KENDRA CHIOTA PAYNE MEMORIAL FUND
The Kendra Chiota Payne Memorial Fund is an endowment created from the donations of family, friends, and teammates of Kendra Chiota Payne, UCSB Class of 2006. The UCSB Foundation administers the Memorial Fund that supports these awards.
The Fund supports two awards. The first award helps support a Global Studies graduate student in an overseas internship with an NGO working for the economic advancement of women and children in Africa, Asia or Latin America.
The second award underwrites an internship to promote Leadership of Young Women through Sports. Kendra's Race directors receive the award each year. The Race Director role facilitates the development of leadership, organizational, communication, and marketing skills as the Race Directors organize the race and encourage youth participation.
Global Studies Award
Four students were selected to receive the Global Studies Award in 2025.
Matthew Kinsella-Walsh is conducting research in São Paulo, Brazil on Latin American green economic transformation.
Michael Ogundipe's internship focuses on the relationship between economic globalization and economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Paula Gonzalez is conducting fieldwork in Riohacha, La Guajira, Colombia, on how Indigenous Wayuu women and Venezuelan migrant and refugee women experience maternal healthcare.
Marinella Stollenwerk Cavallaro's research focuses on mezcal producers' cultural attachment to mezcal and their relationship with the global market.
Sports Internship
Juliana Woehkl and Ryan Chaudoin are the 2025-2026 recipients of the Kendra Chiota Payne Leadership for Women through Sports Internship awards (which are now fully funded!).
The Race Director role facilitates the development of leadership, organizational, communication, and marketing skills as the Race Directors organize the race and encourage youth participation.