International Student Advisory Board

My name is Than Thar Aye, and I am from Myanmar (Burma). I am currently a sophomore, and I am planning to major in Biochemistry and minor in Business Administration. I love swimming, cooking, watching variety shows and traveling. Recently, I also discovered my new interest in playing archery during my first semester at the university, so if anyone would like to give it a shot just let me know. My first year here at the University of Richmond has been a great experience getting to know a lot of people from diverse backgrounds. Like any other international student coming from another side of the globe, I honestly found it difficult to adapt to this unique culture and the peculiar weather of Richmond at first but believe me you are not alone. If you ever want to open up to someone about anything or just hang out, always feel free to reach out to me anytime because I would love to make you feel at home.

Hi! My name is Xiaodi Hu and I go by Sara. I come from Wuxi, Jiangsu, China. Singing and journaling are my biggest hobbies, and free-writing is my favourite activity in my free time. UR has been serving as a platform for me to try many different possibilities for my future. At UR, I found my passion for science and research, and I am majoring in Physics and Psychology. I started research in my freshmen year, and I can talk non-stop about my wonderful research experience at UR. I also participate in several student organizations to try different things and positions. Besides, I had several on-campus jobs to gain working experience. If you have any questions about anything, feel free to reach out to me!

My name is Ellie Rushforth and I am an exchange student from the United Kingdom. My home university is the University of Edinburgh and I am studying towards a joint degree in Sociology and Politics. I have really enjoyed my study abroad experience so far, and I think it has been one of the most valuable aspects of my degree, so I joined ISAB as I wanted to make sure that other exchange and international students felt this too! A huge part of my experience at the University of Richmond has been the amazing people I have met, and I think this has really added to my perceptions of the university. In my free time I love to travel, and would love to take this opportunity to see even more of the United States.

My name is Linh Nguyen. I am a sophomore from Hanoi, Vietnam. I am undeclared with an intended major in Mathematical Economics and minor in Arts. I love reading, baking, watching movies and especially photography. You can sometimes catch me around campus or downtown with my camera. My first year at UR has been wonderful and changed me a lot as a person. I am very excited to serve as an ISAB member next year, and I am open to any comments or suggestions from you to improve the international student community.

Hi! My name is Mai Linh Pham (preferred name Linh Pham) from Hanoi, Vietnam. I am a rising sophomore with an intended major is Business Administration, triple concentration in Accounting, Finance, Management Consulting, and minor in Psychology. I love to socialize with people and get engaged with multicultural programs, so I would be more than happy to serve as an ISAB Board Member and support our diverse international student community here. Apart from ISAB, I currently take part in a variety of programs or organizations on campus, such as SSIR Living Learning Community, Spider Board, American Marketing Association, Peer Advisors and Mentees Program, etc. You can not only find me "getting stressed out" at the B-School but also come across me working at the CSI Front Desk in THC, but definitely stop by and catch up. One year studying in Richmond has allowed me to develop myself a lot in different aspects, so I am always here to help!