Meet the Student Co-Coordinators
Nikhita (Niki) Azad
Place of Origin: India
Languages: English, Hindi, Bengali, French, Korean (learning/basic)
Major(s): International Relations
Year in College: Third
About Me: Hello, all! I am one of the Co-Coordinators (CoCo's) for this year, and I am very excited to meet everyone! I am an international student from India, and I love understanding and getting to know more about different cultures. I am an outgoing, generally bubbly person, and I love to connect with people. My passions are: music, food, languages, and art. As a CoCo I hope to make your experience with the program a fun and memorable one. I preach open communication, and want y'all to know that you can always come and talk to me about anything and I shall help you out to the best of my abilities. Welcome to the GAMP family!
Millenn Mong
Place of Origin: United States
Languages: English, Vietnamese, Chinese (Elementary)
Major(s): Community and Regional Development & Sustainable Environmental Design
Year in College: Third
Campus Involvement: SAFE @ SRRC
About Me: Hello there! Welcome to my profile! Born and raised in San Francisco, California. I attended a boarding school in LA for high school and ended up here at Davis. I love to eat, bake, and travel. I love Disney (I have a huge obsession with "Lilo and Stitch"). Something interesting about me is that I use to work at the Museum of Ice Cream! So, if you like ice cream, we can be good friends. I am very excited to be a CoCo for this upcoming school term and can't wait to meet everyone. Congrats and welcome to the Aggie family!
Kabir Sahni
Place of Origin: India
Languages: English, Hindi, Punjabi, Sanskrit (intermediate)
Major(s): Communication & International Relations
Year in College: Third
Campus Involvement: Research Assistant (Computational Communication Research Lab), Whole Earth Festival, Ethnic and Cultural Affairs Commission, Senate Staffer, Intern for PLS, Global Learning Hub Student Advisory Committee
About Me: Hey, everyone, I’m a Kabir, one of the Co-Coordinators for this year’s cohort. Being from India myself, I chose to study at Davis as I love interacting with people from all over the world and fostering the essence of unity in diversity, which is truly why I’m incredibly passionate about GAMP. I’m a textbook ambivert who loves food and film. As a CoCo, I want to make myself available to all of you as a resource, and am a text/email away if you need me, mostly because I hold on to my phone and laptop for dear life. Don’t hesitate to ask me what’s playing on my AirPods, or why Thai milk tea boba is superior to all other drinks. Looking forward to meeting all of you real soon! :))
Meet the Mentors
Santhoshi Angadipuram Ramanathan
Place of Origin: India/United Arab Emirates
Languages: English, Tamil (conversational), Malayalam (conversational), Arabic (basic)
Major(s): Computer Science
Year in College: Second
Campus Involvement: The Harry Potter Alliance, O-STEM, PAL Program
About Me: Hi, Aggies! I was born in Saudi Arabia and I grew up in India, Tanzania, and the United Arab Emirates. Apart from classes, you'll most likely find me hanging out with friends, drinking boba, and exploring the Arboretum and Downtown Davis. Do feel free to ask me any questions you have, and I will try my best to help you out. Looking forward to meeting all of you!
Bill Chan
Place of Origin: Hong Kong
Languages: Cantonese, English, Mandarin (Conversational)
Major(s): Mathematical Analytics and Operations Research
Year in College: Fourth
Campus Involvement: Lounge Lizards A Cappella
About Me: Hey, y’all! I was born and raised in Hong Kong, and I came to California when I was 15 to attend a boarding school down in Pebble Beach. I’m in an a cappella group on campus, and in my free time I like making and listening to different kinds of music, so music is a big part of my life—if you catch me singing or beatboxing wherever I go, that’s why. Besides that, I’m also a big foodie—my YouTube homepage is flooded with cooking videos, and I’ve probably spent more time and effort in the kitchen than in front of my desk. This is my first year as a mentor, and I am beyond excited to meet y’all! Let’s have lots of fun together!
Manyi Chen
Place of Origin: United States
Languages: English, Chinese, Spanish (basics)
Major(s): Political Science, Economics
Year in College: Second
Campus Involvement: The Pantry (volunteer)
About Me: Hello, incoming Aggies, I am very excited to have the opportunity to introduce you to this amazing campus! I don't want to consider myself a workaholic, but I happen to be in the library a lot. Besides studying, I devote a lot of my time at the gym and exploring town. I also like to attend local events, such as the Farmers Market, let me know if you'd like to join. I love coffee, feel free to discuss with me which coffee shop you think serves the best coffee! I look forward to meeting you all!
Jamie Guan
Place of Origin: China
Languages: Mandarin Chinese, English, Japanese (basic), Spanish (basic)
Major(s): International Relations, Communication
Year in College: Fourth
Campus Involvement: CSSA@UCD
About Me: Hey, everyone, my name is Jamie. I am super excited to meet you all! I was born in Beijing and came to the U.S. when I was ten. One fun fact (not so fun) about me is that I went to three different high schools (two in LA and one in SF). So I totally understand what you all are going through. I am here to make the process as smooth as possible! I spend my free time reading (any Harry Potter fans?), playing video games, watching movies/TV shows, making memes, and playing the piano. I am a self-proclaimed boba expert and I will take you to all the good boba places! Welcome to UC Davis! I hope you all are doing well and staying safe in quarantine!
Yutong He
Place of Origin: China
Languages: Chinese, English
Major(s): Neurobiology, physiology, and behavior
Year in College: Second
Campus Involvement: Boxing club, Beta Lab
About Me: Hello! I was born and raised in China. 2020 is my fifth year in the U.S. and second year in Davis, so I definitely have a lot of experience and tips to share as an international student. Currently, I have an on-campus job. I also participated in pigeon and education labs. I like to work out a lot (ask me and I’ll tell you all the secret gyms on campus)! I also know where to find great Asian food around Davis and Sacramento. I love to learn about different cultures so please tell me your stories! Sometimes it can be difficult to live in another country. I would love to just chat in general if you feel like you need someone to talk to.
Emilie Ivtchenko
Place of Origin: France
Languages: French, English, Spanish (conversational)
Major(s): Biomedical Engineering
Year in College: Fourth
Campus Involvement: Baile de Fuego, IMBL intern
About Me: Hello, I am very excited to meet you all! I was born and raised in France until the age of 10, then I moved to Albany, Calif. I am a social and adventurous person who loves sports, dancing, and traveling. As a fourth year student, I have spent a lot of time on this campus so I am available to answer all your questions and help you transition smoothly. I will make sure you have the best experience in Davis!
Annika Lee
Place of Origin: Taiwan
Languages: English, Mandarin
Major(s): Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Year in College: Second
Campus Involvement: Davis Puppy Pals, Orientation Leader
About Me: Hello, Aggies! I was a mentee in this program during my freshman year, so I am very excited that I get to be a mentor now and guide you through your own transition to Davis! I was born in Taiwan, but spent the first half of my childhood moving to places around the world: Holland, USA, and Singapore were the countries I had the great opportunity of living in before settling back in my lovely home country. I love traveling and had plenty of experience being an international student, so I would try my best to help you any way I can. Some other random facts about me are I like animals, K-dramas, milk tea, and I also like listening to people tell stories! Hope I get the chance to hear your stories too! Looking forward to getting to know you all!
Gary Li
Place of Origin: China
Languages: English, Mandarin, Japanese, Italian (basic)
Major(s): Nutrition Science, Japanese minor
Year in College: Third
Campus Involvement: Kaiwa Hour, Archery Club
About Me: Hi! I was born in China and spent four years in Utah for high school. I like to play games, bake, watch anime, and try new things. I’m also interested in learning about different cultures and languages, including sign language. Last year, I explored many restaurants in Davis with my friends, but there are still many restaurants I want to try. If you are also interested in exploring Davis, or anything, let’s do it together! As an international student, I know you might feel uncomfortable and need some time to adapt to this new environment. But don’t worry, because all of us are here to help you!
Eddie Liu
Place of Origin: China mainland
Languages: Chinese (Mandarin), English, Japanese (elementary)
Major(s): Biological Science
Year in College: Third
Campus Involvement: Esport team member
About Me: Hi! I am a third-year biological major student from China. In the past three years, I have kept very high academic performance while developing extracurricular hobbies such as video games and board games. As an international student, I have spent a great amount of time and effort understanding and evaluating cultural differences. My experience of studying in Japan last spring quarter also brought me thoughts on how to build up personal relationships and solidify self-awareness in an unfamiliar culture. I am always willing to help answer any questions as long as my advice can help you achieve your goals from any aspect!
Sophia Mares de Juan
Place of Origin: Mexico
Languages: Spanish, English, Intermediate French
Major(s): International Relations/Sociology and a minor in Human Rights
Year in College: Second
Campus Involvement: UC Model United Nations, GEO Living Learning Community, Global fellowship, Center for Leadership Learning in UC Davis
About Me: My name is Sophia, and I was born and raised in Guadalajara Mexico. I moved to Davis last year. I took a gap year before college. During that year I traveled with 100 people from 20 different countries to 35 cities from all over the world while doing community service and using music to impact and learn from the different communities we visited. I love to travel, meet new people, and learn. One of my favorite quotes is, "Let's change the world starting from the place we call home." A change in the world is possible if we understand that we are all different, and we must learn how to use our differences to better our society. The first step starts with each one of us. I am happy to meet you all next quarter!
Tala Naogan
Place of Origin: China
Languages: Mandarin, English, Mongolian (conversational)
Major(s): Managerial Economic/ Psychology
Year in College: Second
Campus Involvement: IM Basketball, Chinese Tutor, Impossible Future Society
About Me: Hi, future Aggies! I am Tala, an Inner Mongolian girl born and raised in Beijing, China. As an international and first-generation student, I have almost failed calculus, felt lost about what major to choose, and have no idea why I did not use a single Pass or no Pass in the first year, but here I am now survived from "Freshman 15" and passionate about what I am studying right now! I would love to share my experience and help you as much as I can. More about me: I love playing basketball and working out; I am totally down if you want to hit the ARC! Also, I can't resist any good movies especially classic romantic films. I want to keep learning more about the world, different cultures, and languages, as well as from you!
Ruixin (Riley) Pang
Place of Origin: China
Languages: Chinese, English
Major(s): Mathematical Analytics and Operations Research, Statistics
Year in College: Third
Campus Involvement: Pal Program
About Me: I am a third-year international student who comes from China. I know how tough it might be to adapt to an unfamiliar environment. So I am excited to be a Global Ambassador mentor this year to accompany you at the beginning of your journey at UC Davis. In my spare time, I enjoy watching TV shows, getting boba with my friends, and cooking some new dishes. If you and I have the same interests, we can do it and explore it together! As a mentor, I wish I could help you have an easier transition to your college life based on my personal experiences. Looking forward to seeing you all in the fall quarter and being your friends!
Evan Pearson
Place of Origin: United States
Languages: French and English and some Spanish
Major(s): International Relations with a double minor in French and Global Studies
Year in College: Second
Campus Involvement: Resident Advisor, International Relations Student Association
About Me: My name is Evan Pearson. I was born in Atlanta, Georgia in December of 1999 and I am 20 years old. I am studying International Relations because I have a passion for peoples, nationalities, world politics, geography and geo-politics, and world religions. I can speak French and English as I have been speaking both for most of my life. I am passionate also about sports like soccer, American football, and basketball. I have traveled to France and Ireland for international travel and would like to travel around the world for my professional career. I have a very personable personality and I am outgoing and extroverted. I enjoy getting to know people, where they come from, and understanding their cultures and identities. I am also passionate about most types of music Mondial.
Shiyang (Harry) Ren
Place of Origin: Mainland China
Languages: Mandarin Chinese (Fluent), English (Advanced), Japanese (Elementary)
Major(s): Computer Science and Cognitive Science (Double Major)
Year in College: Third
Campus Involvement: UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education, International: UC Davis Summer Start Communication Manager; ASUCD The California Aggie: Photographer (Volunteer)
About Me: Hello. I am Shiyang (Harry) Ren from Mainland China. I am a junior at UC Davis majoring in Computer Science and Cognitive Science. I can speak Mandarin Chinese as well as English, and I am currently learning Japanese. I am an international student and love working with other international students. I genuinely understand that attending college in a foreign country is challenging, so I am really glad that I am able to share my experience of how I overcame the difficulties that you may be facing as well. I am also wanting to learn about other cultures around the world that I may be unfamiliar with, and I am looking forward to the cultural exchange through the Global Ambassador Mentorship Program.
Ritz Harley Tolentino
Place of Origin: Philippines
Languages: English, Tagalog, Ilocano
Major(s): Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior
Year in College: Second
Campus Involvement: Filipinx Association for Health Careers
About Me: Hello it’s Ritz! I’ve had a fun experience being a mentee last year, and I want to share that experience with all of you, only this time as your mentor. To see if we vibe, let me tell you about myself. Like a lot of my fellow mentors, I love to travel. Favorite place I’ve been to? Barcelona. City I really want to visit? Vienna (mainly to visit Mozart’s apartment). My playlist songs range from Classical music to R&B to alternative. Would I ever pet the cows on campus? Probably not. You’ll probably catch me studying because the pre-med life is hard. But I’m always, always down to do anything spontaneous and fun (party!). Being an international student in a foreign place may seem daunting, but I hope to be a friendly face you can always approach. I can’t wait to meet all of you!
Phoebe Wang
Place of Origin: United States
Languages: English, Mandarin
Major(s): Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Year in College: Third
Campus Involvement: Pal Program
About Me: I was born and raised in the Bay Area (California) for most of my childhood, and spent two years in Shanghai, China. I like to call myself a “cultural explorer” and always enjoy meeting people of various backgrounds. I’m always excited to learn something new, especially of other cultures and languages, so please feel free to teach me all about you! In my free time, I love baking for friends and family and spending time with my fluffy dog. As a mentor and friend, I'm here for you all and hope I can help make your transition into Davis a little easier and a bit more fun! I'm excited for our outings together and look forward to meeting you all!
Jiss Xavier
Place of Origin: India
Languages: English, Malayalam, French (Basic)
Major(s): Computer Science & Engineering
Year in College: Third
About Me: Hey, my name is Jiss. I am thrilled to meet you all and guide you through your first year as Aggies! I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, and enjoy traveling the world and exploring new cultures. I love playing sports, staying active, and meeting new people. Feel free to reach out at any time, and let's make this a great first year.
Yuan (Esther) Zhang
Place of origin: China
Languages: Mandarin, English
Major(s): Managerial Economics, minors in Technology management, Computer Science
Year in College: Third
Campus Involvement: Davis Consulting Group, Impossible Future Society, CARE, 2020 Orientation
About Me: Hi, I am Esther and I am so glad to have you in our family! It seems like time sure does fly since I can’t believe I am a junior already! I am very friendly, talkative, and reliable so I will always be available if you ever need a friend to talk to. It is a great pleasure to be able to meet all of you soon, and I can't wait to spend more time with everyone. Here are a few fun facts about me! Swimming and skiing are two of my favorite sports. Some other ways I like to spend my free time are discovering new recipes, playing board games, and going on outdoor adventures. I’m also itching to try out dancing and photography, so we can learn them together if you are also interested. Again, I am truly excited to meet you all and cannot wait to have a memorable journey with you!
Carrie Zhao
Place of Origin: China
Languages: English, Mandarin, Spanish (basic)
Major(s): Managerial Economics
Year in College: Second
Campus Involvement: PLS21 staff member (intern)
About Me: I have been studying in the U.S. for six years, and I finished my high school in Georgia. I am a big lover of fitness, boxing, and taekwondo. Although these are the new hobbies that I developed in the recent two years, I really fall in love with them! If you have the same interests, please come and talk to me, I am so excited. Transitioning into another culture and educational system is not an easy thing to do, as you may foresee, but this is why we are here to help! Maybe this is your first time of being mentee; it is also my first time of being a mentor. So don’t be shy or hesitate to ask if you need help. I am looking forward to meeting with you and making some great memories together!