ISAB Members

Manya (she/they) is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences studying economics and political science. She is from Jaipur, India, and is interested in global health and development. At Penn, Manya is involved with the Penn Debate Society and the Philomathean Society, and she works part-time at the Center for Advanced Study of India.

She cares deeply about improving the experience of international students here, who often have unique personal and logistical struggles in transitioning to life at Penn. In her free time, Manya likes to read, foster cats, and people-watch in cafes.

Yamin is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, studying Mathematical Economics with a minor in Statistics and Data Science. She was born and raised in Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar. At Penn, she is involved in the Penn Fed Challenge and the Association for Women in Mathematics.

Outside school, she loves learning languages, cooking, and solving puzzles. Yamin joined ISAB to help international students transition and acclimate to life at Penn. She hopes to bring her experiences and suggestions on integration-related issues.

Naseebullah Andar, born and raised in Afghanistan, is a junior at the College of Arts and Sciences, considering majoring in economics and biology. A Penn World Scholar, he is involved, among others, in the Penn Debate Society, TEDx Penn, and Afghan Student Association and plays for Penn’s Cricket Team. He is also a peer advisor and a student leader for the Intercultural Leadership Program.

His hobbies include playing chess, watching movies, learning new languages, and memorizing random numbers. He likes reading different genres, from philosophical writings to historical narratives and science fiction, and he likes to write and do poetry in different languages.

Believing that a united world makes a better world, he also strives to make long-lasting connections and voice the sounds of the silent masses. He cherishes being part of ISAB to advocate for youth empowerment, social justice, and collective progress.

Andrés is a current Master’s student in Computer Science. He recently also just graduated from Penn with a B.A. in Economics and minors in Data Science and Statistics. He grew up in Lima, Peru, and attended the same British-Peruvian school since he was two years old. Due to this, he experienced the difficulties of transitioning from his safe space back home to the unknown world of U.S. college life.

Having gone through undergraduate and graduate life at Penn, he understands the challenges that entail studying in a foreign country, especially as it relates to mental health. Andrés also serves as the Lead for the Google Developers Group on Campus and as the Community Outreach Chair for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

Outside of academics, Andrés enjoys visiting new restaurants, practicing French, and going to cat cafes.

Bona Lee Aglasi-Sungay is an educator, advocate, and wanderer at heart. Born into a large family of farmers and miners in the Cordillera region of the Philippines, Bona Lee is the proud daughter of hardworking parents and one of eight siblings - seven sisters and herself. This close-knit family upbringing instilled in her values of resilience, community, and empowerment. With over 15 years of teaching experience in Vietnam and China, Bona Lee has developed a deep understanding of diverse learning environments.

Currently, she is pursuing her M.S.Ed in International Education Development at the University of Pennsylvania and serving as an Education Fellow at the Family Service Center in her second year. Beyond her professional pursuits, Bona Lee has a creative soul. She's an avid enthusiast of performance arts, with a special passion for music. Singing and jamming with friends and family are her outlets for self-expression and cultural connection. As a loving wife to her husband and mother to three children, Bona Lee draws strength in her faith and family. During her downtime, you'll find her exploring new board games, splurging to songs and movies, cooking, reading, or traveling.

Bona Lee also cherishes coffee socials, despite self-identifying as an introvert. Driven by her experiences and passion for inclusivity, she strives to break down barriers and foster empathy through her advocacy and art. Through her work and connections, she aims to create positive change and empower others to do the same.

Alexandar is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and is majoring in Economics and International Relations. He grew up in Sofia, Bulgaria but he attended an international school in the UK for three years. There he encountered many of the difficulties and challenges international students face – from traveling and logistics to integration and culture shock. Alexandar is passionate about bringing internationals closer together and has been on the organizational teams of many cultural events at his school aimed at highlighting the uniqueness of different cultures. He joined ISAB because he believes that the best way to aid international students in their academic and cultural journey at Penn and beyond is through advising and working with institutions to make lasting change. Apart from academics Alexandar likes hiking and discovering boutique coffee shops in Philly.

Aryaman Shah is a first-year master's student in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Hailing from India, he holds a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from BITS Pilani. Aryaman's academic journey is marked by a deep interest in Energy Economics, Green Hydrogen, and Climate Finance, which he complements with financial expertise, having cleared the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 exam.

His goal is to merge his engineering knowledge with financial insights to drive innovation in the renewable energy sector. Beyond his studies, Aryaman is an engaged member of the Penn community. As Director of Social Programming for GAPSA, he takes pride in organizing large-scale events that foster student connection and involvement. He also serves on the International Student Advisory Board, where he advocates for enhanced career support for international students.

In his free time, Aryaman enjoys swimming, cricket, table tennis, and binge-watching TV shows. He is passionate about creating meaningful experiences for his peers and aims to make a positive, lasting impact in all his endeavors.

Charity (she/her) is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania's College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Economics with a minor in Computer Science. Born and raised in Tema, Ghana, she is actively involved in campus organizations such as Penn Ghana, BlackGen Capital, and Growth Equity @ Penn. Charity joined ISAB to help address the mental health and wellness challenges faced by international students, aiming to foster an environment where international students feel included and supported.

She is passionate about community service and strives to make a positive impact wherever she can. In the future, Charity hopes to leverage her education to drive socioeconomic change in Ghana and across Africa. In her free time, she enjoys reading, binge-watching TV shows, and staying active.

Ha Pham is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Cognitive and Computer Science, and a first-year Master’s student in Data Science. She was born in Ishikawa, Japan and grew up in Hanoi, Vietnam. She joins ISAB to help create more sustainable changes for her international student community here, and contributes her experience in advocacy to the great work the Board does.

Besides ISAB, at Penn, she is involved in Penn Data Science Group and FemmeHacks, and works as a computer science teaching assistant. She also does research in health equity and human judgment & preferences. She likes hiking (especially to vista points of alpine lakes), reading historical fiction, trying variations of matcha latte, and learning to cook from the recipes her mom created for her.

Lily (She/Her) is a sophomore in the School of Engineering majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics. She was born and grew up in Shanghai, China before moving to Charlottesville, VA for high school and freshmen year at UVA before transferring to Penn. At Penn, she's involved in Penn Aerial Robotics, the Penn chapter of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Penn CSSAP.

In her free time, she enjoys ceramics, collecting postcards, and reading. As an ISAB member, Lily is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive international student body at Penn. She hopes to use her experiences to help international students to transition to and succeed at Penn.

Louis Li (China) Louis is a junior in the College studying Economics and Political science. Born and raised in Beijing China, Louis later moved to Auckland, New Zealand, and studied there for 7 years before coming to the US. Besides working in the finance subcommittee at ISAB, he is also involved with the finance committee of Wharton Undergraduates in Public Policy.

Louis enjoys playing amateur violin and tennis, running near the Schuykill, as well as going to the occasional Philorch concert. Having lived and studied in a new country twice, Louis knows the struggles international students face when transitioning to a new environment, and he aims to improve the experiences of Penn international students through his efforts.

Born and raised in Spain, Lucía moved to the US to study her undergraduate degrees in Neuroscience and Health and Societies at the University of Pennsylvania. Currently in her third year, she is involved with multiple on-campus organizations such as the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, and the Penn Museum, or clubs like Doublespeak, a literary translation magazine.

Lucía is very passionate about using languages to improve education accessibility, working on eliminating language barriers while learning more languages herself. Because of this, she has been working as a TED Talks translator for over 5 years to raise awareness on this issue. She is also involved in the public health and healthcare accessibility field and is excited to work with ISAB creating healthcare navigation initiatives for international students in the US.

Mehrnaz Zakershahrak (Iran) Mehrnaz is a first-year DScD student at Penn Dental Medicine and part of the Penn Endodontics department. At Penn, she is also Deputy Director of Academic Programming at GAPSA. In addition to her studies, Mehrnaz serves as a research fellow in the Department of Oral Surgery and Pharmacology, contributing to cutting-edge research in oral cancer. As an international student from Shiraz, Iran,

Mehrnaz is committed to fostering inclusive environments, helping other international students navigate life at Penn, and enhancing cross-cultural communication. With a background in dentistry, Mehrnaz brings a deep passion for academic and health care to their role in the ISAB.

Outside of academics, Mehrnaz enjoys baking, playing chess, swimming, and finding balance through these personal hobbies.

Meruyert is a master’s student at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education, pursuing a degree in Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership. As the Director of the International Student Affairs Committee at GAPSA, she proudly represents her home country of Kazakhstan at Penn. However, her path to this point was filled with challenges. As one of the first in her family and university to be accepted into UPenn,

Meruyert faced many obstacles that international students commonly encounter. From applying to programs and securing funding to adjusting to the cultural and academic differences, she had to navigate it all independently. Upon arriving in a new country, she also had to manage unfamiliar systems and processes, which included understanding visa regulations and accessing essential services. These experiences have significantly shaped her commitment to supporting other international students at Penn.

As part of the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB), Meruyert is driven to ensure that others do not face the same difficulties in isolation. She is passionate about fostering an inclusive environment where international students can find guidance, resources, and a sense of community. She is dedicated to amplifying their voices to ensure their experiences and perspectives are integrated into university policies and programs.

Nisha was born and raised in India and moved to the United States at the age of 18 to pursue higher education. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and subsequently worked in the Expert Networking industry for three years. Currently, Nisha is pursuing a Master’s in Behavioral and Decision Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, where she also serves as the MBDS student representative for the LPS Government and is a member of the Moviegoers Club.

With a passion for supporting international students, Nisha is committed to making their transition to campus life smoother, recognizing the challenges of leaving their comfort zones to make the most of new opportunities. In her free time, she enjoys singing, watching movies, creating art, and meeting new people.

Novia is a freshman at the Wharton School, interested in concentrating in behavioral economics but currently undecided. She is a Tanzanian from the region of Morogoro. For a long time, Novia has been passionate about embracing her culture and realizing the value that comes through intercultural discourse.

Novia wants to help create spaces that reinforce cultural pride and nurture genuine curiosity for the value of cross-cultural interactions, especially when it comes to problem solving and ideation. She hopes that she can bring these ideas into fruition through ISAB but more than that she hopes to learn from the incredible group of leaders that she is becoming a part of. In this light, she is interested in pursuing sociology and linguistics in hopes that these will inform her efforts.

In her free time, Novia enjoys spending time with friends and family, journaling or doing art, helping her community, exploring the architecture of new buildings, practicing her French and Swahili and playing netball.

Shrey is a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Penn. Originally from Ahmedabad, India, he is deeply influenced by the Indian philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," which means "the world is one family."

At Penn, he serves as President of the Graduate Student Hiking Club, organizing hikes for students to enjoy the outdoors, explore nature, and connect with each other. His research focuses on integrating low-carbon energy sources with carbon capture and storage and developing technological solutions to combat climate change.

As part of ISAB, Shrey is dedicated to helping international students adjust to life at Penn and adapt to U.S. culture. He is passionate about improving their sense of belonging and working with administrative agencies to address key issues that impact the international community.

In his free time, he enjoys playing sports (volleyball, basketball, or tennis), hiking, traveling, and learning new languages.

Terhi is a senior in the College and Engineering studying Cognitive Science and Systems Engineering. She grew up in rural Finland and prior coming to Penn spent two gap years in the Swedish archipelago - a perfect location to fend off the pandemic.

She is interested in mathematical modeling and understanding how humans make decisions, from neural level to behavioral patterns. Terhi is particularly interested in the experience of international FGLI students, as well as how neurodivergent students find community and belonging. Outside of ISAB, she is the co-president for Advocates for Neurodiversity and works on a research project documenting spaces neurodivergent students find joy in.

She is also very much into bubble tea and buying books she doesn't have time to read (maaaybe during winter break?).

Yihan is a second-year master student at the Graduate School of Education. She is from Shandong, China. Having gone to a small liberal arts college for undergraduate studies, Yihan understands the unique challenges international students face and is passionate about bringing changes to promote an amicable atmosphere for international students at Penn. Yihan is currently working as a part-time fellow in the Family Resource Center, where she gets to connect with a lot of international families and learn about their experiences at Penn. She hopes to bring these insights into formulating initiatives at ISAB. In her free time, Yihan likes to hike, swim, and go to karaoke and she is currently exploring more fun stuff in Philly!