UCEAPulse Spring 2023

2024 Round Up

CALENDAR

All times PT

APRIL

12 Asians and Pacific Islanders Abroad information session

13 UCEAP 101 webinar: 5 pm

24 Student, Parent, and Support Network Predeparture Webinar: 6-6:45 pm

25 UCEAP Earth Day Trivia: Noon-1:00 pm

MAY

3 DACA Predeparture Preparedness workshop: Noon

5 UC Riverside's 60th Anniversary and Bon Voyage Celebration

JUNE

6 UC Study Abroad Conference proposals due

8 AI Grant proposals due

AUGUST

1 Undergraduate Research Awards application deadline

End of month Spring Internship Awards application deadline

SEPTEMBER

12-14 UC Study Abroad Conference

15 UCEAP Global Scholarship application deadline

15 Theda Shapiro Scholarship application deadline

OCTOBER

18 Peace Corps Prep webinar: 4 pm

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Spring 2023

student smiles for camera holding a gate open on a cliffside by the ocean

UCEAP SPOTLIGHT

Fulbright Scholar

Annika Levaggi, an alumna of UC Berkeley and a past participant in the UCEAP Socio-Ecological Sustainability in Southern Chile (SES) program, was awarded a Fulbright grant. The grant was awarded for Levaggi’s research focused on Quila, a sub-specie of the bamboo, and a central product to the Mapuche culture in Chile.

The nine-month research grant will allow Levaggi to return to Villarrica, where the SES program is based, “to conduct both an ecological assessment to map the current ecological state of Quila as well as an ethnographic project to document and help capture the knowledge ways surrounding the cultural keystone,” she said.

The Quila is recognized “for its contributions to food security, medicine, construction, and spirituality.”

In recent years, the Quila is under threat by rural development, climate change, and colonization.

By the end of her research, Levaggi’s hope is to “be able to provide greater insight into the Quila species as an indicator of the overall health and resilience of Mapuche culture, and as a result, offer critical information to support conservation programs and guide development plans in the region.”

Levaggi credits UCEAP’s SES program at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC) for fueling her inspiration for the project.

“While I came to Chile already excited about supporting the movement for food sovereignty and sustainability at large, the hands-on experiences and fieldwork deepened my interest and helped to ground my curiosity,” she said. “Moreover, seeing the ways in which professors in the program used their research and positionality within academia to support community-based initiatives helped me to better understand the power and potential of my own research.”

Levaggi is also grateful for the opportunity to “study” abroad again and, “guided by the spirit of international solidarity, to grow the working relationship between researchers within the UC system with those at PUC.”

Levaggi graduated in 2021 from UC Berkeley with a degree in Environmental Science and Food Systems.

The Quila is recognized “for its contributions to food security, medicine, construction, and spirituality.”

In recent years, the Quila is under threat by rural development, climate change, and colonization.

Levaggi credits UCEAP’s SES program at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC) for fueling her inspiration for the project. “While I came to Chile already excited about supporting the movement for food sovereignty and sustainability at large, the hands-on experiences and fieldwork deepened my interest and helped to ground my curiosity,” she said. “Moreover, seeing the ways in which professors in the program used their research and positionality within academia to support community-based initiatives helped me to better understand the power and potential of my own research.”

Test your US trivia knowledge

STUDY Center news

UCEAP Students Educate Local Barcelona Students on Life in the US

In December 2022, 25 UCEAP Barcelona students presented at a one-day conference for the University of Barcelona student community.

This collaborative initiative between CAL-Universitat Department at the University of Barcelona and UCEAP aimed to give Spanish students a multifaceted idea of what it’s like to be in the US. The event featured the following student presentations, each 15 minutes long:

Serve, Set, Spike: Jacqueline Tornay and Julia Voigt
American Fraternities and Sororities: Violet Bretz, Sofia Jackson, and Avery Chan
Party Culture and Nightlife: Max Rogozienski and Pano Kastilides
Sports Culture: Getting Sport in the States: Lauren French and Juliana Dodig
Commuter Culture in Europe and the States: Luke Ballantyne and Elias Nasr
Thanksgiving: Melissa Nuno and Julia Cerreta
Moving out at 18—An American Norm: Frannie Fleming and Leah Winter
Cruisin’ Cross Country—The Culture Behind the American Road Trip: Brooke Robbins and Polina Shestak
LGBQTIA+ in the US: Oliver Orduna and Camila Sanudo
Prom and School Dances— American ‘Teen’ Dream: Ketan Richard and Ava Garry
Exploring America’s National Parks: Nora Dahl and Taylor Graham
Hype Beasts and Granola Girls + More Fashion Styles in the USA: Greta Dooley and Jenna Frakes

Serve, Set, Spike: Jacqueline Tornay and Julia Voigt
American Fraternities and Sororities: Violet Bretz, Sofia Jackson, and Avery Chan
Party Culture and Nightlife: Max Rogozienski and Pano Kastilides
Sports Culture: Getting Sport in the States: Lauren French and Juliana Dodig
Commuter Culture in Europe and the States: Luke Ballantyne and Elias Nasr
Thanksgiving: Melissa Nuno and Julia Cerreta
Moving out at 18—An American Norm: Frannie Fleming and Leah Winter

Cruisin’ Cross Country—The Culture Behind the American Road Trip: Brooke Robbins and Polina Shestak
LGBQTIA+ in the US: Oliver Orduna and Camila Sanudo
Prom and School Dances— American ‘Teen’ Dream: Ketan Richard and Ava Garry
Exploring America’s National Parks: Nora Dahl and Taylor Graham
Hype Beasts and Granola Girls + More Fashion Styles in the USA: Greta Dooley and Jenna Frakes

parent and student sit in front of a laptop researching.

Website NEWS

New Web Content Arms Parents with Study Abroad Insights

The UCEAP website now features content specific to the parent and support network audience.

It’s inclusive of all terms related to parents and parent-like figures in a student's life, and it treats future participants' support networks as influencers in their student's plan to study abroad.

It's been reported that the content has already been helpful in staff discussions with parents of future UCEAP participants.

This new content began with a careful review of past UCEAP parent survey data and current market research to identify the information student support networks feel they need.

When meeting with or writing to students or their support networks, please share What Families Want to Know.

UCSB student smiles for camera on catherdral steps

SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS

UCEAP Instagram Features Takeover Series

The UCEAP Takeover Series gives a peek inside the UCEAP study abroad experience on Instagram. UCEAP features staff and students from all over the world. Past locations featured include Bordeaux, France; Maastricht, the Netherlands; Berlin, Germany; and Seoul, South Korea.

Here’s what some past student takeover hosts say about the experience. From Bordeaux: “My favorite part was getting to share the amazing city I live in with my friends back in California who have never seen Bordeaux.” From Barcelona: “Claire, Gemma, and Patricia from the Barcelona study center, helped give me great ideas on what I could focus on and show in the takeover. I really enjoyed having the ability to be open and express topics on my takeover that I was passionate and interested in sharing with others.”

From Berlin: “I'm familiar with Instagram story features and didn't have to worry about any technical challenges.”

Takeovers are fun, inspiring, and easy to do. Social Media Coordinator Claire Hoch-Frohman will walk you through the process so that you can share your new favorite places and people with the whole world!

For more information, contact Claire Hoch-Frohman.

Here’s what some past student takeover hosts say about the experience.

From Bordeaux: “My favorite part was getting to share the amazing city I live in with my friends back in California who have never seen Bordeaux.”

From Barcelona: “Claire, Gemma, and Patricia from the Barcelona study center, helped give me great ideas on what I could focus on and show in the takeover. I really enjoyed having the ability to be open and express topics on my takeover that I was passionate and interested in sharing with others.”

From Berlin: “I'm familiar with Instagram story features and didn't have to worry about any technical challenges.”

For more information, contact Claire Hoch-Frohman.

Chancellor Yang and Vice Rector Campaner

UCEAP NEWS

University of Bologna’s Vice Rector Visits California

University of Bologna Vice Rector Raffaella Campaner and UCEAP Italy Faculty Director Ivano Caponigro visited several UC campuses in February and March.

One of Campaner‘s main goals for the trip was to amplify the partnership between UCEAP and the University of Bologna. On March 2, Campaner had discussions with UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Henry Yang, UCSB engineering faculty, and members of the Italian department. She also stopped by the UCEAP Systemwide Office. The University of Bologna is an essential partner for UCEAP, with substantial class offerings, including studio art classes at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna. UCEAP offers the University of Bologna immersion program.

WEBSITE NEWS

Course Catalog Gets Updated With New Features

The UCEAP Course Catalog has been revamped with new features and a new look.

Launching in the next few weeks, the resource gives students a starting point to research courses as they determine which program is the best fit for their academic needs. Here’s what students can do with the catalog:

Browse the variety of courses UC students have taken in the last five years.
Identify the departments abroad where courses are hosted.
Determine how many UC units the courses carry.
Confirm whether a course is upper division or lower division.
Gather course information to share with their academic department(s) for advice on fulfillment of degree requirements.
Discover programs that have courses of interest to the student.

Keep checking the Course Catalog page to see the new features when it’s updated.

photo of london bridge over the Thames River in London at dusk.

scholarship news

New Prize Focuses on Entrepreneurship

UCEAP is offering a new scholarship, the Founder’s Prize in Entrepreneurship. The scholarship was established in memory of Ray Vernon, the founder of Accent.

The $5,000 prize aims to support future changemakers whose academic and professional interests will contribute innovative and sustainable solutions to complex global problems through entrepreneurship.

The prize will be awarded annually to a student participating in the UCEAP Business and Entrepreneurship Program in London. It’s presented in collaboration with Accent Global Learning and Hildegarde Group. Students chosen for the scholarship will be leaders and entrepreneurs with career goals that emphasize connections between education, culture, and community.

SCHOLARSHIP NEWS

UC Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships

In October 2022, over 70 UC students received a Gilman International Scholarship of up to $5,000.

The Gilman program provides scholarships to undergraduates who, due to financial constraints, might not otherwise participate in study abroad. The scholarship recipients are spread throughout nine UC campuses:

UC Berkeley: 18
UC Davis: 14
UC Irvine: 4
UC Los Angeles: 2
UC Merced: 7

UC Riverside: 4
UC San Diego: 5
UC Santa Barbara: 11
UC Santa Cruz: 6

UC Berkeley: 18
UC Davis: 14
UC Irvine: 4
UC Los Angeles: 2
UC Merced: 7
UC Riverside: 4
UC San Diego: 5
UC Santa Barbara: 11
UC Santa Cruz: 6

Note: These numbers do not include students who declined to be identified in the complete awardee list.

UCEAP news

UCEAP Presents Recording Now on YouTube

New UCEAP Presents recordings featuring presentations by Rachel Jean-Baptiste, left, and Dr. Ashley Lewis-Cole are now available on the UCEAP Study Abroad YouTube channel.

Jean-Baptiste, a UCEAP associate dean and UC Davis associate professor, focused on “The Danger of a Single Story: History, Family, and Race within West Africa and Europe." She discussed her new book on multiracial Africans and her personal-intellectual journeys between Haiti, the US, France, and Francophone West Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gabon).

Jean-Baptiste’s energetic, down-to-earth talk provided a glimpse of her research into Metis identities in West Africa, and insight into her own experiences as an exchange student in France.

Lewis-Cole, a curriculum development manager in Academic Policy and Governance at the University of Glasgow, and a former UCEAP staff member, shared her experiences in international studies during her presentation “Education: My Passport Around the World.”

Lewis-Cole sees education as a crucial vehicle in encouraging understanding and empathy across communities and cultures. In her warm and vivacious talk, she made thoughtful points about the powers of study abroad.

Street view of a traditional danish houses and cobbled paving.

the californian abroad

3-minute Travel Guide: Aarhus, Denmark

UC Santa Cruz student Emma Castleberry shares advice on what to pack, where to study, and the best place for bread and cheese when studying abroad in Aarhus, Denmark.

Share this post in your student communications and help students see what it's like to study abroad in Denmark.

UCEAP save the date

UC Study Abroad Conference to Offer Online Sessions September 12-14

The 2023 UC Study Abroad Conference will once again be a collaborative, live, virtual event from September 12-14.

Over a week of online events, staff from the UCEAP Systemwide Office, campus international offices, study centers, and campus financial aid will discuss the future of international education across UC. Take your insights and passion for a topic and submit a presentation proposal. The deadline for proposals is June 9. Send questions to the UC Study Abroad Conference Team.

research NEWS

UCEAP Team Publishes Research in E-Journal L2

Faculty Director Glenn Levine-West, Research Director Gordon Schaeffer, and Senior Research Analyst Yeana Lam published a research article in L2, a refereed e-journal for foreign and second language education.

A new survey study of 2021-22 UCEAP participants reported on the effects of the global pandemic on the student experience abroad, particularly on social interactions (both inside and outside of the classroom). Executive Director and Associate Vice Provost Vivian-Lee Nyitray contributed an essay to the issue also.

CAMPUS NEWS

UC Riverside Education Abroad Marks 60th Anniversary

For 60 years, Education Abroad at UC Riverside has encouraged students to enhance their education and expand their worldview by experiencing life in another country or culture.

The 60th Anniversary and Bon Voyage Celebration on May 5 will feature a dinner, an awards ceremony, and cultural performances that celebrate the past, present, and future. Tickets are available, with a majority of the ticket price going to fund Education Abroad scholarships for UCR students.

Alumni News

UCEAP Raised Funds to Fuel Museum Pass Program

In November 2022, the Alumni team raised funds to supply 100 UC students with museum passes in select study abroad locations.

Thanks to all those who donated to the campaign to date, UCEAP has been able to raise nearly $6,000 to fund museum passes in Berlin and the Netherlands. Through the program, students can experience local museums that they may not otherwise visit. This May, UCEAP will be asking you to consider a donation of $60 to UCEAP in honor of its 60th anniversary and to help more study abroad students in 2023-24.

ACADEMIC NEWS

Call for Proposals for Academic Integration Grants

UCEAP is calling for proposals for the Academic Integration Grants Program. UCEAP has allocated funds for academic departments to integrate study abroad programs and coursework into their curricula.

The goal is to fund teams of faculty and staff up to $3,000 each to make studying abroad accessible for undergraduate students. Applications from all academic disciplines are encouraged. For inspiration, take a look at previously funded proposals. Please submit your application by June 8. For more information, contact the Academic Integration team.

UCEAP NEWS

Office Hours Are Back Online

Four UC Santa Barbara student assistants will be holding virtual Office Hours for students.

They’ll provide general and financial information to students who are interested in studying abroad with UCEAP. Tell your students to make a virtual appointment to speak with Alyssa Anderson, Diane Lee, Naomi Charlet, and Jiamei Zhou.

STUDENT VOICES

International Women’s Celebration

The classes at PUC were incredible because they were about Latin America and taught by Latin Americans. I took a political science class taught by an influential figure in Chilean feminist politics. The fact that the classes transferred to my degree made it even better. Best of all, I had the opportunity to live in a welcoming society and witness real-time change in Chilean politics – it was an amazing experience.

Paulina Belloso•UC Davis•International Relations and History• Chile

STAFF AWARDS and ACCOLADES

Maggie Moser

Maggie Moser has been accepted into UC's Management Skills Assessment Program (MSAP). Moser, the IT project manager for UCEAP managing software, network and DB projects, will be attending the program in mid-April.

“I am hoping this program provides me tools and techniques to become a better manager for my career in general, but also for the people who report to me,” Maggie said. “I am also looking forward to meeting new people in the UC in order to have colleagues to collaborate with.”

STAFF ARRIVALS

Allison Lairson

Allison Lairson has joined the UCEAP Systemwide Office as a program advisor in Reciprocity.

Allison has a bachelor's degree in Spanish from California State University, Long Beach, and completed a Hispanic Studies Program at the University of Granada. Most recently she was a textbook clerk with Portland Public Schools, and she has held the positions of admissions coordinator with Aspect Foundation, admissions assistant with the study abroad organization Ayusa, and community association management coordinator with Vacasa, an international vacation rental management company.

Sonja Lind

Sonja Lind is now the assistant director of Education Abroad at UC Riverside.

Sonja oversees the faculty-led education abroad programs (FLEAP). She is a Norwegian/Canadian dual citizen, writer, runner, hiker, and backpacker.

Cristina Rodarte

Cristina Rodarte has joined UC Berkeley Study Abroad as a study abroad adviser.

Cristina studied abroad in Paris, France, and taught in Lille, France, and Antofagasta, Chile. She has a master's degree in International Education from American University in Washington, DC, and has worked for many years providing quality assurance to schools teaching English to international students. Most recently, she supported students at UC Berkeley Extension.

John Simone

John Simone is UCEAP’s new data privacy and compliance officer.

John has a bachelor’s degree in English, a law degree, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States credential. He’s held the positions of privacy compliance manager with Western Alliance Bank, university policy director and compliance coordinator/officer with the University of North Texas, practiced civil litigation at Smith Bukowski, and served as director of IT Web Services at Centenary University.

Nicole Spector

Nicole Spector has joined UCEAP as a copywriter and editor with the Marketing, Communications, and Engagement team.

Nicole is a writer, editor, and author based in Los Angeles by way of Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in Vogue, the Atlantic, Vice, The New Yorker, and more. She's a frequent contributor to NBC News, Today.com, and Publishers Weekly. Nicole has also written content for apps such as Waze, and as the associate editor of Yext’s Geomarketing.com, helped envision and launch the site.

Lily Unterthiner

Lily Unterthiner has joined the Operations Department as the new operations assistant.

Lily recently graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Anthropology and is a Santa Barbara local who enjoys hiking in the area’s mountains. Lily will be covering reception daily from 11:45 am-4:30 pm.

Katharine Fitzgerald

Katharine Fitzgerald is now a program advisor for Education Abroad at UC Riverside.

Katharine is a UCR alumna who studied abroad on the UCEAP program at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. In 2019, Katharine earned a master's degree in History at the University of Edinburgh. She enjoys creative hobbies, music, and connecting with friends over a good cup of tea and a fresh scone.

Jenni Monroe

Jenni Monroe will join UCEAP as the director of the Marketing, Communications, and Engagement team.

She brings 14 years of experience in higher education marketing, and she most recently served as a director of marketing for the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Jenni has a master of science degree in Project Management and is currently working on a doctorate in Student Affairs Administration. Her anticipated start date is April 10.

Renee Camarena

Rene Camarena is continuing her 20-year career at UC Berkely as a study abroad advisor.

Previously, Rene was at the Haas School of Business where she worked with undergraduates participating in the Global Management, Haas Travel Study, and Study Abroad programs. She looks forward to cultivating inclusive spaces of optimism and belonging for students to pursue their international educational goals.

Alisha Harris

Alisha has joined UC San Diego as a study abroad advisor.

Alisha has a background in program management and a passion for global education. After graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in Communication, Alisha served as program and marketing manager for a local nonprofit in Del Mar, Calif. She has since been teaching English in Valencia, Spain, and working as a student services advisor for the UC San Diego Department of Communication.

STAFF DEPARTURES

Donna Brosnan

At the end of 2022, Donna Brosnan retired as operations assistant after more than 20 years with the University of California.

Donna’s contributions to UCEAP were vast and varied. Her early years focused on mail services and check deposits for Administrative Services. She backed up the receptionist, ordered supplies, business cards, and managed many of the reoccurring subscriptions for colleagues. Eventually, Donna transitioned to covering reception and working on special projects for Reciprocity, Research, the regional teams, and others. In retirement, Donna is looking forward to spending more time with her family and returning to Santa Barbara City College.

Barbara Tassielli

After 32 years of service to UC Berkeley Study Abroad, Barbara Tassielli, assistant director of advising, will be retiring in July 2023.

Barbara has been a rock and mainstay throughout decades of growth, challenges, and exciting change in the field of study abroad. She built and maintained a first-rate advising operation responsible for sending tens of thousands of students on learning adventures during her tenure. Thanks in part to Barbara, UC Berkeley Study Abroad has become a top-sender of UC students on UCEAP exchange programs and a top-producer of recipients of the prestigious Gilman International Scholarship.

STAFF OPPORTUNITIES

Find career opportunities with UCEAP