December 19, 2023 • 13 mins
Chancellor Gary S. May sits down with Joanna Regulska, vice provost and dean of Global Affairs, in this episode of "Face to Face" to talk about UC Davis' efforts to provide global education for all. In the conversation, Joanna shares details about an exciting coffee research collaboration in Indonesia, and in the "Hot Seat" round, Chancellor May and Joanna discover a shared taste in music.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
Hi, everyone.
Welcome to “Face to Face,” a UC Davis podcast
featuring students, staff and faculty innovators.
I’m your host, Chancellor Gary May.
Stay tuned for my next guest.
Hi, my name is Joanna Regulska.
I joined UC Davis in 2015,
(00:23):
and I’m currently the vice provost
and dean of Global Affairs.
I’m also a professor of gender,
sexuality and women’s studies.
I have been in the field of
international education for over 30
years.
I’m passionate about advancing
UC Davis global engagement
through collaborative research,
partnerships and global education
(00:43):
for all by providing
100% of our undergraduate,
graduate and professional students
with global learning opportunities
that change their lives and
our world.
Joanna, welcometo “Face to Face.”
Thank you, Chancellor,for having me.
(01:05):
Thank you for beinghere with us.
I’m excited to talkwith you today
about some of our global programs
and partnerships and all the things
you’re doing in Global Affairs.
I want to start with the mission of
Global Affairs and ask:
“Global Education for All”
— what does that mean for our
students and for our faculty and for
UC Davis overall?
So Global Affairs has
(01:27):
grown and expanded, and
as a result — and also the world is
changing — so our mission
also has been
evolving.
But we want to bring people
together. We want to increase
understanding.
We want to build bridges between
different cultures, build
partnerships.
And the Global
(01:47):
Education for All is one of our
initiatives to really
do exactly that.
Increase the understanding.
Build the partnerships.
Make sure that all our students,
100% — I don’t know if we can
achieve 100% — but the dream
is to have 100% undergraduate,
graduate and professional students
to have access to global learning
(02:09):
opportunities.
So the word “all” is important,
right? It implies equity, right.
It means everyone has the
opportunity here. So how do we make
these programs accessible
to all of our students?
Well, that’s really at the core,
because we moved,
expanded our notion of
what the global education means
(02:30):
to make sure that this is not
only about the study abroad.
Study abroad is critical, important.
People love to travel and spend
time. But not everybody can travel.
Not everybody has resources —
family circumstances,
culture. Our DACA students
cannot go and so forth.
So how do we engage
(02:51):
and meet students where they are
and who they are?
So that means what about
doing global learning here in
Central Valley?
What about doing global learning in
Sacramento and Dixon, Woodland
and Bay Area?
Sacramento is one of the most
diversified cities and growing
in diversity.
Let’s look at the opportunities for
(03:11):
students through the internships,
through working during
the summer.
But the same thing is with our
research.
Students can engage with research,
with the faculty, and
gain that international experience.
So I think that the accessibility
in terms of diversity of what
kind of things we’re doing and
(03:31):
of course funding.
Funding is always an issue.
So we are very lucky.
We just received a grant from
one of our donors
to support the passport.
Because one of the key issues is
to help students to overcome
that additional barrier.
And passport, visa, suitcases,
(03:52):
those are the most important things.
Later on, they can get financial
aid, and they can move.
So we need to think
in the very broad terms,
how do we access?
And for professionals too there will
be something else.
And for the graduate students it’s
about the field work.
So thinking about
how diversified the student body
is, and then Latinx students
(04:13):
might need something else and so
forth. So building
up and really diversifying
what we are offering and to whom we
are offering and how.
Indeed, that’s so important.
I want to think about research for a
second.
As a research university,
UC Davis is participating
in solving some of our most pressing
challenges in society, and we know
(04:35):
those challenges are global, right?
... Exactly. ...
So how do we collaborate with
international partners to solve
these problems?
So we have numbers of partners.
Some partners are just more focused
on one faculty or two faculty
doing some research.
Some partners are much, much
broader.
We also participate in consortia.
(04:57):
And the two consortia
that really are extremely
diverse for us, it’s one, is the
Association of Pacific Rim
Universities. The other is U21.
That allows us to
build partnerships with other
universities or participate
in the consortia that
the undergraduate, for example,
(05:18):
internships are being offered or
courses are being offered
or other opportunities.
So part of it is maximizing
how we work with our partners
to really make it available to
our students.
But it could be just only bilateral
with one university and
the other, and then how our faculty
(05:39):
can engage students in
the work.
And the collaboration, they’re not
always research collaborations.
Some of our viewers might know the
most popular course at UC
Davis is our coffee course.
Absolutely.
And some of these international
collaborations are important for
that. Can you talk about that for a bit?
Sure. So a group
of faculty from engineering —
(05:59):
and we were actually very much
involved, and we supported them —
just recently went to Indonesia.
And we created a
consortium of 11
other universities in Indonesia
to really work with
them.
So the initiative
here emerged, but
(06:19):
knowing how Indonesia is important
— and have some specific brewing
and roasting
techniques is actually very, very
important for us here.
So this is an opportunity.
We’re now talking with the
ministries and other
opportunities to really have
students engage in the research.
And the idea is to get students
(06:40):
to Indonesia and actually work
in a field with our
colleagues in Indonesia.
And that’s just one example of
how we can bring students in.
And it’s a great example, a powerful
example.
Another thing, I’m very proud, we’re
all very proud that UC Davis is
ranked number one in diversity,
inclusiveness and
internationalization.
(07:01):
And
how do we continue that momentum to
maintain that ranking and even go
beyond what we’re doing now?
Well, that’s a really important
question, and this is something that
we are thinking about (07:12):
Where do we
want to be in five years?
And we did a couple things that I
hope will help us.
One is that using your
“To Boldly Go” plan, we actually
created the campus global plan.
And now we’re seeing
where and we’re mapping where we
should be moving and how we should
be moving in terms of the research,
in terms of the education,
(07:34):
in terms of the business
and partnership with the industry
and the communities and so forth.
So part of this thing where we’re
always thinking about
internationalization — it’s not onething.
It’s comprehensive.
What some refer to as
comprehensive internationalization
or persuasive internationalization.
So I think that comprehensive
(07:56):
approach, moving away
from what used to be
internationalization — just students
going abroad and international
students coming to us.
Sustainable Development Goals is
one of those things that we did
pick up as very important,
because Sustainable Development
Goals are not only about what
is happening down there,
(08:18):
but it’s what’s happening here
locally and how we
as UC Davis are
engaging. So we did the Voluntary
University Review.
In fact, we were I think number two
or three — third university in
the country that did.
And now we’re doing the same thing
with Sacramento.
We are working with the city council
and the city of Sacramento to map
(08:39):
Sacramento against these
17 sustainable goals.
So there are numbers of different
ways, innovative ways
that we are using to
keep it up and include
everybody in it.
And being a leader, that’s how
you become number one, and that’s
how you stay number one, right,
being involved in these initiatives.... Oh, absolutely. Absolutely.
And then, you know, we are leaders
(08:59):
in all kind of different ways,
because even in our fabulous
Global Affairs office — which I love
and the fabulous staff that we have
— we created new positions.
Travel security
— when pandemic happened, we were
ready.
A communication team.
Diverse, DEI — we just
hired recently DEI officer
(09:20):
to think through, to
walk the talk, to think through what
does it really mean, how we prepare
students. So there are all kinds of
different ways that we can think
about.
And my office uses all these
services, so thank you.
We have a feature that we do in
“Face to Face.” We call it “Hot Seat.”
It’s where I ask
you some rapid-fire questions, and
we’re looking for one-word or
(09:40):
one-sentence or just a very short
answer. ... OK. ...
Are you game?
Sure.
All right, let’s try.
All right.
Favorite place you’ve traveled for
work or vacation?
Well, the most,
the place that really stays
in my memories is
Sophia, which is the
major mosque in Istanbul.
(10:01):
And I was there at 5 o’clock in the
morning, and it was just beautiful.
And it stays with me.
Wow. That’s a great one.
This is not on the list, but how
many countries do you think you’ve
visited?
I think I’ve done probably
about 150,
a lot.
That is incredible. OK.
Most unique food you’ve tried in
another country?
(10:22):
Oh, that one is probably
in China, trying
all kinds of different
fish and animals
and food and the combination.
I think probably China was the most
different.
There are some unique choices there.
Exactly.
So if this was a parallel universe,
(10:42):
and you weren’t working in academia,
what would you be doing?
I think I would be working with
people from other countries.
I just love it.
I love this kind of sense
of intercultural connections.
OK. Favorite hobby?
Favorite hobby, when I have time:
listening to jazz.
That’s a great one. And in fact,
(11:02):
that’s a good segue, because my last
rapid-fire question is who’s on top
of your playlist right now?
Oh, John Coltrane with
“My Favorite Things,” Miles Davis,
Cassandra Wilson.
I did not know we had this much in
common, Joanna.
All right.
So then on the next trip, we’re
going to the jazz club. ...
We got to go listen to some jazz
(11:23):
together.
Now it’s your turn.
You can ask me anything you like.
So I wonder if you
would share a little bit from
the history and if you can share
maybe one or two examples
when you became
sort of globally aware.
Well, my first international trip
was to my cousin’s wedding
(11:44):
in Bermuda.
So I was a teenager at
the time, and that’s the first time
I was out of the U.S.
I know the Caribbean is not that far
out of the U.S., but it
kind of opened my eyes to different
possibilities and different peoples
and cultures.
And I think later in life,
my first professional
obligation or responsibility
internationally, I was co-chairing a
(12:05):
conference in South Korea
in my research area (12:08):
integrated
circuits.
And that really opened my eyes to
the fact that I could collaborate
with partners, other colleagues
at other universities across the
world and make some real
progress in my own research.
And so I think those were the two
things, two experiences that I can
think of that would be very
impactful for me.
Well, thank you. I think this is
what we’re trying to do (12:27):
build these
partnerships. Can I have one more
question?
Sure.
So are we talking so much these days
about changes in the land-grant
universities.
And obviously the future might look
different. And I’m always thinking:
OK, so what role can global
engagement play?
How we can help and assist in
those transformations and
(12:48):
transitions?
Well, you know, the
three-part mission of our
university, any public university,
any land-grant is research,
teaching and service, right.
And the service aspect encompasses
some of the things that we do to
solve these global problems.
So I think as we continue
to show the value
(13:09):
of our research and teaching
expertise in a more global
fashion, that’s really in keeping
with the mission of the land-grant
university. And that’s where Davis
wants to be.
All right. We’ll keep on pushing.
All right.
Thanks to everyone for listening.
Tune in next time on “Face to Face.”
(13:29):
Go, Ags!
Hi, everyone.
Welcome to “Face to Face,” a UC Davis podcast
featuring students, staff and faculty innovators.
I’m your host, Chancellor Gary May.
Stay tuned for my next guest.
Hi, my name is Joanna Regulska.
I joined UC Davis in 2015,
(00:23):
and I’m currently the vice provost
and dean of Global Affairs.
I’m also a professor of gender,
sexuality and women’s studies.
I have been in the field of
international education for over 30
years.
I’m passionate about advancing
UC Davis global engagement
through collaborative research,
partnerships and global education
(00:43):
for all by providing
100% of our undergraduate,
graduate and professional students
with global learning opportunities
that change their lives and
our world.
Joanna, welcometo “Face to Face.”
Thank you, Chancellor,for having me.
(01:05):
Thank you for beinghere with us.
I’m excited to talkwith you today
about some of our global programs
and partnerships and all the things
you’re doing in Global Affairs.
I want to start with the mission of
Global Affairs and ask:
“Global Education for All”
— what does that mean for our
students and for our faculty and for
UC Davis overall?
So Global Affairs has
(01:27):
grown and expanded, and
as a result — and also the world is
changing — so our mission
also has been
evolving.
But we want to bring people
together. We want to increase
understanding.
We want to build bridges between
different cultures, build
partnerships.
And the Global
(01:47):
Education for All is one of our
initiatives to really
do exactly that.
Increase the understanding.
Build the partnerships.
Make sure that all our students,
100% — I don’t know if we can
achieve 100% — but the dream
is to have 100% undergraduate,
graduate and professional students
to have access to global learning
(02:09):
opportunities.
So the word “all” is important,
right? It implies equity, right.
It means everyone has the
opportunity here. So how do we make
these programs accessible
to all of our students?
Well, that’s really at the core,
because we moved,
expanded our notion of
what the global education means
(02:30):
to make sure that this is not
only about the study abroad.
Study abroad is critical, important.
People love to travel and spend
time. But not everybody can travel.
Not everybody has resources —
family circumstances,
culture. Our DACA students
cannot go and so forth.
So how do we engage
(02:51):
and meet students where they are
and who they are?
So that means what about
doing global learning here in
Central Valley?
What about doing global learning in
Sacramento and Dixon, Woodland
and Bay Area?
Sacramento is one of the most
diversified cities and growing
in diversity.
Let’s look at the opportunities for
(03:11):
students through the internships,
through working during
the summer.
But the same thing is with our
research.
Students can engage with research,
with the faculty, and
gain that international experience.
So I think that the accessibility
in terms of diversity of what
kind of things we’re doing and
(03:31):
of course funding.
Funding is always an issue.
So we are very lucky.
We just received a grant from
one of our donors
to support the passport.
Because one of the key issues is
to help students to overcome
that additional barrier.
And passport, visa, suitcases,
(03:52):
those are the most important things.
Later on, they can get financial
aid, and they can move.
So we need to think
in the very broad terms,
how do we access?
And for professionals too there will
be something else.
And for the graduate students it’s
about the field work.
So thinking about
how diversified the student body
is, and then Latinx students
(04:13):
might need something else and so
forth. So building
up and really diversifying
what we are offering and to whom we
are offering and how.
Indeed, that’s so important.
I want to think about research for a
second.
As a research university,
UC Davis is participating
in solving some of our most pressing
challenges in society, and we know
(04:35):
those challenges are global, right?
... Exactly. ...
So how do we collaborate with
international partners to solve
these problems?
So we have numbers of partners.
Some partners are just more focused
on one faculty or two faculty
doing some research.
Some partners are much, much
broader.
We also participate in consortia.
(04:57):
And the two consortia
that really are extremely
diverse for us, it’s one, is the
Association of Pacific Rim
Universities. The other is U21.
That allows us to
build partnerships with other
universities or participate
in the consortia that
the undergraduate, for example,
(05:18):
internships are being offered or
courses are being offered
or other opportunities.
So part of it is maximizing
how we work with our partners
to really make it available to
our students.
But it could be just only bilateral
with one university and
the other, and then how our faculty
(05:39):
can engage students in
the work.
And the collaboration, they’re not
always research collaborations.
Some of our viewers might know the
most popular course at UC
Davis is our coffee course.
Absolutely.
And some of these international
collaborations are important for
that. Can you talk about that for a bit?
Sure. So a group
of faculty from engineering —
(05:59):
and we were actually very much
involved, and we supported them —
just recently went to Indonesia.
And we created a
consortium of 11
other universities in Indonesia
to really work with
them.
So the initiative
here emerged, but
(06:19):
knowing how Indonesia is important
— and have some specific brewing
and roasting
techniques is actually very, very
important for us here.
So this is an opportunity.
We’re now talking with the
ministries and other
opportunities to really have
students engage in the research.
And the idea is to get students
(06:40):
to Indonesia and actually work
in a field with our
colleagues in Indonesia.
And that’s just one example of
how we can bring students in.
And it’s a great example, a powerful
example.
Another thing, I’m very proud, we’re
all very proud that UC Davis is
ranked number one in diversity,
inclusiveness and
internationalization.
(07:01):
And
how do we continue that momentum to
maintain that ranking and even go
beyond what we’re doing now?
Well, that’s a really important
question, and this is something that
we are thinking about (07:12):
Where do we
want to be in five years?
And we did a couple things that I
hope will help us.
One is that using your
“To Boldly Go” plan, we actually
created the campus global plan.
And now we’re seeing
where and we’re mapping where we
should be moving and how we should
be moving in terms of the research,
in terms of the education,
(07:34):
in terms of the business
and partnership with the industry
and the communities and so forth.
So part of this thing where we’re
always thinking about
internationalization — it’s not onething.
It’s comprehensive.
What some refer to as
comprehensive internationalization
or persuasive internationalization.
So I think that comprehensive
(07:56):
approach, moving away
from what used to be
internationalization — just students
going abroad and international
students coming to us.
Sustainable Development Goals is
one of those things that we did
pick up as very important,
because Sustainable Development
Goals are not only about what
is happening down there,
(08:18):
but it’s what’s happening here
locally and how we
as UC Davis are
engaging. So we did the Voluntary
University Review.
In fact, we were I think number two
or three — third university in
the country that did.
And now we’re doing the same thing
with Sacramento.
We are working with the city council
and the city of Sacramento to map
(08:39):
Sacramento against these
17 sustainable goals.
So there are numbers of different
ways, innovative ways
that we are using to
keep it up and include
everybody in it.
And being a leader, that’s how
you become number one, and that’s
how you stay number one, right,
being involved in these initiatives.... Oh, absolutely. Absolutely.
And then, you know, we are leaders
(08:59):
in all kind of different ways,
because even in our fabulous
Global Affairs office — which I love
and the fabulous staff that we have
— we created new positions.
Travel security
— when pandemic happened, we were
ready.
A communication team.
Diverse, DEI — we just
hired recently DEI officer
(09:20):
to think through, to
walk the talk, to think through what
does it really mean, how we prepare
students. So there are all kinds of
different ways that we can think
about.
And my office uses all these
services, so thank you.
We have a feature that we do in
“Face to Face.” We call it “Hot Seat.”
It’s where I ask
you some rapid-fire questions, and
we’re looking for one-word or
(09:40):
one-sentence or just a very short
answer. ... OK. ...
Are you game?
Sure.
All right, let’s try.
All right.
Favorite place you’ve traveled for
work or vacation?
Well, the most,
the place that really stays
in my memories is
Sophia, which is the
major mosque in Istanbul.
(10:01):
And I was there at 5 o’clock in the
morning, and it was just beautiful.
And it stays with me.
Wow. That’s a great one.
This is not on the list, but how
many countries do you think you’ve
visited?
I think I’ve done probably
about 150,
a lot.
That is incredible. OK.
Most unique food you’ve tried in
another country?
(10:22):
Oh, that one is probably
in China, trying
all kinds of different
fish and animals
and food and the combination.
I think probably China was the most
different.
There are some unique choices there.
Exactly.
So if this was a parallel universe,
(10:42):
and you weren’t working in academia,
what would you be doing?
I think I would be working with
people from other countries.
I just love it.
I love this kind of sense
of intercultural connections.
OK. Favorite hobby?
Favorite hobby, when I have time:
listening to jazz.
That’s a great one. And in fact,
(11:02):
that’s a good segue, because my last
rapid-fire question is who’s on top
of your playlist right now?
Oh, John Coltrane with
“My Favorite Things,” Miles Davis,
Cassandra Wilson.
I did not know we had this much in
common, Joanna.
All right.
So then on the next trip, we’re
going to the jazz club. ...
We got to go listen to some jazz
(11:23):
together.
Now it’s your turn.
You can ask me anything you like.
So I wonder if you
would share a little bit from
the history and if you can share
maybe one or two examples
when you became
sort of globally aware.
Well, my first international trip
was to my cousin’s wedding
(11:44):
in Bermuda.
So I was a teenager at
the time, and that’s the first time
I was out of the U.S.
I know the Caribbean is not that far
out of the U.S., but it
kind of opened my eyes to different
possibilities and different peoples
and cultures.
And I think later in life,
my first professional
obligation or responsibility
internationally, I was co-chairing a
(12:05):
conference in South Korea
in my research area (12:08):
integrated
circuits.
And that really opened my eyes to
the fact that I could collaborate
with partners, other colleagues
at other universities across the
world and make some real
progress in my own research.
And so I think those were the two
things, two experiences that I can
think of that would be very
impactful for me.
Well, thank you. I think this is
what we’re trying to do (12:27):
build these
partnerships. Can I have one more
question?
Sure.
So are we talking so much these days
about changes in the land-grant
universities.
And obviously the future might look
different. And I’m always thinking:
OK, so what role can global
engagement play?
How we can help and assist in
those transformations and
(12:48):
transitions?
Well, you know, the
three-part mission of our
university, any public university,
any land-grant is research,
teaching and service, right.
And the service aspect encompasses
some of the things that we do to
solve these global problems.
So I think as we continue
to show the value
(13:09):
of our research and teaching
expertise in a more global
fashion, that’s really in keeping
with the mission of the land-grant
university. And that’s where Davis
wants to be.
All right. We’ll keep on pushing.
All right.
Thanks to everyone for listening.
Tune in next time on “Face to Face.”
(13:29):
Go, Ags!
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!