UC Davis Experience Launches Yifei Li’s Cross-Cultural Career in Art and Education
When we first met Yifei Li, she was a graduate student from Renmin University in China studying in the Global Study Program (GSP) using art to embrace cross-cultural learning. She described her time at UC Davis as transformative—a chance to broaden her worldview and build her confidence in a culturally rich and artistically diverse setting.
Now, a couple of years later, we’re catching up with her to see how that experience shaped her journey—and how the lessons she learned in California continue to guide her.
What have you been up to since completing the Global Study Program?
Returning home was bittersweet. I felt a little sad leaving because my time at UC Davis was so productive and inspiring. It was a period of huge growth for me—both academically and artistically. I had just discovered what I was truly passionate about and felt I had so much more to learn.
But that motivation was also a gift. I channeled it directly into my final year at Renmin. My research and graduation thesis focused entirely on the art and culture of California, using everything I had learned and experienced at UC Davis as my foundation. It was incredibly rewarding—my work was recognized with an Excellent Graduation Student Award.
Beyond specific projects, what the GSP experience gave me was a new perspective. The supportive teachers and friends I met cultivated a new way of thinking about my work. They didn't just teach me skills—they showed me a different approach to studying, creating and planning for my future. I left feeling like I had grown faster and found a much clearer direction for what I want to do.
Have you had opportunities to share your artwork—exhibitions or workshops inspired by what you started at UC Davis?
I have! UC Davis was like a branch of sunshine for me—literally, like those beautiful California days, and figuratively, in how it lit up my creative path. I took so many photos and stored countless memories on my phone. All those little details became my visual diary.
After returning, I spent a long-time sorting through them, and those memories directly inspired the series of art pieces I created for my graduation exhibition. It was my way of sharing the beauty I found at Davis with my audience back home.
Did your UC Davis experience influence your academic goals—such as pursuing graduate school, research or cross-cultural studies?
Absolutely. I was applying for Ph.D. programs last year, and my proposed research interests were almost entirely inspired by the classes I took at UC Davis. The program gave me a crucial, horizontal view of my field—I could see the connections between different areas and cultures, which was exactly what I needed. Having that kind of platform is so important, and UC Davis perfectly provides that for anyone with higher academic pursuits.
Looking back at your goals when you were in the Global Study Program—hosting a workshop, exhibiting your art, creating California landscape paintings—what surprised you most about how those unfolded?
I think what surprised me most was that I managed to do it all—but I couldn’t have done it without the support of the Global Study Program. On a personal level, I was surprised by my own capacity for growth during that super busy time. I learned to focus intensely on both efficiency and quality. I remember staying up until 4 a.m., but I was so deeply engaged and enjoyed every moment. The surprise was realizing I could operate at that level and find it so fulfilling.
You’re now a Mandarin language and Chinese art teacher abroad at the University College Dublin in Ireland. How has this international teaching experience shaped your artistic and cross-cultural path?
Every time I stand in front of my students, it reminds me of my first art workshop at UC Davis. That experience showed me how powerful and joyful it can be to share art with others, and it gave me the confidence to do it professionally.
I truly love my work. It has also led to other opportunities, like serving as a cultural guide for an upcoming film project about Chinese culture. This teaching experience has given me a very well-organized and holistic sense of how to communicate through art and culture—both in big projects and small, everyday interactions.
What’s next for your artistic or academic journey?
Right now, I'm continuing my research into art perception and I'm also preparing materials for a new series of art projects. This new work is inspired by what I’ve seen and experienced here in Ireland and England, building on the cross-cultural approach I started in Davis.
My bigger dream is to have the chance to return to UC Davis to exhibit my new work. It would bring my journey full circle.
What advice would you share with future GSP students who come hoping to grow through immersive cultural and academic experiences?
A new Irish friend of mine recently commented on my American accent. I happily replied that I studied at UC Davis. Every time I have an interaction like this, it instantly transports me back to that beautiful campus and the lovely faces I met there. It was my first time abroad, and everything was new. I was so busy just trying to take it all in.
It’s hard to measure exactly how much I learned, but the experience left a permanent stamp on me. It shows up at random times, in random ways—like in a casual comment. But it’s a reminder that yes, I did that, and I learned so much.
My advice: Embrace every single moment—even the overwhelming ones. Be busy. Be curious. And trust that the experience will become a part of you, revealing its value in wonderful and unexpected ways long after you've returned home.