International Programs

Candidates for President

Ece Yeldan

What is your degree and field of study?

BS, Wildlife Ecology

In your words, what is the purpose of ISA and the role it should play in supporting international students at UMaine?

I believe the purpose of ISA is re-create a home environment for International Students. Many of us feel homesick or disconnected at times, and so holding events such as Culturefest, Coffee Hour and International Dance Festival provides a great oppurtunity for International Students to connect with their culture. Further, ISA serves as a great tool to connect with people from different cultures. Through ISA events we get to promote the diversity at UMaine and are exposed to new perspective. ISA provides a great cultural exchange for both International and Americans alike.

What are your top 3 goals for ISA in the up coming school year?

1. Further our Impact on campus and establishing a more dominant presence by being more vocal at Student Government Meetings.
2. Starting a new annual event – Springfest and make sure it lasts!
3. Increasing the number of collaborations to form more connections with other Clubs and Organizations.

What relevant leadership positions have you held at UMaine or at other institutions?

I started off as the secretary of ISA and am the current president, which I believe to have done a good job in both. I am a member of All Maine Women which is a high achieving honors society. Further I work as an Area Coordinator where its my responsibility to ensure tutors are meeting job requirements.

What qualities do you possess which make you uniquely qualified for the officer position that you are running for?

I believe I am a good leader as I can provide direction without assuming every role and dictating everything. I also think of myself as adapatible and can find a good compromise when stuck in a situation. I have displayed good communication and critical thinking skills as I have been in situiations regarding ISA where I had to think outside of the box.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I love being a part of ISA and cherish every moment here. Being able to see people happy and engaged makes me feel acomplished. I want to continue to be a part of ISA because I have formed lasting friendships and connections. ISA is also a great support system for me and I consider it my safe space. I hope those of you who are reading this have appreciated my dedication as president and will vote for me again this year!

Sara (Quynh) Tran

What is your degree and field of study?

BS, Finance and Marketing

In your words, what is the purpose of ISA and the role it should play in supporting international students at UMaine?

The goal of ISA is to provide networking and social opportunities for our members while also exposing them to diversity and culture. Our goals include increasing campus diversity, developing meaningful relationships, and having fun while doing so! 

What are your top 3 goals for ISA in the up coming school year?

My 3 goals for ISA in the up coming school year : + Provide international student and domestic students to experience and appreciate different culture and promote international friendship. + Coming with more different kind of creative ideas and fun activities so students can get involved more on campus such as : picnic, road trip, cultural cuisine, and parties etc.. + Last but not least, provide more cultural awareness events to increase diversity awareness in the community. 

What relevant leadership positions have you held at UMaine or at other institutions?

I’m currently a vice president of International Student Association and I enjoy doing it !

I’m also :
– A student ambassador for Maine Business School and Foster Center for Innovation
– A student leader for Diversity and Inclusion Office ( 3 centers : Rainbow Resources Center, IFRC, Multicultural Center)
– A secretary of Asian Student Organization.
– A Black Bear tutor

What qualities do you possess which make you uniquely qualified for the officer position that you are running for?

I have been with ISA since freshman year during spring semester as a vice president until now. And I’m running again because :
– I enjoy getting involved on campus, working in a team and making new friends.
– Communication is my favorite thing because I love to talk and share new things with people I know.
– I’m responsible when fulling given tasks and well-time managed and I always plan everything ahead.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

You will get to see me everywhere on campus because I love to get involved and I love to be surrounded by my lovely friends . Besides, I’m the person who create the flyer for Coffee Hour every week.

Candidates for Vice President

Nara Narith

What is your degree and field of study?

Civil Engineering

In your words, what is the purpose of ISA and the role it should play in supporting international students at UMaine?

International Student Association has always been a place I go to meet new people, learn new things, be myself, and be proud of my own culture and identity. It’s so easy to get lost in my academic workload and my social life balance as an international student. There are many times when I don’t feel a part of the group just because of where I am from, and there are times when I do not want to let people know that I am an international student. ISA allows me to do all of that, it is a safe space where I can be myself and represent my countries with like-mind people. Thus, I hope ISA should play the same role for other international students, a place where they can come to find other international friends; people who can relate to what each one of us is going through, and people who can work through a problem together.

What are your top 3 goals for ISA in the up coming school year?

– Introduce more country-to-country features during coffee hour
– Represent the international students as a student body on campus
– More cultural events

What relevant leadership positions have you held at UMaine or at other institutions?

– Sustainable Environmental Action Division President
– ISA treasurer

What qualities do you possess which make you uniquely qualified for the officer position that you are running for?

I have been a part of ISA as the treasurer for 2 years now, and I have enjoyed it immensely. This means I have experience in running all of the ISA events, and understand the expectations of an ISA officer. I will be able to contribute my creative ideas to plan and manage events.

 

Ece Yeldan

(See above)

Aissata Diabate

What is your degree and field of study?

BS, Chemical Engineering

In your words, what is the purpose of ISA and the role it should play in supporting international students at UMaine?

For me, ISA is a family for international students at UMaine. Being away from home (far or near) can sometimes be strange but the best part is feeling loved and supported by your host community. ISA plays a big role in supporting students at UMaine. It is a way of learning in a chilled environment. Not only you get to meet people, but you also get to know who they are and learn about their culture.

What are your top 3 goals for ISA in the up coming school year?

As ISA has always been, my first and biggest goal is to keep the club active all the time throughout the academic year. Since it is one of the biggest clubs at UMaine, it should also be one of the most active one. Secondly, I want to extend ISA as much as I can and encourage international students to join by organizing some fun activities and by promoting it on social media. Although I really want to make them feel loved as I have an experience with international students. As been said, I want make ISA meeting a relaxing place for its members.

What relevant leadership positions have you held at UMaine or at other institutions?

I started leading at a very young age. I have the responsible of my class since I was in middle school till my junior year of high school. Being responsible in my country is like being president and secretary here. You get to control the classroom and the student while there is no teacher, and you are the one to report any concern or any issue your class might have to the administration. Furthermore, I was a representative of an association in my hometown for which my job was to recruit students for our club.

What qualities do you possess which make you uniquely qualified for the officer position that you are running for?

I am totally flexible, I can pretty much work with everyone, and I am always willing to help if needed. I have a good sense of humor which makes this position a perfect fit for me. I have many experiences with leading people, I take initiative and I always get done my work on time.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I was an exchange student last year and as an exchange student in the US, you get to meet many other exchange students worldwide. Since I have got the opportunity to experience this, I already have an idea of how to manage with people coming from different backgrounds.

 

Shashank Chintakuntla

What is your degree and field of study?

BS, Computer Science

In your words, what is the purpose of ISA and the role it should play in supporting international students at UMaine?

The International Student Association main purpose should be to support fellow international students. Representing International students on campus and making sure their voices are heard is part of what is required to support international students.

What are your top 3 goals for ISA in the up coming school year?

1. Help make sure ISA and therefore international student’s voices are heard at student government.
2. Have a high participation rate at ISA events.
3. Make ISA a fun place for me and everyone part of it.

What relevant leadership positions have you held at UMaine or at other institutions?

I was my club soccer captain and a represented my school at different inter-school events.

What qualities do you possess which make you uniquely qualified for the officer position that you are running for?

I’d like to mention that I’m a team player, levelheaded and can give different perspectives on any plans that the ISA makes. I’m also good at holding people accountable and making sure everybody does their part.

Candidates for Secretary

Aissata Diabate

(See above)

Candidates for Treasurer

Sara ( Quynh ) Tran

(See above)

Shashank Chintakuntla

(See above)

Phuoc Hoang Le (Jack)

What is your degree and field of study?

BSBA in Accounting & Finance

In your words, what is the purpose of ISA and the role it should play in supporting international students at UMaine?

ISA is a cultural student organization that aims to support and promote the diversity and awareness that international students bring to UMaine. ISA should be a place where international students can make friends and learn from new cultures while sharing their own with the community. Also, ISA can be a place that international students can count on to assist them in becoming accustomed to the new culture and success academically in their studies at UMaine.

What are your top 3 goals for ISA in the up coming school year?

1. To make ISA more popular among local students
2. To create strong bonds among members of the club
3. To ensure the ISA community is inclusive and motivating

What relevant leadership positions have you held at UMaine or at other institutions?

I used to be a youth group teller in a local church when I was an exchange student down in Texas, so I have some experience working with people and representing a youth group. I also a very active members in Student council in Orono High and the Class of 2024 Council in UMaine so that gives me a lot of opportunities to work in community services and planning out fund activities. With all of that, I think that I would be able to success in the ISA position if elected!

What qualities do you possess which make you uniquely qualified for the officer position that you are running for?

As a business student, I actually enjoy working with money. Planning and reconciling the balance sheet is my strength considering the major that I’m in. Apart from being able to work with money, I also hold a part-time job as a Parking Enforcement Officer. The position gives me excellent explanation skills and effective communication, which requires serious attention-to-details to do such. I’m confident about these qualifications as people can rest assured that I will be able to deliver a reasonable funding request and open conversation with students as well.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

When I’m not studying or attending class, I enjoy reading world histories and international affairs because I want to open my knowledge and perspective beyond my own and see the world. I’m interested in human relationships, how different cultures and perspectives see each other, and the history behind them. Apart from League of Legends, I honestly know very little about gaming, to be fair.

If you come to talk to me about any of the world problems, US culture, or just about anything really. I’m happy to sit down for hours and discuss because I’m also eager to learn and open to differences.