Wesleyan International Speakers Program (WISP)
The Wesleyan International Speakers Program (WISP) is a year-long volunteer program for current Wesleyan students who are passionate about promoting intercultural awareness, bridging cultural gaps, and fostering global connections within our campus and beyond. The program offers a unique opportunity for students who identify as coming from an international background to serve as Speakers and share short presentations and talks about their home country(ies), culture(s), and/or language(s) with various audiences within the Wesleyan and Middletown communities.
Read on to learn about each of the Speakers and the structure of the program. Complete this form to request a WISP Speaker for your class or event!
WISP Speakers – Academic Year 2026-2027
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Akari Ikeda (she/her)
Class of 2028 - Philosophy and Government
Japan
Read MoreLanguages Spoken: Japanese and English (currently studying Korean!)
Bio: Hi everyone! My name is Akari and I use she/her pronouns! I am a junior majoring in Philosophy and Government. I grew up in Japan and the United Kingdom. On campus, I am a staff writer for the news section of The Argus and am most likely to be found in Olin. In my free time, I enjoy drawing, creative writing, game hunting, watching films, and reading. One interesting fact about me is that I can fly planes (my favorite planes are the Piper Archer and the Douglas Dakota).
Why I joined WISP: I want to be part of WISP because both the cultures I grew up in have beautifully rich traditions that I would love for more people to get to know. P.S. If you think British food tastes bad, come talk to me - I'll try and prove you wrong!
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Shirley You (she/her)
Class of 2027 - Economics; minors in Data Analysis and Global Engagement
China
Read MoreLanguages spoken: Mandarin, English, beginner Danish and Korean
Bio: Hi everyone! I'm Shirley (she/her), a senior from Suzhou, China, majoring in Economics with minors in Data Analysis and Global Engagement. At Wesleyan, I'm involved in the International Student Advisory Board, Econ Major Committee, and Global Engagement Minor Student Advisory Board. I'm also an Econ Zone tutor and a research assistant at the Quantitative Analysis Center. Having studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, I've come to appreciate how much we can learn from stepping outside our familiar cultural environments. Outside of academics, I love traveling, cooking dishes from different cuisines for friends, reading, and exploring different languages and cultures.
Why I joined WISP: As an international student who has studied in both the U.S. and Denmark, I've experienced firsthand how meaningful cross-cultural exchange can be, but also how challenging it can be to navigate unfamiliar environments. Through my involvement in ISAB and other international student initiatives, I've become passionate about making international students' voices heard and creating spaces for genuine dialogue. I joined WISP because I want to share perspectives that go beyond stereotypes, encourage curiosity about different cultures, and help build a more inclusive and globally connected community.
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Roque Omondi (he/him)
Class of 2030 - Intended Majors: Neuroscience and Theater
Kenya
Read MoreLanguages Spoken: English, Swahili, Sheng' Creole, and am planning to learn French
Bio: Hi everyone! My name is Roque, also known as Ray. I use he/him pronouns! I am a freshman planning to major in Neuroscience and Theatre. I grew up in Nairobi, Kenya. On campus I am involved in theatre production, on Campus job, and I love hanging out with my friends. Outside of school I love having controversial debates and discussions, listening to music and watching movies. My hobby is probably making content I never really post and of course hanging out with my friends. One interesting fact about me is I draw, I paint, I write poetry, and I act pretty well.
Why I joined WISP: I want to be part of WISP because it will build up my confidence skills and ability to hold difficult conversations regarding culture, norm differences, and multiculturalism. I also joined the program because I would love to learn from fellow WISP-ers about their different cultures, and how to hold multicultural conversations. In addition, this opportunity is good for me to think about my country and its cultures, and share it with those who haven't been exposed to it yet.
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Qiushi (Selina) Yu (she/her)
Class of 2030 - Intended Majors: Psychology and Math
China
Read MoreLanguages Spoken: Mandarin, English, a bit of French
Bio: Hi everyone! My name is Selina, and I use she/her pronouns! I plan to major in Psychology and Mathematics. I also study French and plan to participate in a study abroad program in France in the future. I grew up in Nanjing, China. On campus, I am involved in an a cappella group called Onomatopoeia! Outside of school, I love music, especially pop music and Chinese Peking Opera. I have been practicing Peking Opera for seven years! I also love traveling and exploring the world. One interesting fact about me is that I have a cat named Simba, after the character in The Lion King.
Why I joined WISP: I want to be part of WISP because I would love to share my cultural experiences with others and make new friends! Traditional Chinese opera is fascinating, but not many people are familiar with it, so I would love to introduce it and share some interesting aspects of this art form. I can also share my experiences studying under China's Gaokao system and give others a glimpse into what high school life and education are like in China.
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Ha Thu (Hazel) Le (she/her)
Class of 2030 - Intended Majors: Economics and Psychology
Vietnam
Read MoreLanguages Spoken: Vietnamese, English, and I am learning Korean!
Bio: Hi everyone! My name is Hazel Le, and I use she/her pronouns. I’m a first-year student at Wesleyan, considering majors in Economics and Psychology. I grew up in Vietnam. Besides WISP, I’m involved in the Freeman Asian Scholars Association, VSA, and SpeakeaSEA. I love watching horror movies and crime documentaries, and I’m a big fan of solo traveling! My first solo trip was in 9th grade, when I traveled from Vietnam to the U.S. and spent three nights exploring New York City on my own. One fun fact about me is that I was born with a stutter! I also happen to have a LOT of Vietnamese snacks, so don’t hesitate to say hi if you ever want to try some!
Why I joined WISP: I’ve always been interested in multicultural education. I see WISP as a space where I can share my own experiences while learning from others’ stories and perspectives. I’m excited to explore how education shapes different cultures and societies alongside everyone!
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Oybek Abdullaev (he/him)
Class of 2030 - Intended Majors: Economics and Government
Uzbekistan
Read MoreLanguages Spoken: Uzbek, Russian, English
Bio: Hey! My name is Oybek, and I use he/him pronouns! I am a rising freshman with prospective majors in Government and Economics. I was born and raised in Uzbekistan. On campus, I am involved in the WSA, the debate club, and the Freshman intramural soccer team. Outside of school, I love playing table tennis, chess, hiking, and hitting the gym. One interesting fact about me is that I love acting.
Why I joined WISP: I want to be part of WISP because I am excited to share my experiences with the community, put Uzbekistan on the map by presenting our history, culture, architecture, and art, and improve my public speaking. I love public speaking. I love sharing information about my country. I want to contribute to my community. And I know it will be a lot of fun and I'll make new friends.
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Amani Nyonyoozi Tumusiime (she/her)
Class of 2030 - Intended Major: Physics
Uganda
Read MoreLanguages Spoken: English
Bio: Hello! I'm Amani from Uganda, and I use she/her pronouns. I am a freshman and prospective physics major. I grew up in the city center of Kampala, so I love bustling urban environments. On campus I plan to be involved in outreach activities of the Astronomy Department and math club. I am also a member of the African Students Association Board and a journalist for the student newspaper, The Argus. I love stargazing, road trips, and music! I am excited to be a part of the WISP as a passionate global citizen.
Why I joined WISP: I took a gap year where I travelled around the world alongside 50 students from a multitude of cultural, linguistic and ethnic backgrounds. I learned as much, if not more, by interacting with the global community as I did from travelling to different places. I hope to leverage WISP to create the sort of dialogue that allowed me to become a global citizen and give other people the opportunity I received to learn about the world.
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Shiyu (Seven) Xu (she/her/ella)
Class of 2030 - Intended Majors: Art History and Government
China
Read MoreLanguages Spoken: English, Mandarin, Shanghainese, and Spanish (currently a little bit)
Bio: Hey:) My name is Seven, she/her pronouns! I am a freshman thinking of majoring in Art History/Government. I grew up in Shanghai, China. On campus, I am currently involved in the Slavei singing group and the Wesleyan Refugee Project, and I am stage-managing our Mainstage Production. Outside of school, I love basking in the sunshine with my cats, travelling, hiking, going on city walks, boxing, enjoying art (museums, music, and dance), and playing guitar. Two fun facts about me: I have a cat called Eleven, so we are Seven Eleven together, and I've climbed almost all the famous mountains in China.
Why I joined WISP: I want to be part of WISP because I want to be more of a colorful and artistic presence in this diverse Wesleyan community. I also want to spread love and culture from China (and share more cultural and architectural details about Shanghai).
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Ruixuan (Ryan) Pan (he/him)
Class of 2030 - Intended Major: Psychology
China
Read MoreLanguages Spoken: Chinese, English, and a tiny, tiny, little bit of Spanish
Bio: Hi everyone! My name is Ryan (Ruixuan) Pan and I use He/Him pronouns! I am a Freshman planning to major in Psychology. I grew up in Shenzhen. My hobby is plant spotting, travelling, flight simulation and watching movie. One interesting fact about me is I have 3 cats.
Why I joined WISP: I want to be part of WISP because I wanna gain more cultural intelligence and contribute my cultural knowledge and understanding into this community. It is a way to meet new people as well.
Goals of WISP
- Empower international students to educate community members about their country(ies), culture(s), and language(s) through their own perspectives and lived experiences
- Contribute to a campus culture that recognizes, embraces, and celebrates international students and their unique identities and stories
- Foster cross-cultural curiosity, intercultural learning, and global awareness within the Wesleyan and Middletown communities
Speaker Responsibilities
- Commit to serving as a speaker for 1 full academic year (fall and spring semesters)
- Give at least one presentation per semester
- Attend program meetings and monthly events, including cohort socials and professional development sessions
- Collaborate with other Speakers in the program to plan and deliver presentations
- Assist with outreach and promotion of WISP events
Eligibility
- Must be a Wesleyan undergraduate or graduate student
- Must identify as coming from an international background or have previous global experience(s)
- Must be passionate about your home country(ies), culture(s), and language(s) and promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding
- Speakers who fulfill their responsibilities and are interested in continuing in the program are eligible to extend for an additional year upon approval by the OISA Director and Assistant Director of International Student Engagement.
Benefits
- Opportunities to engage with Wesleyan and Middletown community members and raise awareness about your country(ies), culture(s), and language(s)
- Monthly socials with other Speakers to build strong connections within Wesleyan's international community
- Support from the Presentation Studio and OISA professional staff to practice and improve your communication, presentation, and public speaking skills
- Professional development, leadership, and networking opportunities
*Program participants will be provided with transportation to community venues, such as local schools, for speaker requests from outside of Wesleyan.
Applying to Join WISP
The WISP application for the fourth cohort of Speakers (2026-2027 academic year) will be opened and shared with current international students via email and the Wesleyan International Student E-newsletter (WISE) at the start of the Fall 2026 Semester.
Questions?
For questions about WISP, please send an email to oisa@wesleyan.edu with “WISP inquiry” in the subject line.