Shirley (Yijun) Qian

What is one goal or initiative you have for the international student community (ISs) this year?
Experiencing Campus life, immersing in a new culture, talking to new people, and expanding their worldview, are part of the reasons why international students decide to leave their own countries and study abroad more than just textbooks and lectures. But the Covid-19 pandemic destroyed the ecological experience that ISs pursue on. This year, IGSA aims to rebuild the experience for all international students and re-establish a place where they feel engaged and involved.
What is one thing you are looking forward to this year?
Making new friends in different cultural backgrounds and new connections.
What made you run for your position in IGSA?
A president is a position that combined multiple roles, such as organizer, server, listener, and decision-maker. I ran for president because I want to push myself out of my comfortable zone seeing how far I can go.

Ankita Paul

What is one goal or initiative you have for the international student community (ISs) this year?
Obtain a multicultural experience with different countries that promotes a healthy and holistic harmony across borders in the land of opportunities.
What is one thing you are looking forward to this year?
Establishing a culture of harmony and happiness for people from various backgrounds. I wish to ensure that no one feels that Drexel is any less of a home than the home they have left behind to come here in pursuance of higher education.
What made you run for your position in IGSA?
I ran for VP in order to learn how to run an organization closely and get an opportunity to promote harmony among multiple cultures coming to the USA leaving their family and friends behind.

Bengucan Gunen

Akanksha Bhatnagar

What is one goal or initiative you have for the international student community (ISs) this year?
Bringing the entire international student community together.
What is one thing you are looking forward to this year?
Making new friends and learning about different cultures around the world – it’s like traveling without leaving the campus.
What made you run for your position in IGSA?
Having experienced living away from my home country, I want to reach out and help smoothen the transition into a new place.

Cindy Silvero Navarro

What is one goal or initiative you have for the international student community (ISs) this year?
To keep working on engaging international students with the community.
What is one thing you are looking forward to this year?
Learn more about ways that I can contribute to the international community and be engaged in activities around campus.
What made you run for your position in IGSA?
To be more involved in on-campus activities and being able to learn from them.

Jinjie He

What is one goal or initiative you have for the international student community (ISs) this year?
Let more grad students gather and have fun together.
What is one thing you are looking forward to this year?
Have more opportunities to communicate with people from different countries and majors.
What made you run for your position in IGSA?
The COVID-19 pandemic forced me to be away from people and social life. A lot of events were canceled or moved online in the past year, especially academic events. However, online academic events are not always ideal and a variety of both is key to engage multiple populations. So, I want to help share knowledge and experience with everybody in different ways, whether in online or in-person events.

Nikhil Ladhe

What is one goal or initiative you have for the international student community (ISs) this year?
Because of the pandemic, many international students are facing unique challenges. These challenges start from applying for the visa and extend till creating a social circle in Drexel. IGSA should make a goal to release student’s burden and help them understand that college is not just a degree but a journey. Even a simple initiative like biweekly meet for fun/chit-chat would help the international student increase their social circle and reduce the homesickness.
What is one thing you are looking forward to this year?
I look forward to meeting many talented people and make connections. The ideal thing I would expect is to have a family away from home. Developing organizational skills is the side goal that will be fulfilled as I taking more responsibilities.
What made you run for your position in IGSA?
In my undergrad, I never tried any organization because of a lack of confidence. When the opportunity to engage with IGSA and improve the overall Drexel education experience was provided to me, I pounced at it without hesitation because I wanted to change things. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and do something that would help me grow as a professional engineer and a fun-loving, amicable individual.

Khiem Nguyen

What is one goal or initiative you have for the international student community (ISs) this year?
To strengthen the network of ISs through the organized events with the hope that it will help ISs in terms of living, academic and career.
What is one thing you are looking forward to this year?
The thing I am looking forward to in IGSA is creating new friendships.
What made you run for your position in IGSA?
I ran for the position in IGSA because I am eager to contribute to the community. As an IS myself, I hope that I can help people like me, the ISs, go through the problems they face in the US. Moreover, I hope it would help my résumé more captivating.