; Internships and Research; and Study Abroad. UC Davis is committed to preparing the next generation of global problem solvers and change makers. As such, we aim to prepare our undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to solve global challenges collaboratively, equitably, and sustainably.