Linda Heckert, retired international student advising assistant, passed away on November 26, 2024, at the age of 70. 

Linda was born in Maryland in 1954. Her fond memories of family life in Germany and camping throughout Europe as a child formed the foundation of her global outlook. Linda was proud to have graduated with honors from UC Davis in 1986 with a degree in design, and she worked in urban planning and design in Woodland and Winters for many years.  

Later in her career, Linda dedicated 19 years to supporting university students, especially international students and scholars. After a brief stint at UC Santa Cruz, she spent the last 16 years of her career at Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS), now part of UC Davis Global Affairs. Her contributions to the tremendous growth and expansion of this program were recognized by many, most notably the international students themselves.  

Linda is remembered for the multiple perspectives she brought to SISS and UC Davis. She had a rare combination of creativity and organization. She inspired her colleagues to consider alternative problem-solving solutions. 

Linda’s love of nature, design and visual arts permeated her life and was exemplified in her small collection of beautiful original paintings, ceramics and sculpture. Since her retirement in 2020, she enjoyed sketching as well as watercolor and acrylic painting and volunteered at the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. She leaves her mark on campus in many ways, including through the photography displayed on the walls of the SISS office in the International Center, which is a result of her leading the design committee to beautify the space.