Graduate student Eli Alston-Stepnitz reflects on the winding path that led him to public scholarship, and how he leverages his skills and experience in a variety of experiences outside his field of study.

Graduate student Alex Volzer draws on a personal experience to shape his approach to inclusive economic development in rural communities.

Professor Natalia Deeb-Sossa addresses issues faced by Mexican farmworker mothers by connecting with the community of Knights Landing to advocate for educational rights and establish health clinics in the town. 

Sandy Holman is the Purple Lady whose work in promoting diversity, equity, and quality education brings love and change in the community around her. 

Roy “RJ” Taggueg, Jr. is an undocumented UC Davis student whose parents came from the Philippines when he was 7 years old. Now he is pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology with a research focus on studying the undocumented Filipinx population.

UC Davis Professor of Law Lisa Pruitt is partnering with people in rural communities to advocate for those who experience unequal access to legal services because of where they live. It’s work she isn’t paid for that takes a lot of time, but it helps ensure her work in academia can be more broadly relevant and address the experiences of rural communities.