International Graduate Student Association

Group of international students taking a selfie

The International Graduate Student Association (IGSA) advocates for the interests and addresses the concerns of Drexel's international graduate students. As one of the most dynamic, diverse, and active graduate student organizations, the IGSA augments graduate student life at Drexel for international students and collaborates with groups across the University to offer:

Pre-arrival informational and engaging webinars;
Welcome programs and events;
Shopping trips;
Cultural and informational tours of Drexel and Philadelphia;
Group trips Philadelphia and metropolitan area attractions;
Academic and professional development workshops;
Multicultural social events and gatherings in celebration of US and international holidays and culture;
Cultural and community building events;
And, recreational events, such as hiking, skiing, ice skating and more!

Visit the International Students page for more information and resources for international graduate students.

Executive Board Members of the IGSA 2025-2026

For general inquiries, please contact the IGSA E-Board at dsoigsa@drexel.edu. Or, visit their page on DragonLink for a list of upcoming events.

Name, Position, Program & Bio	Photo
Essien Oku Essien President Nigeria PhD Program in Communication, Culture & Media College of Arts and Sciences Essien specializes in the intersection of Climate Communication and Spirituality. His interdisciplinary research examines climate disinformation, religion and spirituality, media effects, semiotics, and Critical Theory. He earned a First-Class Honors degree in Mass Communication from Cross River University of Technology, Nigeria. Essien has received multiple Emerging Scholar Awards at global conferences in Ireland, Argentina, Italy, and the U.S., and has been recognized for his contributions to the UN-SDGs, the Global Landscape Forum, and other international platforms. He volunteers with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, and he is an Interfaith Climate Fellowship Alumnus at Duke University. At Drexel, he serves on the Teaching and Learning Center Advisory Board. Before Drexel, he worked as a media research consultant in Nigeria. He is also the author of The Church of the Last Age.
Sonika Lamichhane Executive Vice President Nepal PhD Program in Communication, Culture & Media College of Arts and Sciences Sonika's research focuses on social media, misinformation, fake news, and digital media and artificial intelligence, exploring their broader societal impacts. Sonika's work has garnered significant recognition, with numerous publications addressing social media and contemporary issues. She aims to contribute to the association's success by supporting the well-being of international students.
Kaarthik Roshan Kumar Vice President of Student Affairs India Master's Program in Cybersecurity College of Engineering Kaarthik's academic and research interests focus on the intersection of machine learning and cryptographic security, particularly in developing adaptive authentication protocols and intelligent threat detection systems. With a background in ethical hacking and secure system design, he is dedicated to advancing proactive, data-driven approaches to digital security.
Richard Lourdes Victor Vice President of Finance India Master's Program in Engineering Management College of Engineering Richard oversees budgeting, financial planning, and expenditure tracking, ensuring fiscal integrity and transparency within IGSA. With a solid background in finance and accounting, he brings analytical rigor and strategic insight to optimize resource allocation and support student-led initiatives.
Sushant Mahalle Events Coordinator India Master's Program in Information Systems College of Computing and Informatics Sushant is passionate about fostering a welcoming and inclusive community. With a background in technology and a deep interest in community building, Sushant is dedicated to organizing engaging events that help international students connect, share their cultures, and feel at home. He believes that well-planned events play a vital role in supporting student well-being, building lasting friendships, and easing the transition to life at Drexel. His goal is to help fellow students thrive throughout their academic journey.
Ibrahim Edward Vonjoe Director of Academic Events Sierra Leone Master's Program in Cybersecurity College of Engineering Ibrahim's studies focus on developing advanced expertise in digital security, risk management, and network defense to combat today's evolving cyber threats. With a strong commitment to building secure and resilient systems, Ibrahim’s academic and professional interests center on protecting data integrity while supporting broader organizational goals.
Madhukeshwar Shivakumar Maalige Director of Cultural Events India Master's Program in Engineering Management College of Engineering Madhukeshwar is focused on bridging technical expertise with strategic leadership. He is passionate about creating inclusive, meaningful experiences that celebrate diversity and foster community. Madhukeshwar thrives at the intersection of organization and creativity, curating events that energize student life while honoring the many cultures and voices that make Drexel's campus unique.
John Issakahu Director of Professional Development Ghana PhD Program in Education School of Education John specializes in comparative education policy and culturally responsive curriculum design. His research explores how policy overload and limited capacity affect reform outcomes in Ghana and underserved U.S. districts. He analyzes how educators respond to global trends like accountability mandates and decentralized governance using theories of street-level bureaucracy and policy accumulation. John also studies culturally responsive digital tools in Ghanaian and U.S. schools, focusing on co-designed multimedia for reproductive health and social justice education. His participatory, decolonial approach centers marginalized voices to foster critical consciousness and advance educational equity.
Ebenezer Kyeremeh Head of the Research Board Ghana PhD Program in Nursing College of Nursing and Health Professions Ebenezer holds a Master of Science in Public Health from Sheffield Hallam University, UK. His research focuses on telehealth, aging, health disparities, and social determinants of health. A recipient of the Drexel University Research Fellowship, Ebenezer is committed to addressing health inequalities through academic inquiry. With leadership experience and a collaborative mindset, he actively supports the academic success and well-being of international graduate students at Drexel.
Alpha West Sannoh Director of Public Relations Liberia Master's Program in Communication, Culture & Media College of Arts and Sciences Alpha brings a rich background in public service, public relations, and digital marketing to the role. Alpha has built a strong foundation in strategic communication and journalism, and he is committed to increasing IGSA's visibility, fostering meaningful community engagement, and effectively communicating the organization’s initiatives to a broader audience. He is dedicated to ensuring that IGSA's message resonates widely and that its impact continues to grow.
Shanmukha Rao Allipilli Director of Alumni Relations India Master's Program in Computer Engineering College of Engineering Shanmukha specializes in Artificial Intelligence for Genomic Research. At Drexel's EESI Lab, he co-authored a book chapter on Genomic Language Models, exploring tokenization, architectures, and training paradigms for genomic sequence classification. With prior leadership in recruitment at Compunnel INC and BeeData Technologies, and strong skills in bioinformatics, AI, and cloud platforms, he aims to advance innovations in computational biology.