Hi, everyone! My name is Roshni Desai (she/her) and I graduated in the Class of 2021! I joined the GDB major at the end of my sophomore year and it was one of the best decisions I made during my time at Davis. The close-knit community of students and advisors truly helped me explore my various interests and step outside of my comfort zone. Being introduced to the One Health approach also had a huge impact on me, and is the reason why I wanted to work in global public health and continue promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. Outside of GDB, I was a Mental Well-Being Student Coordinator within the Health Education and Promotion (HEP) Department, an Aggie Public Health Ambassador (APHA) during the pandemic, and part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals internship through Global Affairs. There are so many cool opportunities and an abundance of resources at Davis (sometimes it can be overwhelming), but don’t be afraid to try something new!

Currently, I am a Global Health Program Coordinator at the UC Global Health Institute (UCGHI). In my role, I support global health education programs and initiatives across the ten UC campuses to diversify the global health workforce by providing opportunities to advance their training to address complex health issues. As I apply to Master in Public Health (MPH) programs this year, I know that my foundation as a GDB student will help me build upon my skill set and ultimately succeed in my career.

Feel free to connect with me (rdesai@ucdavis.edu) if you have any questions about my GDB experience, finding your niche in public/global health, or want to learn more about the UC Global Health Institute! Go Aggies!