Arts, Sciences and Engineering

• International Students:
• Welcome to UR
• Important Contacts
• U.S. Life Course

International Students

Student Mentors

Hi! I’m Kyra Bradley, one of the International Student Mentors here at U of R, and I wanted to tell you a bit about the International Student Mentoring program (ISM). This year, we’ve got 21 amazing mentors working to make your experience at the University of Rochester all the more awesome. You will all be put into groups, led by one of our fabulous mentors.

Here’s some things to expect from your mentor:

1. Over the summer, your mentor will be emailing you. These emails will have important dates, information and reminders about moving in and starting your first semester at the U of R. It’s also a place for you to start getting to know the other new students in your group and an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the University, community or the U.S. in general.
2. International Move-in Day! All of the mentors will be helping International Students move in. That first day, we will also have an opportunity for you to meet and bond with your mentor and the other new students. 
3. The rest of the semester, your mentor will plan group dinners and other fun and/or helpful group events. They’ll also periodically check-in by email, just to make sure your first semester is going as smoothly as possible.
4. As a group, ISM will be planning events for the University community. You’ll hear about these, and should come check them out and support your mentors.

Please feel free to contact any of the mentors if you find they have something in common with you after reading our Bios! I know any of the mentors would love to hear from you!

	About
Sanuja Bose Class of 2016	Majoring in Neuroscience and Health, Behavior and Society Greetings incoming freshman! I was born and raised in Singapore where I attended the Singapore American school for fifteen years. Despite the American influence I take pride in being an international student. I have a great appreciation for different cultures. I have visited more then seventy-three cities in twenty-four countries! Here, I am mostly involved in the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT), Mock Trial and Partners in Reading. I love this school and I hope you will as well! My Advice: Don’t be ashamed of having questions. People are usually friendly and understanding and ISM’s in particular will always be. Join different organizations on campus that seem interesting. Don’t be afraid or be shy. It is the best way to meet people. While adapting to a new culture is important, always be proud of who you are and where you came from. In the end you should never be embarrassed about how you say or do things or what you believed.
Kyra Bradley Class of 2014	Majoring in English, French and German Hi! My name is Kyra Bradley. I will be a senior in the fall and I am studying English, French and German. I’m also in the GRADE program (with UofR's school of education) and love my job working with kids in UReading. I'm a Third Culture Kid (TCK), which means I spent part of my childhood outside of my passport country. I was born in Istanbul, grew up in Paris and went to boarding school in southern Germany. According to my passport, I’m an American citizen, but freshman year was my first year living in the United States, so I would consider myself to be an International Student. I’m super excited to meet all of you and cannot wait to get this year started! My Advice:
Natasha Chainani Class of 2014	Majoring in Microbiology and Immunology Namaste! Welcome to the University of Rochester Class of 2017! I'm Natasha Chainani, a Microbiology and Immunology major at the U of R. I was born in Bombay, India and then moved to Singapore and I tend to call both places my home. I like dabbling in photography, culinary arts and writing. I currently blog for the Admissions office! Living in two diverse, fast paced multicultural cities made me see what it is like living life on an international platform and therefore love working with incoming international students at the U of R! It is a great pleasure to be an International Student Mentor and Leader for the year 2013-14. I'm looking forward to meeting you all! Bundle up and get ready for a roller-coaster called college.. . it'll be worth it! Fun fact: I really don't know what accent I have. People tend to tell me I have my own accent somewhere in between American, British and Indian. I hope summer is going awesome! My Advice:
Jingwen Dong, (Ava) Class of 2016	Majoring in Optics Hello, my name is Dong and I go by Ava. I am from China, and I am going into my sophomore year. I’m going to be majoring in Optics; it’s a really great program! My Advice: Do not be afraid, people are very nice. Talk to people and make new friends. Explore Rochester and the University of Rochester.
Kayon Ellis, (Kay, Krayon, Krayola) Class of 2016	Majoring in Geomechanics, Minoring in German Hi Hi! I’m Kayon and I am Jamaican. It is a small island in the Caribbean where it is always sunny. I speak English Jamaican Creole (believe me it is it’s own language), and a little bit of German. I love traveling, and this summer I will be going to Germany. I love the water and could spend everyday in the pool. I love adventures and getting to know people. I am enthusiastic and super outgoing, so I can always find some crazy adventure to embark on with my friends. I love the University of Rochester and I know you will too. Ciao, Auf Wiedershen, Bis Spater, Bye! My Advice: Do not be afraid to put yourself out there. Do not hesitate to ask questions, you may not be the only one who has the question. College is what you make it. You get out what you put in, throw yourself into campus life.
Anima Ghimire Class of 2015	Majoring in Neuroscience and History I am originally from Nepal, but currently live in Green Lake, Wisconsin. I love the U of R and admire its students and faculty even more. There is a great amount of diversity here and lots of opportunities to entertain one’s interests in community service, music, arts, dance, academia, and much more. I am currently a member of the Sihir Bellydance Ensemble, and I am also doing research at the Medical Center. I have made many friends here, and it has been an incredible two years so far. I cannot wait to share my enthusiasm with new international students as they begin their journey here at this school! My Advice: Make new friends! There are a lot of people here who are eager to learn about new cultures and pick up a few words! Please, share your story and talk to us, and don't be afraid of language barriers! Join new clubs - I joined belly dance because my roommate - who is from Beijing, China - thought it looked really interesting and fun. And I have been performing every semester in front of hundreds of people since then! Get to know the faculty, especially your teachers. Professors are friendly and caring individuals who would love to share their interests with you! They can also be a good starting point for any research opportunities and outside help if you have any questions about the class.
Emmaline Heiken, (Emma) Class of 2016	Majoring in Public Health I am a sophomore this year and am excited to start a new year with new students. I enjoy learning languages of the world and educating my peers. I was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon and am always ready to teach people about my home. I have a lot of opinions that I am ready to debate about. I have very diverse interests. My Advice: Join a club that complements your culture. Embrace the college diet and keep an open mind about the rest of American cuisine. Bring pairs of pants that you can layer, it gets very cold.
Xiayan Huan, (Eric) Class of 2015	Majoring in Psychology and Economics Hey there, I’m Eric. I transferred from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics last year, I have tons of stories from the University of Rochester to share with the incoming freshman. I’m currently founder and president of Opening New Eyes and marketing director at UR Entrepreneurs. University of Rochester imported you from all over the world, and as an International Student Mentor, I’ll take you around and show you how awesome University of Rochester is. Email me!! My Advice: Go out and talk to a lot of new people. Be excited to embrace new things in your life. Hang out with me.
Eun Hee Lee, (Hannah) Class of 2015	Majoring in Microbiology and Chemistry I am from South Korea. I am pre pharmacy student. I am affiliated with Chi Omega Sorority and am a business manager for Active Minds. I am also a member of LINK and CAC. I play flute in the wind symphony. I love watching movies and I love make up. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me when you need help, I don’t bite. I cannot wait to meet you guys! My Advice: Be yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Relax and be open-minded.
Yixin Li, (Rachel) Class of 2015	Majoring in Financial Economics and Math Hi guys, my name is Yixin Li but I prefer to be called Rachel. I’m a rising junior and my major is Financial Economics and Math. I am fluent in Mandarin and English. I am also currently studying Spanish. My Advice: Try to speak English as often as possible. Don’t overload your first semester. Don’t be afraid to ask questions because there are no stupid questions.
Yuan Liang, (Aries) Class of 2016	Majoring in Financial Economics and Applied Mathematics I’m from Guangzhou, China. I love dancing, skiing and watching soccer games; my favorite soccer team is FCBarcelona. On campus I’m active in the Ballet Performance Group, Student Helping Honduras Club and also the Meliora Capital Management Group. My Advice: Don’t be afraid to talk to others. Be friendly and inclusive Try not to choose more then four courses in your first semester. Be prepared for winter in Rochester.
Hui Miao Class of 2014	Majoring in Business Welcome Class of 2017! I’m Hui, a transfer student from China. I cannot wait to tell you how great our University is. Last year, I was the international outreach aide in the Student Government, and I started Greek Life. Currently I am the Vice President of Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority Inc. Iota Chapter and I enjoy having a close and tight sisterhood. There are tons of opportunities out there if you are willing to take initiative. I encourage you all to take what the university can offer, explore your interests, and build your own unique campus experience. I will always be here for you, as a mentor, a friend, a sister, and a senior student My Advice: Make more friends. Be involved in various campus activities. Set up goals and do what you love to do.
Shivali Mukerji Class of 2016	Majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology Hi everyone and welcome to the University of Rochester. My name is Shivali and I am a sophomore from Mumbai, India. I am a double major in Neuroscience and Psychology, with a minor in Spanish. My father is a Captain in the Merchant Marines, so I spent the first eight years of my life traveling the world with him. Although I don’t remember much from the time I traveling, it shaped me as a person. I love traveling and meeting new people, and I can speak five different languages. At the University of Rochester I am involved with a few clubs and am interested in joining a few more each semester. I am looking forward to orientation and fall of 2013. I cannot wait to meet you guys! My Advice: Join clubs! Play a sport, do something you’ve never done before. Keep an open mind and try to enjoy the new experience you’re about to have here! Help is always available, never be afraid to ask for it.
Yaomin Pan Class of 2015	Majoring in Financial Economics and International Relations Hi all, my name is Yaomin Pan, also go with Yao. I’m a rising junior and a Financial Economics and International Relations double major. I was born in Guangzhou, China, then went to high school in By field, Massachusetts. I’m going to be the Student Representative for the Chinese Student Association, the Business Manager for the Model United Nation Club and a student mentor for the school’s Transition Program. When I'm free I like to play tennis, watch movies, and practice guitar. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns via email or Facebook over the summer. Welcome Class of 2017! My Advice:
Deanna Peterangelo Class of 2016	Majoring in Neuroscience Hello, my name is Deanna and I am from Buffalo, New York. I love to take Tae Kwan Do and have been doing it for eight years. I am now a second-degree black belt. I enjoy playing piano, graphic designing, and being a part of CRU here on campus. Welcome to the University of Rochester! My Advice: Don’t be afraid to speak English. Some of the best resources are the people you meet so don’t be afraid to ask questions. Try something new, explore, learn, and grow!
Sade Richardson Class of 2015	Majoring in Health, Behavior, and Society and Digital Media Studies I am originally from the beautiful twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. On campus, I am a Meridian, President of the Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness, Vice President of the Douglass Leadership House, and a member of the College Diversity Roundtable. My Advice: Have Fun! Try everything and anything you want to. Never be afraid to ask a question.
Sukanya Roy, (Suki) Class of 2016	Majoring in Microbiology Hi! My name is Sukanya, and I am a sophomore here at the University of Rochester. I am originally from Portland, Oregon so I’m very excited to be living on the East Coast. I’m obsessed with dancing and am the captain of our RADS team, which is where I get all my exercise. I’m also a part of our MERT team on campus. Since I have been at the University of Rochester, I am very interested in photography and cannot stop taking pictures of our beautiful library! My Advice: Join a lot of clubs. Play sports. Keep your dorm rooms open.
Aviva Schaffer Class of 2014	Majoring in International Relations Hi Everyone! My name is Aviva Schaffer, I’m from Rochester, and I’m going to be a senior in the fall. I’m majoring in International Relations with a minor in Arabic, but in the last 3 years I’ve taken classes in many different academic departments. When I’m not in class, you can usually find me juggling, planning events for one of the clubs I’m in, or studying in Gleason Library – the library without books. I also take saxophone lessons at the Eastman School of Music. I studied abroad in Jerusalem where I learned some conversational Arabic. Please contact me with any questions you have about the University of Rochester. I can’t wait to meet all of you at the end of the summer! My Advice:
Wentao Wang, (Lorraine) Class of 2014	Majoring in Business I am a rising senior. I am from China, majoring in business and minoring in Social Psychology. In 2012, I studied abroad at the University of Melbourne and Queen May College, and the University of London. In Melbourne, I was selected to be the main female character in the Chinese theater group’s twentieth anniversary drama. My Advice: It is very cold in Rochester, bring heavy clothes. You will probably need a credit card before you come to America.
Yang Yang Class of 2016	Majoring in Music Greetings boys and girls! I’m involved with many music-oriented clubs such as NJR and OBOC. Other then music, I’m a big fan of adventures, such as skiing, backpacking and world traveling. I’ve been to a lot of place around the world, I really enjoy experiencing different cultures and languages. My Advice: Join some clubs that you’re interested in trying out. Take some humanity courses outside of your major to expand your knowledge. Don’t be afraid to join a group conversation in your hall or class.
Lan Zhou, (Joanne) Class of 2016	Majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science I’m from the southern part of China. I can speak Cantonese, Mandarin and English. I’m doing yoga and trying to improve my cooking skills. My Advice: Don’t be afraid to ask questions and try to make friends. It’s kind of dry, remember to bring lotion. You don’t need to bring too many clothes.