Nkechi (she/her) is a junior majoring in Biology. She was born and raised in Nigeria but now lives in California with her family. 

As with her experience and a lot of people’s experience, moving to a new country can be very difficult, especially with the cultural differences. She chose to be an International Fellow because she wanted to help make that transition a lot easier. With the added stress of being a college student, she wanted to be a part of a program that would help reduce the stress that International students face and help show them that they can find a place here at Colby.  

Riddhavee (she/her) is a junior majoring in Computational Biology and Spanish (considering a minor in data science or WGSS). This is her first time being an International Fellow! She will also be the Treasurer for Colby's South Asian Society and a Spiritual Wellness Fellow this year! Please reach out to her about any concerns you might have during the year, and she will find someone who can help you! Riddhavee is an International Fellow because she loves the FLI and International Programs and wants a way to support and improve them for future generations of students. One of her favorite Colby memories is when the Questbridge club hosted a paintball event, and it got so competitive that her friends shot paint in her hair. She had a great first year because she had the best friends and less intense classes, but it was a transitional, transformative term. A fun fact about her is that she gave a TEDx talk on how change is the only constant in high school. 

Nithun (he/him) is a junior from Tamil Nadu, India, majoring in Astrophysics and Computer Science. As an International student, he understands the challenges of transitioning to a new environment. He joined the International Program to help ease this transition for others and help build strong communities among International students at Colby. In his free time, Nithun attempts astrophotography at the Colby Observatory (to varying results), a little bit of event photography and portraits mixed in (the indecisiveness reflects in his own life as he has no idea what he wants to do, but that's okay).

Ana Cris (she/her) is a sophomore undecided on a major. She is from Peru and lived there until attending UWC Netherlands. This is her first time in the United States. She is part of the International Students Program because she wants to meet new people and be helpful in their journeys at Colby. She enjoys learning about new things and perspectives. She loves to cook, to dance, and cats!

Nafis (he/him) is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Mathematics and Physics. He originally hails from Bangladesh. Outside his academics, he loves to connect with people, knows about their interests, and engage in lively discussions on topics including politics, geography, history, and whatnot. He is an avid fan of football and loves playing and watching football. You can find him on campus at Davis Science Center (up to 16 hours a day). He's looking forward to meeting you all!

Simge (she/her) is a sophomore majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Data Science and Economics. She is from Istanbul, Turkey. She likes poetry, concerts, road trips, volleyball, and political history. The International community and especially her Buddy helped her a lot when she was struggling with adapting to college, and more importantly, to a new country. Now, she wants to give back to this community by helping other incoming freshmen. She really enjoyed her first year; she met wonderful people, made lots of memories, and matured as a person. A fun fact about Simge is that she refuses to set her alarm in multiples of 5.

Miz (they/she/he) is a rising sophomore majoring in Science, Technology and Society with a minor in English and Math (...for now, at least. We'll see how that actually pans out.) They're an International student from Iloilo City, Philippines who misses hot tropical summers but surprisingly likes the cold cozy winter. She loves to delve into her interests in STEM and the Humanities through science communication and AI development. They were inspired by their own International Buddy - and really, the whole Pugh community - to help other International students make a home right here at Colby. Miz loves to cook with his friends after a long week of studies, which has helped him through an intense but fulfilling first-year experience. A fun fact about Miz is that Hank Green once sent them $20!

Bishal (he/him/his) is a junior double majoring in Math and Computer Science, and he's also from Nepal! Although he has had mixed experiences with math, his passion for computer science has motivated him to take multiple math courses. When not buried in textbooks or coding projects, he enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, and playing soccer. He was motivated to becoming a buddy because he wanted to provided the same kind of support he received as a freshman. Bishal's international buddy (Ruth Park, You're Amazing!) helped him navigate the campus, find resources, and connect with other students. One of the best memories he has from Colby is learning how to ski, and he's looking forward to hitting the slopes again next winter! His first-year experience was a range of emotions, but  talking to advisors, his buddy, and other upperclassmen helped him make certain decisions. A fun fact about Bishal is that he feels that he can't pronouce his name right anymore. The "sh" sound is becoming quite tricky :).  

Haadi (he/him) is a sophomore from Lahore, Pakistan, majoring in Psychology and Computer Science. He is interested in exploring the intersection between Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence to help augment mental health diagnosis and democratize such resources in areas where they are scarce. He used to volunteer at various NGOs back home and continues exploring that passion at Colby. Outside the classroom, you'll find him serving as one of the co-presidents of the International Club, an ORSL fellow, and a Tzedakah/Zakat fellow. He is passionate about art and loves expressing his thoughts and the emotions that accompany them through various mediums. He is also a huge Marvel and DC fan, loves listening to music, running, and having chai (it's NOT chai tea).

Hadia (she/her) is a junior majoring in Sociology and minoring in Religious Studies on the Pre-Med track.  She was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and she moved to Pennsylvania at 6 y.o. Despite being from Pittsburgh, PA, she prefers sitting inside embroidering while sipping hot chocolate. During warmer months, you can find her taking a walk or sitting on Miller Lawn with a laptop or a book.  Watching the dedication of her FLI mentor and receiving guidance from her FLI mentor inspired her to become a buddy. Her favorite Colby memory was going to Iceland with her friends for spring break (she loves traveling and long car rides :) ). Her first-year experience was intense but it helped her develop a profound interest in Religious Studies and humanitarian efforts. A fun fact about Hadia is that she has a poem she wrote in the 8th grade in the Library of Congress. 

Jianing (she/her) is a sophomore majoring in English: Creative Writing. She studied in the Netherlands for two years, where she met people from different places and experienced diverse ways of thinking and being. Coming to Colby continues to open her eyes to different things, and she is grateful for everything, looking forward to what is yet to come. She loves taking a long nice walk with music, especially when it doesn't snow.

Juanita (she/her) is a junior majoring in Biology: Neuroscience. She is originally from Enugu, Nigeria, but lives in Huntsville, Alabama. She enjoys singing and dancing. She is part of the Afrobeat Dance Group and the Colby IVCF fellowship. Coming to Colby, she was nervous; she was moving far away from home, from the culture she knew to a different region where her closest family members were about 4 hours away. One of her major concerns was finding a place and community where she belonged. While it took her a while, she found a community that loved and appreciated her for who she was. This made her first year a little easier. She got to learn new things, make new friends, and display a whole part of her she never knew existed. 

Alfie (he/him) is a sophomore at Colby, pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Math. Though he was born in Vietnam, he moved to America in 2015. During his time at Colby, he has been actively engaged in various extracurricular activities and is a proud Chess Club member! As a member of the Colby Dancers, he enjoys meeting up with fellow members and learning Latin Dance, specifically Salsa and Bachata. He is deeply motivated to become an international buddy because he understands firsthand the challenges many may face when adapting to a new college environment. Recognizing the potential difficulties newcomers may encounter, he feels a strong responsibility to help ease their experience and facilitate their integration into the Colby community. His favorite memory is traveling with the Colby Chess Team to compete in their first off-campus tournament, where 4 out of 8 members won prizes! Alfie's first-year experience at Colby was incredibly eventful and fulfilling, with him embracing an active role in various aspects of college life. The close-knit community he found at Colby has fostered meaningful interaction and collaboration. 

Christian (he/him) is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics. He is interested in exploring the liberal arts education by taking music classes while fulfilling the core requirements for both CS and Math. He applied specifically for the International Buddy role mostly because his buddie was helpful during his US transition. He wanted to give that same level of comfort to others. Christian's favorite Colby memory is when he and others were invited to one Mainer's home downtown and got some home dishes, which was really fun! His favorite first-year experience was going to piano lessons on Tuesdays. This gave him some form of comfort and served as a time for reflection. One fun fact about him is that he is always 20 minutes early for everything :)!

Emem (she/her/hers) is an economics major and anthropology minor. Although she is Nigerian, she was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Denver, Colorado. She is passionate about makeup, reading, listening to music, and card games. Emem became an International Buddy to bridge the gap between international and domestic students. Because of the difference in culture, domestic and international students don't interact much, and she wants to set a good precedent by interacting with new international students. Her favorite Colby memory is making friends. She enjoys new social interactions and meeting a lot of new people. Emem's first year was an experience, where she had fun and stepped out of her comfort zone. A fun fact about Emem is that she played volleyball in middle school and high school. 

Zixiao (he/him) is a sophomore majoring in English: Creative Writing and minoring in Cinema Studies. He was born and raised in China and graduated from UWC Changshu. He has a deep passion for movies, literature, and art. Exploring different forms of storytelling and expression has always been a significant part of his life.