Alisha D'souza
Hi everyone! I am currently a junior in CBS studying Biochemistry and Neuroscience. I am an Indian citizen, but was born and raised in Kuwait so I am very comfortable around people from diverse backgrounds. I absolutely love the Twin Cities campus because of the amazing opportunities to learn, grow, and have fun. The people in Minnesota are so friendly and welcoming and have always made me feel at home ("Minnesota Nice" is very real!). Please feel free to get in touch with me about any questions you may have, or just to say hi. The best way to contact me is through my email: dsouz041@umn.edu.
Stay positive and step out of your comfort zone! I hope to see you around campus soon. Go Gophers!
Amanda Riandono
Hi all! My name is Amanda Riandono and I'm a junior studying Food Science and Agricultural & Food Business Management in CFANS. I was born & raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. Coming to Minnesota was definitely a big step for me because I had never been to the US (I didn't even know where is Minnesota back then) and I definitely had no idea on what to expect. But it's been a really fun & smooth journey so far and I consider Minnesota as my second home now.
In my free time, I like to do kick-boxing and explore the restaurants in the city (I LOVE food, don't blame me). I love meeting new people and telling them all of the awesome things that the U has to offer! If you have any questions about CFANS or life in college in general, don't hesitate to contact me! I can be contacted via email at: riand001@umn.edu
An Le
Hello, my name is An Le. I am from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and I am currently a freshman studying Biochemistry in College of Biological Sciences (CBS). My transition to college away from home has been eased significantly thanks to the resources available on campus for students in general and for international students specifically. In my first semester at the U, I play intramural quidditch, join a student group called Biology Without Borders, and work as a student technician for the Academic Health Center. In my free time, I love to play sports at the Rec Center, watch free movies at Coffman Union Theatre, and hang out with my friends at some beautiful places in Minneapolis. I was worried about my journey at the U before I decided to come to Minnesota because of the size of the University and because of the weather in Minnesota. However, with rigorous academics and various opportunities outside of the classroom, I have grown a lot as a balanced student here at the University of Minnesota. Please feel free to contact me through my email if you have any questions about anything, and I would love to help you out! Email: lexxx732@umn.edu
Dahae Park
Name: Dahae Park
From: Daejoen, South Korea
Intended major: Economics
Hey guys! I am a freshmen year student trying to major in economics(currently undecided). I was born and raised in Deajoen, South Korea but then I decided to study abroad in the States. I graduated high school in NYC and came to Minnesota, which is the first midwestern state in my life, for college. So far, I have been trying out lots of stuffs at the U and meeting amazing people. I definitely find myself learning completely new and intersting aspects of this country, which are very different from ones in New York! I would to like share with you too so feel free to contact me through email if you have any questions or need help :-))
Email: park1895@umn.edu
Elif Cetin
Hi! My name is Elif Cetin. I am a freshman at the College of Science and Engineering studying Computer Engineering. I come from a quite diverse background- I am half Turkish, half Indian, and was raised in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I enjoy playing basketball, reading books and watching TV shows in my spare time.
Deciding to come to the U was a life-changing decision, and I haven't looked back since. Although we are a large university, I felt a close sense of community right from the beginning. There are countless opportunities and resources on campus available to help support your professional and personal growth. I hope that you chose to come here to accomplish your dreams, the same way I did. Please do not hesitate to e-mail me any questions at: cetin017@umn.edu
Jinrui Li
Hello Friends, I'm Jinrui(Leslie) Li, an international student from China.I'm from a city called Shenzhen. It is a coastal city(no snow in winter), locates in the Southern part of China(for those who don't know: it's right next to HongKong). So I was very excited to see snow and enjoy myself in the winter here(not like most people). My major is Nutrition so I actually spent plenty of time at St.Paul campus like most of our CFANS students. St.Paul is very peaceful and has less people. I liked it a lot as I lived in the dorm, Bailey at St. Paul campus during my freshmen year. In my spare time, I like to read, go swimming, play badmintons, watch movies, go shoping or just hangout with friends. Please don't hesitate to contact me via email: lixx4689@umn.edu if you have questions.
Love Soun
Hello International Students,
My name is Love (Kristen) and I'm from Siem Reap, Cambodia. I'm double majoring in Strategic Communication, Studies in Cinema and Media Culture and minoring in Digital Media Studies. I recently transferred to the Colege of Liberal Art (CLA) - University of Minnesota. When it comes to social life, I love traveling, learning new languages and cultures all around the world. I enjoy helping, talking and interacting with international students -- that's also the reason why I became an International Student Ambassador. Throughout my work experiences and campus leadership, I have a vast knowledge of resources on and off campuses to help you international students succeed in college. At a personal level, I dedicated to creating change, making impacts and empowering global communities and sub-culture through media and visual storytelling. If you are considered majoring in communication or pursuing a career in communication-related such as journalism, art, digital media and cinema or general question about the College of Liberal Art, please don't hesitate to contact me via soun0013@umn.edu or passport@umn.edu.
May Lin
Hi you all! My name is May Lin and I am a Freshman majoring in mathematics in the College of Science and Engineering. I grew up in Changchun, China but went to high school in Des Moines, Iowa. When I am not busy doing homework (aka when I have free time), I like to listen to music, hang out with friends, and bake cookies. My experience at the U has been so awesome! Academically, there are many learning resources available (I personally use them for physics); socially, there are always loads of fun events happening on campus. The Twin Cities also have so much to offer: from attending sports events (#GoVikings) to shopping at the Mall of America, you’ll never run out of fun things to do. If you have any questions about the College of Science and Engineering or just college life in general, feel free to email me at lin00141@umn.edu. I will try my best to answer them or connect you with other helpful resources!
Pallavi Janiani
Rabab Ibrahim
Hello! I'm from Karachi, Pakistan, and am currently in my second year at the Universoty of Minnesota! I'm in the college of Biological Sciences and plan to major in Genetics, Cell Biology and Development and minor in Neuroscience! So far my experience at UMN has been great! This school has so much to offer in terms of classes, clubs, social groups, sports teams, and numerous other activities, which makes it so much easier to get more involved and make friends. All you really need to do is have a psoitive attitude and a friendly face!
The Twin Cities also has so much to offer, from museums to parks. One of my favorite things to do is to find and go to cheap concerts downtown, or even just walk around the downtown area, and impulsively spend money in cute coffe shops!
If you have any questions at all, or just want to know more about life at the University of Minnesota, shoot me an email at ibrah148@umn.edu.
Rigoberto Amaya
Hello all! My name is Rigoberto Amaya, or Rigo, originally from Panama but lived for 6 years in Bangkok, Thailand and Hanoi, Vietnam! I love all kinds of food, specially Vietnamese food, Bubble Tea and Turkey Legs! I also enjoy playing sports such as basketball and soccer, and newly found american football. I like to spend my free time watching all kinds of TV shows and movies, my favorites are The Shawnshank Redemption and Harry Potter. Last but not least, I'm a big music fan, I enjoy all from chill indie music to classical when doing my school work. I am a Bioproducts and Biosystem Engineering major and hope to work with renewable energy in the future. If you have any questions about life here at the U, anything from academics to social life, feel free to ask me! Btw, the other person in the picture above is the President of the University of Minnesota, Eric Kaler!
Sameer Siddiq
Indian, grew up in Philippines and now studying at Minnesota. I enjoy producing music, going to concerts, eating weird fruits, and watching soccer. I'm also a big cinephile. My goal in life is to travel as much as possible. Also, I'm majoring in Material Engineering and have an undergoing research project related to activated carbon and water treatment. Hit me up with any and all questions!
Sharukesh Seker
Hey everyone! My name is Sharu and I am a freshman studying Economics here a the U. I am originally from Colombo, Sri Lanka where it is warm and humid throghout the year. Moving to Minnesota was definitely one of the biggest decisions I made in my life and while there are a many things here that are different to the way of life back home, I feel like growing up watching American tv shows and movies has helped me adjust to the culture change. In my free time I like to go out with friends and explore the city. We would usually find new things to do like going go-karting, going to concerts or trying food we've never had before. Since I lived right by the beach in back Sri Lanka, going surfing and meeting new people there was definitely one of my favorite things to do. I chose the University of Minnesota because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and put myself in a place I would never have imagined myself in, and I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I've made. Although I've only been here for less than a year, I've already made countless memories with the people here and I'm excited to see what's in store for me in the future. Feel free to e-mail me with any questions you may have at seker012@umn.edu
Sophronia Cheung
Country: Hong Kong
Major: Political Science and Economics
Minor: Public Health
Year: Sophomore
Interests: Exploring the unknown, traveling to extreme places in the world, meeting new people
Hi everyone! I’m Sophronia (she/her/hers), a sophomore studying political science and economics.
A little more about me if you are interested… I’m a foodie so I love trying new foods and cuisine. Minneapolis is a great place to explore the different options ranging from African soul food to Hmong food to rolled ice cream. I’ve tried them all, hence my broken wallet.
Yuran Wang
Hello! I'm Yuran from Tai'an, China. I'm currently a junior in Sport Management in the College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) at the U.
Although not from a family with sports tradition, I found joy in participating in track and basketball in middle school and eventually became obsessed with sports. However, I never thought I would be able to convert this passion into a career prospect until I came to the U as a freshman in the College of Biological Sciences, my then college. With the help of numerous resources at the U, I learned about the awesome sports atmosphere in the Twin Cities area and the strong sports-related programs offered at the U, and finally decided to transfer between two colleges and pursue a major in Sport Management.
I now work as a Wolves Assist at the Minnesota Timberwolves (a childhood dream came true!), and assist the University of Minnesota Athletics as a Marketing Intern. I'm proud of my decision to come to the University of Minnesota, which helped transform me into who I am. If you share a passion for sports, pursuing dreams, or anything Minnesota-related, I'm sure we'll find a good time getting along!