International Student Advisory Council 2019-2020

Purpose

The Council provides feedback and recommendations to International Student Services and other campus units to assist the University of Arizona in setting the standard for an international university in the digital age. Members of the ISAC contribute to unparalleled student support by serving as advocates for the international student community and contributing to effective international engagement.

Who

Members of the ISAC are a diverse group of students representing a wide range of colleges, education levels, and nations of origin who are prepared to think critically about issues affecting the broader international community.

Expectations 

Members of the ISAC are expected to inform practices on campus that are designed to promote international student engagement and satisfaction.

ISAC Member Abdulrahman Abdulrahman Batyour

Batyour is from Saudi Arabia. He joined the Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) educational scholarship program in 2016 to study abroad. He joined the University of Arizona to major in chemical engineering in Fall 2017. He has served as engineering ambassador in the College of Engineering since Fall 2018. Batyour was selected to be a preceptor in chemistry 152 to help struggling students. He was invited, along with other students, to represent the scholarship’s students in a meeting with SABIC Board of Directors in Houston, Texas in Fall 2018. In spring 2019, he joined the International Students Advisory Council (ISAC). His reason of joining the council is to help the international students engage more on campus by delivering and marketing the many services available to them, and to generate more interesting ideas that will enhance the international student experience, both academic and non-academic. One interesting fact about Batyour is that he loves traveling, and has visited 35 states in the three years he has been here!

ISAC member Ainsley Chung Ainsley Chung

Ainsley Chung is a senior and a transfer student in the College of Sciences, majoring in Biology with a minor in Economics. She plans to work as a dental assistant for a year and apply to dental school after graduation. She was born and raised in Taiwan. Through her experience as a Global Ambassador for the 2018-19 academic year, Ainsley realized her passion for helping international students settle into college life in the U.S. It is a goal of hers to contribute to developing and publicizing strategies that will aid international students to adjust effectively and relatively quickly so they are well prepared for what awaits them in their study abroad career. In her free time Ainsley likes to work out, go to museums, and read.

ISAC member Alma Tejeda Padron Alma Tejeda Padron

Alma is a Psychology PhD student with minor in Health at the College of Science. She serves as a Graduate Student representative at the Psychology department as well as a volunteer at Stressbusters, a national training and outreach program that locally, is produced by the University of Arizona Campus Health Service. Alma was born and raised in Southern Mexico and as a student for the first time in the United States, she is aware of the challenges that international students can face when they first travel to the United States. Alma’s goal is to develop and promote practices that help international students to feel welcomed, supported and engaged in a global environment, enriching the University of Arizona and the global community.

ISAC member Amy Gill Amy Gill

Amy Shamin Gill is an international graduate student in the School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Arizona. She is pursuing a Masters in Ecology, Management, and Restoration of Rangelands. Amy was born and raised in Pakistan and came to the United States to complete her studies on a Fulbright Master Scholarship. At the University of Arizona, she is part of the International Student Advisory Council, where she gets to learn and know people from diverse cultural backgrounds. An international student, herself, Amy is eager to support the international student community with much-needed help and guidance in the adjustments and transitions required to settle in a foreign place. She wants to contribute to making other international students' journeys enjoyable and believes that things start feeling easier and more relatable when you find home-like familiarities in your new environment. In her free time, Amy likes to hang out with friends, watch movies (Netflix could never go wrong), sketch and paint occasionally.

ISAC member Duaa AlBalawi Duaa AlBalawi

Duaa AlBalawi is a Senior studying Organismal Biology. Duaa is from Saudi Arabia and has a passion for traveling and learning about new cultures. She decided to join the International Student Advisory Council to help bridge the gap between different cultures and backgrounds within the campus community, while providing an inclusive and fun atmosphere in the process.

ISAC member Jiahui He Jiahui He

Jiahui He is a Junior in the Eller College of Management. She is currently double major in Accounting and MIS. She was born and raised in Qingdao, China. Jiahui is passionate about helping international students at the University of Arizona, and she enjoys experiencing different cultures. Outside of school, she likes to capture life through images and editing videos.

ISAC member Manujinda Wathugala Manujinda Wathugala

Manujinda Wathugala is a second year Ph.D. student in Computer Science. His research focus is Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Manujinda is from Sri Lanka, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. His mother tongue is Sinhalese. Prior to the University of Arizona, he completed his MS in Computer Science at the University of Oregon. So, he is both a Duck and a Wildcat. Having lived in different parts of the USA, Manujinda can relate to many situations than an international student faces while studying in a US college. He loves meeting people from all around the world and making friends with them. He also loves to introduce his friends to each other. He believes networking and communicating with people across boundaries that we have enforced on us—such as cultures, religions, and nations—is the best way to alleviate many of the problems and conflicts we are facing today. He thinks the International Student Advisory Council is an ideal platform to practice and promote this locally at the University of Arizona. Manujinda likes to meditate and watch TED talks.

ISAC member Marédil León Marédil León

Marédil León is a PhD Candidate in the Second Language Acquisition and Teaching program. She was born and raised in Venezuela and has been at the University of Arizona for her master’s and PhD programs. She strongly believes in diversity and equality for all, and on the huge benefits of multiculturalism and multilingualism in academia. Joining the International Student Advisory Council and advocating for international students is an incredible opportunity to put this passion into practice. In her free time, she enjoys watching documentaries and going dancing with her friends.

ISAC member Moruj (MJ) Athma Moruj (MJ) Athma

Moruj (MJ) Athma is a senior in the life science college, majoring in Biology. Moruj was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, Makkah. Her academic interests include physiology and genetic research, and she loves to learn new languages and experience new cultures. She is passionate about embracing the diversity of international students on campus, supporting them to achieve high academic success while enjoying their time, and showing them all the possible opportunities they have to improve their skills in many aspects. Her hobbies include drawing, writing (in Arabic), learning new languages, and jump rope.

ISAC member Oanh Tran Oanh Tran

Oanh is a senior from Vietnam. She is an electrical engineering major and an international transfer student from the University of New Mexico. When she first came to the University of Arizona, although she had lived in the US for years, she still found it hard to get used to a new environment. The International Student Advisory Council is a place through which she can provide help and support, as well as share experiences with other students who are having a hard time adapting to a new school and new culture. As an international student, she has gone through many of these hardships personally, including dealing with documenting paperwork and finding a job, since these two are the most complicated and confusing. Oanh wants to help her fellow students keep on track and feel at home when pursuing their dreams/career at the University of Arizona. Since it is her senior year, and she is busy with schoolwork, Oanh tries to give herself free time to watch K-Dramas and listen to music from her favorite band, BIGBANG. She also enjoys trying out new local restaurants and driving around town to take photos of pretty places.

ISAC member Ola Allababidi Ola Allababidi

Ola Allababidi is a sophomore studying Neuroscience and Cognitive Sciences. She is from Damascus, Syria, but was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. Ola loves to travel, read, and swim. Being part of the International Student Advisory Council means a lot to Ola because when she first moved to Tucson, she felt like no one was there for her. After joining ISAC, she started meeting a lot of people and has built many meaningful connections. Ola plans on doing her best to make sure everyone feels included at the University of Arizona and that no one feels left out. A lot of the students feel welcomed the first week but then with time find it hard to adapt, and she wants to help make the transition easier, especially for those who are afraid to take the first step in doing so.

ISAC member Shouq Alshahrani Shouq Alshahrani

Shouq is a Sophomore in the College of Science, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in Microbiology. She was born and raised in Saudi Arabia and moved to the United States when she was eight. In her career, she is passionate about studying human genetic diseases and the beautiful mechanisms that control our genes. Her favorite hobbies include painting and cooking. Shouq is looking forward to deepening her involvement in international events and organizations at the University of Arizona, and she understands the power of diversity here. She is passionate about helping others and improving the international student experience at the University of Arizona.

ISAC member Vishal Tadiboyina Vishal Tadiboyina

Vishal Tadiboyina is a second year MBA student at the Eller College of Management. He is also completing a second master’s program specializing in Management Information Systems. He has 3 years of industry experience in the IT industry and is dedicated to helping businesses make sound business decisions. He is passionate about automobiles, cricket, and helping international students transition to the University of Arizona.

ISAC member Yashvardhan Vats Yashvardhan Vats

Yashvardhan Vats is an international student from India, born in New Delhi (National Capital of India) and raised in Mumbai (Financial Capital of India). He is a sophomore in the College of Social and Behavioral Science and the Eller College of Management. His majors are Pre-Business (Intended Majors: Management Information Systems and Operations Management) and Information Science and Technology. He has a seat in the International Student Advisory Council and is a Global Ambassador at the University of Arizona. His hobbies are playing basketball and watching mind-boggling/confusing movies. He is passionate about his family and career, and also about helping international students adapt to the United States environment and culture. He is especially passionate about ISAC because it is the first ever council the university has formed to address the initiative of bringing together the international students, International Student Services (ISS) and international student associations. His ideal post-graduation job is to be business analyst in the ‘big 4’ accounting firms or at least in the top 50 of the Fortune 500 companies.