Fall 2024 ISO Student Staff
These are the amazing Wesleyan international students who are helping OISA plan and lead our Fall 2024 International Student Orientation (ISO)! Each incoming, first-year, undergraduate international student will be assigned an International Student Orientation Leader (ISOL) and a group for their ISO experience. Read on to learn more about the 13 members of the ISO student staff team!
If you have questions or concerns about ISO, arriving to Wesleyan, or other orientation-related matters, please send an email to iso@wesleyan.edu.
ISO Intern
-
Alex Arrieta (he/him)
Class of 2027 - Neuroscience & Behavior, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, minor in Education Studies
Mexico City, Mexico
Read MoreMy languages: English, Italian, Spanish, Nahuatl
Involvement at Wesleyan: I'm in a club called WesInterpreters which does translation services for and to non-english speakers that migrated to Connecticut. I'm also part of Wesleyan's very own Film Board (totally not a big deal) so if you have movie recs send them my way! I'll also soon be joining the Wes Multilingual Community Tutors through the Beman Middle School program, which is dope. I also work as an Instructional Media Specialist in ITS - so it's also likely that you're going to see me going around classrooms and fixing things. I was also part of Wesleyan's Club Volleyball team for men, but now I just do it for fun. Now, I'm your ISO Intern!
Come ask me about: You can ask me about good films, how to get an on-campus job & study abroad opportunities!
Bio: Hello! I'm Alex, your ISO Intern for this term. I'm a rising sophomore here at Wesleyan, and I can't wait to meet y'all! About me, you should know I lived in Mexico City my entire life, and after I graduate, I want to go to Brazil and do something there. I like learning languages in my spare time and I'm taking German/French next semester. I also love this band called LCD Soundsystem. Hit up my line if you need anything. Welcome to Wes!
One piece of advice: Call your parents, friends, and family often (they miss you), don't commit to any major until you're a sophomore (and if people ask, just make one up) and finally, don't be too harsh on yourself and enjoy the ride. We're all here to help!
International Student Orientation Leaders (ISOLs)
-
Junu Lee (he/him)
Class of 2025 - Astronomy, Film
Seoul, South Korea
Read MoreMy languages: Korean, English
Involvement at Wesleyan: A cappella (Wesleyan Spirits, Notably Sharp), band (Solar Plunge), some student theater, astronomy research
Come ask me about: My majors, the a cappella scene on campus, what to do in CT (and where to get the best ice cream), spending breaks on campus, getting a driver's license in the U.S., and why Korea should be your next travel destination
Bio: Hi everyone! My name is Junu (he/him), and I'm from Seoul, Korea. I'm a rising senior double majoring in Astronomy and Film. I love movies, TV shows, traveling, eating, and making music. I'm so excited to meet you all!
One piece of advice: Don't be afraid to ask for help, and take advantage of all the on-campus resources at your disposal!
-
Molly Fung (she/her)
Class of 2025 - Neuroscience & Behavior, Psychology
Costa Rica
Read MoreMy languages: Spanish, English
Involvement at Wesleyan: Cognitive Development Lab, Economics and Organic Chemistry TA, WesReads/Maths
Come ask me about: Resources on campus, on-campus and summer research, on-campus jobs, classes, majors, consulting internships
Bio: Hi! My name is Molly and I use she/her pronouns. I am a rising senior majoring in Neuroscience & Behavior and Psychology, with a minor in Economics. I grew up in Costa Rica and on-campus I am involved in various jobs such as Psychology research, TA, and library work. Feel free to talk to me about anything Wesleyan related - chances are I've tried it myself or know someone that has :) Can't wait to meet you all and welcome to Wes!
One piece of advice: Don't be afraid to aim high!
-
Putt Watcharapong (he/him)
Class of 2025 - Economics & Art Studio
Bangkok, Thailand
Read MoreMy languages: Thai, English
Involvement at Wesleyan: ECON301 TA, IMS Technician, Thai Student Association President, AASC Cultural Liaison member, KSA member, Badminton Club
Come ask me about: Asian identity groups, club sports, econ major, dining options, campus jobs
Bio: Hi everyone! My name is Putt and I use he/him pronouns! I am a rising senior majoring in Economics and Art Studio. I grew up in Bangkok, Thailand. On campus, I am involved in various Asian identity clubs. Outside of school, I love going to the gym. I can't wait to meet you all! Welcome to Wesleyan!
One piece of advice: If you ever have a problem, there's always someone with a solution waiting for your email!
-
Irene Tatsi (she/her)
Class of 2026 - College of Letters, Art History
Greece and Cyprus
Read MoreMy languages: Greek, French, English
Involvement at Wesleyan: ASHA, Writing Workshop, Civic engagement, previously an ISOL, TA for Art History.
Come ask me about: University life includes so much more beyond academics. After two years at Wesleyan, I find that students can ask me a plethora of questions, from how to switch up their classic Usdan meal, to the best time to go to the gym. Also, you may wonder about the social life here or the cultural differences with the U.S. I can also help you out with questions about Middletown and the surrounding cities! Feel free to reach out to me with any wonders you might have!
Bio: Helloooo! I'm Irene Tatsi (she/ her pronouns) and I am a rising junior majoring in Art History and College of Letters, which means that I always have some reading to catch up on. I am Greek, but have been calling Cyprus home for the past 7 years. During orientation, you will for sure find me talking about ASHA, the Adolescent Sexual Health Awareness club in Wesleyan, of which I am a core member. We get to teach sex education in Connecticut high schools! You will also hear me discussing the various opportunities to be civically engaged and talking about how useful the Writing Workshop is, especially for international students. Back home, I love to go to the beach and watch the sunrise/ sunset, paint different compositions and read classic novels. I am so so so excited to meet y'all and I want to welcome all of you to Wesleyan!
One piece of advice: My advice for all of you would be to trust the process. Don't worry too much and be assured that everything will fall into place. University years pass by fast, so try to enjoy them as much as possible!
-
Fernando Caballero (he/him)
Class of 2026 - Computer Science, Math, College of Integrative Sciences
El Salvador
Read MoreLanguages: Spanish, English
Involvement at Wesleyan: Research at ThayerLab, Teaching Assistant for Intro and Functional Programming, Special Events Manager at IMS, Soccer
Come ask me about: Anything CS/Math/Research related - how to study, move your way around the majors. Intramural sports, especially soccer. Campus life or anything to do around Wes/ in Middletown!
Bio: Hello Everyone! Welcome to Wesleyan! My name is Fernando (He/Him) and I am a rising Junior triple majoring in Mathematics, Computer Science and the College of Integrative Sciences. I grew up in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. Outside of School, I love drumming - I started when I was 5. I am also passionate about Football (soccer) and love kicking a ball around, but I also watch just about any sport that has a ball. I am super excited to meet you all and reach out if you have any questions! See you in the fall!
One piece of advice: Approach your Wesleyan Life one day at a time. Don't try to do everything at once, there is time for everything, and be open to trying out new things!
-
Priyanshu Pokhrel (she/her)
Class of 2026 - Economics, minor in East Asian Studies, Applied Data Science Certificate
Nepal
Read MoreMy languages: Nepali, English, Hindi, Korean
Involvement at Wesleyan: I am a student trainer for the consulting club on campus. I am a QAC tutor and TA for multiple QAC classes. I also served as the board member for the FGLI advisory board on campus. I have previously worked as an intern for OISA and also for the Upward Bound Math-Science Program.
Come ask me about:You can ask me about the entrepreneurship center on campus. I am also well-versed on different types of grant opportunities on campus and can definitely guide you through it. I am also a QAC tutor so am always approachable with questions about data analysis.
Bio: Hi guys! I am Priyanshu from Kathmandu, Nepal and use she/her pronouns. I am a rising junior currently majoring in Economics alongside an Applied Data Science certificate and East Asian Studies minor. I am extremely interested in developmental economics and private capital. Additionally, I love traveling and have had the opportunity to go to South Korea and London through Wesleyan. I am also running my own venture in Nepal, Pyari, which is supported by the Patricelli Center on Campus. I have also worked as an OISA intern for 2 years and I absolutely love hanging out with international friends and look forward to welcoming you all to the international student community on campus. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me before or after you arrive on campus at ppokhrel@wesleyan.edu!
One piece of advice: Take space and create space for yourself on campus and don’t hesitate to show your culture and unique perspectives among the larger crowd. International students lead great initiatives on campus and you can easily be one of them!
-
Hudson Wang (he/him)
Class of 2026 - Neuroscience, College of Letters
Tianjin, China and Birmingham, Alabama
Read MoreMy languages: Mandarin Chinese and English
Involvement at Wesleyan: I sing in Slender James (a cappella), play intramural soccer, and work in the Advancement Office.
Come ask me about: Anything- managing different academic interests, getting involved in theater productions, what is College of Letters…
Bio: Hi everyone! My name is Hudson Wang and I use he/him pronouns. I am a rising Junior majoring in Neuroscience and College of Letters. On campus, I am involved in theater shows, a cappella performances, intramural soccer games, and a job where I contact young alumni. I am also a fan of reading and fishing. Can’t wait to meet you all! Welcome to Wesleyan!
One piece of advice: Take on new experiences, those you haven’t tried before and those you want to dive deeper into.
-
Cecilia Foldessy-Stiegemeier (she/they)
Class of 2026 - Government, minor in Data Analysis
Hungary and United States
Read MoreMy languages: Hungarian, English, French (I am doing a language program in the summer so hopefully will be proficient:) )
Involvement at Wesleyan: Barista at Pi, Research Assistant for Wesleyan Media Project, member of Alpha Delta Phi Society
Come ask me about: Music scene on campus, opportunities, practice rooms, bands, groups, Government related opportunities, Athletic facilities, Hikes in the area, Best coffee spots in the area.
Bio: Hi everyone! My name is Sissi and I use she/they pronouns! I am a rising junior majoring in government and minoring in data analysis. I grew up in Budapest, Hungary mainly but lived in NYC for a couple of years. On campus, I am involved in polisci related work, greek life (I’m a member of one of our coed societies!), I play piano and the ukulele. Outside of school, I’m passionate about Hungarian politics (I can talk about it for HOURS), LGBTQ+ rights, especially in the Central/ Eastern European region, classical music and languages. I can't wait to meet you all! Welcome to Wesleyan!!
One piece of advice: Reach out to Wesleyan staff and your orientation leaders with LITERALLY any question you have about coming to Wesleyan, it’s what we’re here for. Even if everything seems stressful right now, trust that it will all get sorted out in time!
-
Nirvaan Mehta (he/they)
Class of 2027 - Psychology, Economics
Hyderabad, India
Read MoreMy languages: English, Hindi
Involvement at Wesleyan: International Student Advisory Board (ISAB), Research Assistant in the Blue Lab, Kpop Dance Crew (KDC)
Come ask me about: Ask me about anything! Especially getting involved in research, stuff to do during the summer, and getting involved in international student advocacy :)
Bio: Hi everyone! My name is Nirvaan and I use he/they pronouns! I am a rising sophomore majoring in Psychology and Economics. I grew up in Hyderabad, India. On campus, I am involved in Research in the Blue Lab, K-pop dance, and the International Student Advisory Board. Outside of school, I love to bake, draw, and scuba dive. I can't wait to meet you all!! Welcome to Wesleyan <3. If you have any questions or just want to talk you can email me at nmehta@wesleyan.edu :)
One piece of advice: Never hesitate to reach out to a professor! Whether for help in a class or because you want to get involved with research your professors always want to find ways to best support you. Also, get out of your comfort zone and try something you've never done before, like dance or music.
-
Vik Georgieva (she/her)
Class of 2027 - Government, Neuroscience and Behavior, Psychology
Bulgaria
Read MoreMy languages: I’m fluent in Bulgarian, English, and Russian. I’m currently learning French, ASL, and Greek at Wes and self-studying Macedonian and Turkish.
Involvement at Wesleyan: Linguistics club, Debate Society, Mock trial, WesBuds, and the Wesleyan International Speakers Program
Come ask me about: Don't hesitate to reach out about anything! I would love to give advice about my experience as an FGLI student, best strategies to stay on top of school work, or navigating social life at Wes.
Bio: Hey hey! I’m Vik (she/her) and I’m a rising sophomore from Haskovo, Bulgaria who’s planning on majoring in Gov, Neuro, and Psych. But more importantly, I’m a diva, a linguist, and an avid birdwatcher. I love dancing, making comic books and am really passionate about public speaking. Welcome to Wes!
One piece of advice: Try things you wouldn't normally try in your first few months here! Lean onto the international student community and be there for them as well-- we're here to help each other out.
-
Abdiasis (Siiso) Daauud (he/him)
Class of 2027 - Computer Science, minor in Data Analysis
Somaliland
Read MoreMy languages: Somali, English
Involvement at Wesleyan: Research job, Lab, Track and Field
Come ask me about: Students can ask me about finding research opportunities and jobs on campus, joining a sport team, how sport teams are. They can also ask me about anything related to programming and data analysis, whether it is course-related or just hobbies.
Bio: Hi everyone, my name is Abdiasis Daauud and I use He/Him pronouns. I am a rising sophomore majoring in Computer Science. I grew up in a small city in Somaliland with my other 8 siblings. On campus, I work as a research assistant, focusing on the development of Machine Learning for class use. Outside of school, I love playing Football, playing FIFA, and running. I used to be on the Cross Country and Track and Field team for the school in my first year here. I look forward to meeting every single one of you guys and congratulations on your acceptance to Wesleyan.
One piece of advice: Actively pursue what truly interests you and what you believe is going to benefit you for your life and career beyond college. Make choices that align with your aspirations, values and beliefs.
-
Janhavi Munde (she/her)
Class of 2027 - Government, College of Letters, minor in Human Rights Advocacy
India
Read MoreMy languages: Marathi, Hindi, English, some German
Involvement at Wesleyan: Assistant Features Editor & Photo Editor at the Argus, Library Attendant for the COL, sex educator with Adolescent Sexual Health Awareness (ASHA), SHAKTI.
Come ask me about: Literary platforms on campus, FYS courses, interdisciplinary majors, book recommendations, interesting history/ gov classes, the best coffee spots in Middletown (seriously, I have a list), or just about anything!
Bio: Hello! I'm Janhavi, a rising sophomore majoring in Government and the COL with a minor in Human Rights Advocacy. I grew up between Mumbai-Pune in India. I have always loved reading and writing, especially anything historical or political. I enjoy covering cultural events and interest clubs on the Argus. Other than that, I love partaking in the seasonal SHAKTI events, teaching sex education with ASHA, dabbling in graphic design, and writing poetry in my free time. I'm so excited to be your ISOL-- welcome to Wes!
One piece of advice: Engage with people with different academic interests than your own, plan out your summers/ winters ahead of time, take a language course, and do not rush your adjustment to Wes! Enjoy the first few weeks of school and trust that you will figure things out, both by yourself and with friends.