Overview
The Global Impact Fellows Program is a one-year commitment to leading or assisting a student-led initiative that addresses a global+local issue where students can hone project management, leadership and specific technical skills in an environment where they have real autonomy. The Fellows' work supports a campus-wide initiative of Global Education for All that aims to help every UC Davis student increase their ability to collaborate effectively and equitably across cultural and geographic boundaries.
Fellows will have opportunities to connect and collaborate with other globally minded students, network with leadership in Global Affairs and across the UC Davis campus, and build leadership skills. The Fellows program is comprised of a mix of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from different fields of study.
Spotlight: 2024-25 Global Impact Fellows
The Global Impact Fellows Program draws upon UC Davis’ commitment to Global Education for All, which aims to provide all UC Davis students with global learning opportunities and experiences.
Who are the Global Impact Fellows?
Global Impact Fellows are UC Davis students of any academic level interested in supporting initiatives that benefit other UC Davis students and/or the greater Davis community, while also addressing a global issue connected to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Global Impact Fellows are interested in devoting time and energy to global learning right here on campus in a team setting and developing their project management skills for future professional endeavors.
Program Benefits
- Training in project management and understanding the Theory of Change model.
- Opportunity to collaborate with students across multiple academic disciplines on a project that addresses a global+local issue.
- No-cost global learning opportunity based on campus.
- Introduction to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
- Mentorship from specially selected faculty and staff members.
- For project leads: A personalized, written recommendation from the Global Impact Fellows program coordinator.
Program Description
This program runs during the academic year from the Fall Quarter to the following Spring Quarter. Applicants can apply to the program as either a Project Lead or Project Participant. If applying as a project lead, the applicant must also submit a project proposal (new or ongoing).
All Global Impact Fellows will:
- Self-coordinate their project work with some guidance from an assigned mentor and the program coordinator.
- Attend a minimum of one program workshop per quarter that supports project work.
- Complete a Theory of Change deliverable with project team members.
- Attend project check-in meetings at least once per quarter with the Global Impact Fellows program coordinator.
- Have access to grant funding to further project-related goals and deliverables.
Global Impact Fellows can expect to spend a minimum of 20 hour/quarter on program deliverables and project work over the course of the academic year, depending on the needs of the project and program requirements.
Program Eligibility
- Must be enrolled at UC Davis at any degree level.
- Must be present in the Davis/Sacramento area for two out of three academic quarters.
- Must be able to spend an estimated minimum of 20 hours/quarter on program deliverables and project work.
Application Process
- Application Dates: March 9–May 1, 2026
- Lead applicants will be contacted to schedule one-on-one interviews on a rolling basis during the application window.
- Participant applicants will be required to attend a Participation Orientation Zoom call in May.
- All participants will be notified of the outcome of their application by late May.
As part of the application process, Student Lead applicants will be asked to respond to the following prompts:
- Please briefly explain why you are interested in this program (1-3 sentences only)
- Please describe any prior experience of working in a group or team collaboratively.
- Your project proposal's (working) title.
- Please describe your proposed project, including the objectives/goals of this project, how it involves and impacts a local community (on campus or local to campus), and how it might involve other UC Davis students.
- Please describe your experience with the proposed project topic and any prior work done on this project, if applicable.
- Please describe any prior leadership experiences.
- Which UN Sustainable Development Goal(s) does your project address?
- How does your project address these UN Sustainable Development Goals?
- What is the estimated timeframe of the proposed project e.g. when do you expect to start and, if applicable, complete the project?
- Please describe the resources and/or support you hope to receive from the Global Impact Fellows Program.
- Please identify a current/potential person or office on campus to serve as a mentor for your project, if applicable. If you do not have any recommendations, please put N/A.
Student participant applicants will be asked to respond to the following prompts:
- Please briefly explain why you are interested in this program (1-3 sentences only).
- Please describe any prior experience of working in a group or team collaboratively.
More Information
- Visit our Global Education for All resources to find out more about the initiative.
- Learn more about giving opportunities.
- For questions about the program or eligibility, please contact the program coordinator.
Contact Information
Jessica Fareri
Program Coordinator, Global and Intercultural Programs
Global Learning Hub, Global Affairs
[email protected]