Here at UC Davis International and Access Programs, our dedicated team of professional and student staff work to support students throughout their programs, ensuring they receive the most out of their UC Davis experience. We also strive to build personal relationships with them, creating communities that go beyond borders and last long into the future. Our staff come from a variety of backgrounds, with each bringing unique experiences and skills to their work, while sharing in common the passion for international student experiences and education. Here’s a little more about each person on our team.
Jacob Hosier, M.A., Director
UC Davis alumnus Jake Hosier has been supporting international education and international students at UC Davis for more than 15 years. Growing up in a small town, Jake is passionate about empowering students from every walk of life to rise to their fullest potential. He especially enjoys international students’ aspirational dreams and enterprising work ethic. Jake holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from UC Davis and a Master’s in Liberal Arts from the University of North Carolina, and has spent extended time in England and Brazil. He is committed to the idea that institutions were made for individuals, not individuals for institutions. Jake is known for his excellence in designing academic courses and student programming that enable individuals to not only be highly successful classroom students, but also to engage with the community and institution of UC Davis, growing in both their personal and professional aspirations. His favorite time of year is graduation time, when he gets to hear students share about how much they have learned about themselves as they’ve been challenged in unexpected ways and learned to thrive in different environments. “Students’ dreams become bigger and more focused during their time studying abroad at UC Davis,” he says with a smile.
Lijuan (Dawn) Cheng, Ph.D., Faculty Director
Professor Cheng works in the UC Davis Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She is interested in the infrastructure design and renewal using advanced fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites and other engineered materials. The Cheng group focuses on the FRP-based efficient strengthening technique and reinforcement alternative, the long-term fatigue durability of FRPs as the strengthened structures, smart embedded sensing techniques, and alternative construction materials engineered from tire derived aggregates and nanomaterials. Efforts in these research areas aim to address challenging transportation needs and improve the longevity and safety of the existing structures in addition to the construction of next generation resilient civil infrastructures.
Greg Gundersen, Ed.D., Assistant Director and Senior International Student Adviser
As an international student in England, Greg’s studies focused on student participation in international education. This experience brings a unique perspective and passion for international education to our team. Greg has worked at UC Davis for more than a decade assisting students with decisions regarding studying abroad, academic coursework, academic skill development, as well as the broader experience of being a student at UC Davis. Greg thoroughly enjoys all sorts of outdoor activities and takes full advantage of the diverse recreational activities Northern California has to offer. Whether students need academic advising or information about travel and student life, Greg is able to bring a broad and experienced perspective to his work.