International Peer Advisors (IPAs)

Hello incoming international fellow students! My name is Dania Verbena, I am from Guatemala, and I am a rising sophomore double majoring in International Studies and Latin America and Latinx Studies. I am super excited of being both an IPA and RSA for International Students this year. One of the most important things for me in this position is recognizing that our presence on campus is valuable, and how necessary it is to create an environment where we all help each other, especially in a big moment of our life where we are far away from home. What I like the most about Rhodes is the small classes and the way we can connect with professors; they are very accessible and willing to help! A fun fact about myself is that I like hiking, and I am hoping to hike an active volcano during the summer at my home country🌋!!, so excited to meet you all during the Fall :) 

Abena Afriyie: My name is Abena Afriyie, and I’m from Charlottesville, Virginia. I am majoring in Politics & Law! I was born in Virginia but spent my early childhood in Kumasi, Ghana. I'm a member of multiple groups on campus such as the African Student Association (ASA), the Multicultural Vision Program (MVP), and Rhodes Student Government (RSG). I enjoy going to the gym, cooking, volunteering, and trying to find the best banana pudding in Memphis. I am excited to be an IPA to help international students maximize their four years on campus. Being at Rhodes is an opportunity for exceptional growth, and campus involvement is an easy way to increase exposure and receive personal enrichment. I would love to help international students find their "fit" on campus. 

Hey guys! My name is Agda, and I’m from Espoo, Finland. I’m a rising sophomore and planning on majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Math. I’m part of the Women’s Tennis team and have been playing since I was 3 years old. I also love to bake and go on walks with my friends. This summer, I’m joining a tumor research lab at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions. I can’t wait to meet all of you! 

Hi! I'm Ani, born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, although I am originally from Armenia. I'm a rising senior majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, currently conducting research in the Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. At Rhodes College, I serve as the vice president of the Ambassadors and as an RSA in the Development Department. In my free time I enjoy cooking, baking, exercising, or walking my dog Kobe (ask me for pictures!). This is my second year as an IPA, an experience that has been incredibly rewarding and has helped me find my community at Rhodes. Feel free to reach out with any questions. I am looking forward to meeting all of you! 

Hello! My name is Anna Tassou and I am from Thessaloniki, Greece. I am a rising senior, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major with a Psychology minor. Being an IPA has been the highlight of my college journey so far, which is why this is my third year doing it. Other than being an IPA, I am also the president of Rhodes Sustainability Coalition, a Rhodes diplomat, and I work as the Rhodes Student Associate for the Digital Imaging and Microscopy lab. On campus, I did research for two years at Dr. Hill's lab in the Biology Department and now I do research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at Dr. Durbin's lab in the Molecular Oncology Department. Outside of academics I enjoying listening and playing music, reading, going to the gym, and exploring Memphis with friends (let me know if you want food/drinks recommendations:)

Coming to the US for the first time was definitely hard but I love the international community at Rhodes. It is amazing being surrounded by people from all around the world and learning about different cultures as well as sharing things about my own. I am really excited to get to know all of you! 

My name is Asriyah Sisay, a rising Sophomore from Saudi Arabia. I am proud to be from Saudia, with all the fantastic food and spices. It's very festive, and even though it's scorching, I wouldn't change it for the world.

I have been in the United States for five years now and will continue to be for the rest of my undergraduate studies and my master's degree. I enjoy the clubs, organizations, and cultural events available to the students. One of my favorite events new to Rhodes was the Baazar, which gave me a sense of home. My favorite Rhodes traditional event is the Physics Club pumpkin drop in November, which I was a part of this past year. In addition to all the beautiful events and clubs on campus, Rhodes offers many supporting resources to the students, such as tutoring, counseling, writing assistance, and many more. Also, I wouldn't like to highlight the mentors, professors, and students I have met who are friendly and supportive of my ambitions.

I'm a part of different organizations around campus, such as a Posse Scholar, African Student Association (ASA), Black Student Association (BSA), Ambassador, and Women in the STEM Major that have made me feel heard, understanding, and sense of belonging on campus and I also work at the Library Help Desk. My favorite place on campus to study and hang out is in Buckman. The 4th floor has a great seating and TV area. I can't wait to continue my three years at Rhodes to gain more experience and lasting memories. 

Hi there!!! My name is Bernadette Truong, and I’m Vietnamese American but born and raised in Memphis. At Rhodes, I hope to pursue pre-medicine, and I’m exploring neuroscience and biochemistry. On campus, I’m involved in the Rhodes Orchestra, A.S.I.A, and ASBMB. This year will also be my first time being an IPA and a mentor for MVP. In my free time, I love getting involved in the Memphis community, playing tennis, learning new languages, and hanging out with friends.

As part of the Class of 2026, I have come to love Rhodes for its environment, opportunities, and most of all, the caring and supportive community. Though I’m not an international student myself, I am really passionate about meeting new people and learning about everyone’s different journey. I know that the transition may not feel easy or perfect at first, but I strongly believe that you will love Rhodes and that one day, it’ll feel like another home. I’m super excited to welcome, share, and help you on your way to unlocking your full potential. Please know that you can come to talk to me about academics, extracurriculars, campus life, or anything else that you need. You can contact me at trubt-26@rhodes.edu. Rooting for your happiness/success & looking forward to meeting you! ☺️

I am a rising sophomore from Memphis. I am a person to contact about ways to get involved on campus. From Posse, to Mock Trial, to working in the International Programs office, and much more.

The advice that I would give a new student is that you shouldn’t limit yourself to just things that your friends are involved in. You should join clubs where you don’t know anybody because sometimes you can make great connections and find new passions.

Welcome to Rhodes! It’s a much better place with you here. The international community at Rhodes is a tight-knit and special one that I adore immensely, and I can’t wait to be one of the first people to welcome you to your second home and to this loving community.

I’m Chau, a rising sophomore from Hochiminh city, Vietnam, but I went to high school in New Jersey. On campus, I’m a Rhodes Diplomat, a member of Greek Life, ASIA, RUF, Food Recovery Network, MVP, and Rhodes Theater Guild. My favorite thing to do at Rhodes is going to the events on campus. There is always something exciting going on everyday, from cultural ones that ASIA, LSA, SACA, MSA put up, which are usually filled with very delicious food ;), to very impactful events from Amnesty International, Culture of Consent, fun-filled RAB events, or very cool performances by Curb Institute, RCDC (Dance Company), Choir, Orchestra, Fencing Club or our amazing Theater program. As you get on campus, I’d love to accompany you to any of our campus’ lively events or keep you updated on what’s resources available on campus–especially to all the cultural organizations and events that might feel more like home. (It’s my specialty truly, you can catch me at almost all the events, even the academic ones.) In my free time, I love going on picnics, playing pool, badminton or chess. 

I love Rhodes with all my heart, and I can’t wait for you to experience it for yourself. SO thrilled to meet each of you so soon! In the meantime, feel free to reach out to me at lech-24@rhodes.edu if you have any questions :)

Hello Everyone!! My name is Dawood Khatana. I am from the vibrant city of Lahore in Pakistan. Currently at Rhodes I am interested in doing a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science. My research interest is in pure math specifically in Combinatorial Game Theory. Other than academics I am an equestrian, I have an interest in eastern theology, love to analyze tech startups and am a Cricket fan (Go PCT!!). I am excited to meet new international students full of hope and passion who are looking for new horizons to discover. Rhodes has given me an opportunity to connect with excellent professors and the small classes and unique approach to teaching allowed me to polish my critical thinking. 

Hello! I am Hai Nguyen from Hanoi, Vietnam. I am a senior Chemistry major. This is my second year being an IPA and I enjoy meeting new international students. I enjoy the Biology classes here at Rhodes and in my free time love learning how to cook different things. Look forward to meeting you!

Hey everyone! My name is John Barnett and I was born and raised in Memphis, TN. I’m in the class of 2027 and plan on majoring in Spanish with minors in Computer Science and Linguistics. I’m super excited to be an IPA this year! I love meeting and getting to know people from different cultures and walks of life. I love Rhodes because there are many unique communities to get involved in and opportunities to develop close connections with professors. Rhodes stands apart as a liberal arts college in the metropolis of Memphis.

Aside from IPA, I am involved in many organizations on campus such as Clarence Day Scholars, Rhodes Student Government (RSG), Peer Assistant (PA), Contents Under Pressure (C.U.P.), Rhodes College Dance Company (RCDC), All Students Interested in Asia (A.S.I.A), South Asian Culture and Advocacy (S.A.C.A), and work in the Interfaith Lounge with Chaplain Beatrix.

In my free time, I enjoy dancing, running, going to the gym, rock climbing, reading, learning about psychology and personal development, and eating food (of course). I am obsessed with ice cream and one of my favorite ice cream shops in Memphis is La Michoacana on Summer Ave. Please feel free to reach out and email me at barjw-27@rhodes.edu. I’m looking forward to meeting you! :)

Hello everyone, I’m Julia (which, I must confess, is a shamelessly Americanized version of my Slavic name Yulia or Yulya).

I was born and raised in Belarus — a small country on the edge of Eastern Europe — but moved to Russia at the age of 13 and had lived there before coming to Rhodes last summer. Severely cold winters and the necessity to always (always!) put on a couple of extra sweaters have certainly taken its toll — I’ve acquired quite a peculiar habit of drinking exceptionally hot drinks and wearing a maybe-a-little-bit-too-warm jacket when everyone around me is clothed in shorts and T-shirts, with a cup of an extra ice latte in their hands.

Several things I am utterly captivated by: playing Chopin in the moonlight, writing confusing poetry riddled with weird metaphors I myself sometimes find impossible to understand, reading Jane Austin (and a little bit of Dostoevsky), philosophising just about everything, and getting to know as many incredible personalities as I can.

Welcome to the Rhodes family! I am looking forward to meeting all of you and helping you to find a new home in this incredibly multifaceted and vibrant community.

Habari (“Hello” in Swahili)! My name is Kathryn, and I was born in Topeka, Kansas. I went to high school in a suburb north of Chicago, and my family is from Kenya. Currently, my intended major is Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a Spanish minor. I am an Admissions office student employee.

I attended a global boarding high school, so I understand the fun and fear of being away from home and the importance of building community. No worries – Rhodes is a welcoming and inclusive community. It will become your second home soon.  

I am pretty involved on campus. I am a Peer Assistant, International Peer Advisor, Treasurer for the Minority Association of Pre-Med Students (MAPS), Multicultural Vision Program (MVP) Director of Training and Involvement, mentor, and mentor/mentee liaison. I am a member of multiple organizations on campus: the African Students Association (ASA), Black Students Association (BSA), STEM Cohort, a Health Professionals Advising student (HPA), and Reformed University Fellowship (RUF).

I enjoy playing soccer, listening to music, and hanging out with friends while exploring Memphis.  Feel free to email me at gitkm-26@rhodes.edu  I would love to answer any questions you might have.

Hello, my name is Lauren and I was born and raised outside of Washington DC. I'm in the class of 2027 and plan on majoring in International Relations with minors in Spanish and Computer Science. I'm so excited to be an IPA this year as I love meeting new people and learning about different cultures from all around the world! I hope I can help make Rhodes feel like a second home for everyone. I love Rhodes because of its vibrant student body and fun events hosted by clubs and student organizations. In my free time, I enjoy baking, reading fantasy books, hiking, and exploring new places. I look forward to meeting everyone and am so excited for this school year!

Hi! My name is Serena Williams and I’m from Uganda. I am a rising junior majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology on the pre-med track. Apart from being an IPA, I am also an event coordinator for the African Students Association(ASA) and a member of the STEM COHORT, Health Professions Society (HPS), Black Student’s Association (BSA), PIE RAM, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology club.

In my free time, I love playing guitar, singing, dancing, reading good fiction novels, and hanging out with friends.

I am looking forward to meeting you all. I am confident that you will feel welcomed and find a sense of belonging with the international students community here at Rhodes. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need anything.  

Growing up in Iran, I always loved to explore new cultures and visit new places. Traveling was an option, but I wanted to have an educational experience to meet people with the same interest and different backgrounds. And that is how Rhodes has been my home for the past two years. Every day I learn something new about different countries and languages, and I love it. Meeting people from different backgrounds has taught me no matter how different we are from one another; we are more similar than we think.  And we connect more than we think. I’m majoring in neuroscience since I’m passionate about human brains and how we all are bonded, and how we feel the things we feel. As much as I love learning I believe we are at Rhodes not only to study, but also to enjoy the little time we have together. I know how hard it is to enjoy life while adjusting to a new world, but I’m so excited to help upcoming international students to feel Rhodes is their new home. 

Hi everyone! My name is Sophie and I am from Fayetteville, Arkansas! I’m a biology major on the pre-Veterinary track. 

I am so excited to be a part of the IPA crew this year and I can’t wait to see what is in store for the 2023-24’ school year!

I am on the volleyball team here at Rhodes but I love going to all the sporting events and cheering on my fellow lynx! Some of my favorite things to do lately include getting a matcha latte at Starbucks, studying in FJ, going on walks around campus, and reading! I’m currently reading All Things Bright and Beautiful (I recommend it if you are also interested in the animal science field). 

Can't wait to get to know everyone and make your experience at Rhodes the best it can be! 

Hi everyone! I'm so happy to welcome you all to Rhodes. My name is Sue and I'm an English major with a French minor. Even though I grew up mostly in Hamilton, Canada, I was born in Korea and have lived in Russia and Azerbaijan when I was younger, so I have a pretty solid understanding of what it feels like to adjust to a new country. I'm a member of the Southwestern Review, the Rhodes literary magazine, and have been involved in RUF (Christian fellowship community) and Roots (gardening club) for a while, so let me know if you'd like to get to know any of those better!

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me or any of the IPAs with things you might need help with, even something like pulling down the blinds in your room (which is something I remember really struggling with) and if it's beyond me we can struggle together as we try and figure it out :) Rhodes is a safe place to make mistakes and grow and you'll find that you end up growing a lot while you're here. Looking forward to meeting each and every one of you!