Meet Emeline Crowder

“Studying abroad is so different from just traveling to a place as a tourist,” said Emeline Crowder, a program coordinator for UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education’s International and Access Programs. “You really begin to think of yourself as a local by the end of your stay.” 

That feeling of being home while studying abroad is something Emeline cherished during her own study abroad opportunity as an undergrad. Now, working closely with CPE’s international partners and students, she gets to help others do the same.

“After my study abroad experience, I was convinced that everyone who can study abroad should study abroad,” she said. “Getting the chance to build connections with our partners and our students and help make it possible for them to study at UC Davis is so special to me.” 

What has your educational and professional journey looked like, and how has international education shaped your career along the way? 

The international sphere has always been a point of intrigue and passion for me. My mom is from France, so I grew up speaking French with her, and quickly became familiar with international travel. This early exposure to another culture nurtured my passion for learning about others, and it was never a question that my career would revolve around the international sphere. 

I got my bachelor’s degree in international relations and French from UC Davis and studied abroad in Bordeaux, France. I also spent all four years working at CPE as a student assistant for the Global Study Program. 

Throughout my college career, I explored a wide range of internships as I tried to pinpoint exactly how I wanted to work in the international sphere. But my time as a student assistant with CPE had the biggest impact on me. I loved seeing students learn about the United States and hearing their stories of the amazing connections they made during their time at UC Davis. After my own incredible experience studying abroad, I knew that the field of international education was where I was meant to be.

Can you describe your role with CPE International Programs and what your day-to-day responsibilities look like?

I work with a mix of partners and students. Part of my work is supporting our partners and managing partnerships. I am responsible for making sure our partnership agreements between UC Davis and universities around the world are active, so we can continue to host students from their universities. I also help to make sure they are informed and inspired by the work we do together. 

On the student outreach side, my main goal is to ensure students have all the information they need to make a decision about studying at UC Davis. It’s about inspiring them— showcasing all that UC Davis has to offer and all that they can achieve here. This includes everything from conducting information sessions to running our social media pages. 

Check us out on Instagram at @globalstudyprogram and @ucdavisinternational and on LinkedIn at CPE International.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do?

It’s hard to pick just one thing that I love about the work I do—so here’s two. 

The first is that every day is different and there’s a lot of space for creativity. Our offices are always looking for exciting ways to engage with students and partners. This allows plenty of room to think outside of the box and experiment with new ideas. Each student and partner is also very different, which makes it exciting to get to know them, hear their stories and find ways to support their unique needs. 

The other thing I love is meeting new people. Learning about the world’s cultures and learning from the people who come from them is a great passion of mine. 

How does your role contribute to the success of our international students and partners?

My work connects international students and global partners with UC Davis’ world-class education, maintaining international collaboration and increasing students’ opportunities to study abroad somewhere amazing like Davis.

What do you value most about working in international education?

What I value most is the opportunity to help people study abroad and broaden their global horizons. My experience studying abroad opened my eyes to what the world has to offer—from new cuisines and university life to personal growth and self-reflection. 

In this way, studying abroad is so different from just traveling to a place as a tourist—you really begin to think of yourself as a local by the end of your stay. Being able to contribute to this is something that I find pride in.