The Vice Chancellor Fellows play a critical role within Student Affairs and the Cabinet of Student Leaders. Fellows build connections across campus, work on impactful projects and provide a student voice and perspective to our initiatives. Over the course of the academic year, their hard work and contributions to the division are an integral part of our success.
2024-25 Fellows
Faith Mbakadi - Vice Chancellor Fellow
Faith is a fourth-year double major in psychology and anthropology with a minor in public health sciences. She brings a wealth of experience from her roles at the Career Center and the Mondavi Center and her impactful work as an ACE Intern at the Student Recruitment and Retention Center. Faith was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raised in Canada, and is now an international student at UC Davis. This has allowed her to gain unique insights into the challenges faced by minority students navigating institutional systems. She is eager to leverage this perspective in her new role, demonstrating her commitment to addressing these issues.
Faith will oversee the Cabinet of Student Leaders and the Shadow an Aggie Experience program while also contributing to various committees and projects throughout the academic year. She is particularly excited to better understand the Division of Student Affairs’ inner workings and collaborate with university leaders to address critical issues affecting student life at UC Davis. Through her demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to enhancing the student experience, Faith’s dedication will undoubtedly benefit our community during her time as the Vice Chancellor Fellow.
Faith can be reached at vcsafellow@ucdavis.edu, 530-752-6866.
Projects
Faith will work directly with the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs office by serving on committees and running the Cabinet of Student Leaders, where the VCSA will directly converse with over 30 student leaders from different organizations. Additionally, she will be organizing the Shadow an Aggie Experience, which offers UC Davis staff and campus leaders an opportunity to experience a day in a student's life while allowing students to interact with and provide insights to campus leaders. During her fellowship, Faith will highlight the Student Affairs division's work and projects with the help of the Student Affairs Marketing and Communications team.
María Hernández - College Corps Vice Chancellor Fellow
María is a rising fourth-year Chicana/o Studies major, pursuing minors in sociology, art History and public health. Born in Mexico and raised in the Bay Area, María has worked in the educational non-profit sector engaging with various community organizations that bridge the gap for BIPOC and low-income families. Previously, she served as a Student Outreach Liaison for the Undocumented Student Resource Center. Her external and on-campus experience supporting and advocating for marginalized communities will bring a valuable perspective to this role.
María will be working out of the UC Davis College Corps Office in South Hall, with a focus on engaging undocumented students with university resources to support their educational and professional aspirations. In her role, María is looking forward to learn the ways in which BIPOC students and their families engage with systems of education and how both educators and administrators can be a bridge for a brighter future. As College Corps Vice Chancellor Fellow, María will be participating in various committees and projects throughout the year in support of the VCSA office.
María can be reached at mfhernandez@ucdavis.edu.
Projects
María will participate in various committees and projects throughout the year in support of the VCSA office through College Corps. These efforts will include outreach both within and outside UC Davis. Additionally, she will be working on projects such as the UndocuPathways opportunity which aims to increase support and accessibility to resources for students who have been historically marginalized in higher education.
Application Process
Fellowship applications for the fellowship will be posted to Handshake in early April. Applicants who are invited to interview will be contacted by the Vice Chancellor’s office at the end of May, with an offer being made shortly after. Upon acceptance, a fellow should expect to onboard in early June and officially start their duties in September, before the academic year begins.