Class of 2022, Meet Your OIS Counselors!


 

OIS counselors are Yale upperclassmen with a wide range of backgrounds and interests!

Most importantly, they want to share their excitement about Yale with you!

 

2018 Head Counselors

Marianne Ayala, DC ’20, Phillippines

 

Mabuhay international frosh! I’m Marianne, a rising junior from Manila, Philippines (by way of Singapore and Hong Kong) and I cannot wait to welcome all of you to your new home here at Yale! I’m double-majoring in History and Art and ultimately hope to synthesize my interests in the visual and written to work towards achieving social justice in the Philippines. When I'm not stuck in a library cramming, I illustrate for the YDN; serve as a VP for AIESEC, a non-profit that provides global volunteer opportunities; act as President of the Filipino club; and dance in Sabrosura, Yale’s latin dance team. You’re also likely to catch me breaking the bank on truly preposterous quantities of iced coffee at Blue State with my best friends who I met at OIS two years ago as an awkward and terrified first-year. I’m ecstatic about meeting the diverse and brilliant class of 2022, so please (please) shoot me an email about you and your hometown in the meantime and see you in August!

Matthew Peoples, SM ’20, Northern Ireland

 

Hey there international Class of 2022 - welcome to Yale! My name is Matt and I’m a rising junior in Silliman College from (Northern) Ireland. I’m majoring in either Neuroscience or Cognitive Science - so if you want to talk brains, hit me up. This is my third OIS and I can say with certainty it is the best way to begin your new adventure here at Yale. Here on campus, I'm involved with AIESEC Yale - a global citizenship organization focused on sending college students abroad on leadership experiences. I also work for the Yale Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit. I will be spending the first few weeks of my Summer in Munich and southern Germany – officially to catch up with old friends, but probably just looking at castles and tasting some fine beer, before returning to the magical city of New Haven to do research on campus. I'm also so excited to be a Peer Liaison (PL) for OISS this upcoming year. Can't wait to meet you all in August - see you soon!

Sophie Xu, ES ’20, China

 

Hi Class of 2022! My name is Sophie Xu and I am a rising junior in Stiles. I am super excited to serve as Head Counselor this year. I am from Beijing, China and have also lived in Chicago, Canberra, and for two months in Paris last summer. All this has solidified my love of exploring, as well as peking duck, fairy bread, cheese, and deep dish pizza. I am an Economics major and I also love taking random classes ranging from ornithology to art history. On campus, I am busy organizing events for the International Students Organization, managing projects at Yale Net Impact, and filling my bubble tea rewards card. This summer I will be in Pittsburgh for a finance internship. I am beyond excited to meet you all in August and I hope we can give you an OIS experience that is just as amazing and memorable as ours were.

2018 Counselors


Pradhi Aggarwal, BK ’21, India

 

Hey internationals! I'm Pradhi and I'm a rising sophomore in Berkeley college. I was born in Mumbai, India and have lived there all my life. I'm thinking of majoring in Applied Math, or something in that direction. I ride with the Yale Equestrian Team and I am a part of MathCounts outreach. I also occasionally write for The Yale Herald and play the piano in my free time. I love books and food and would love to hear about the wonderful food from your country! I am super excited to share all the Yale love with you lovely people!

Sam Brakarash, MY ’21, Zimbabwe

 

Hello 2022! I am so excited to meet you all! My name is Sam and I am from Zimbabwe. I am a typical confused student so am not certain about my major. I applied with a focus on physics-philosophy, but now seem to be moving towards social psychology. I am passionate about theatre and writing and so am quite involved with that on campus. I am also on the board of the Yale African Students Association. If there is anything at all that you want to talk about before coming, feel free to send me an email. I cannot wait to meet you!

Camez Eleazar, BK ’20, USA & Mexico

 

Welcome, Class of 2022! I am so excited to help you begin your Yale experiences! There’s one thing I should get out of the way: yes, I’m American (I do have dual citizenship with Mexico, so I guess that counts for something), so I’m not really international, but I made so many great friends in the international community that I decided I wanted to take part in OIS as a counselor. As a proud member of the YPMB (Yale Precision Marching Band), I hope that by the end of the program you are just as excited and passionate about Yale as I am! My interests include soccer/football, music, history, and more; I can’t wait to get to know all of you!

Kaan Cankat, PC ’20, Turkey

 

Hi Class of 2022! My name is Kaan and I'm a rising junior in Pierson. It took me a while to figure it out, but I am now set as an Econ and Math major. Although I'm originally from Turkey, I grew up in Poland, Hong Kong, France, and Russia and love all of them equally! Outside of school work, I work as a gallery guide at the YUAG and serve on the board of Hemispheres, which gives lessons in international relations to local high school students. I can also be found hanging out with Bee Space, our beekeeping club, or at my radio show. If you have any questions about anything or just want to chat, feel free to shoot me an email!

João Cardoso, SY ’21, Portugal

 

Hello internationals of the class of 2022! My name is João, and I come from the small but beautiful country of Portugal. Please don't let my name scare you, I'll gladly teach you how to pronounce it. I'm currently a rising sophomore, and although I'm keeping my options open, I think I will end up majoring in Astronomy or Astrophysics. I work at the front desk at the library, but don't let this fool you into thinking I'm some sort of book-worm. In my free time, you'll usually find me playing the guitar, putting in work at the gym, practicing some Muay Thai kickboxing, or working towards becoming a Woads scholar (the real reason why I'm at Yale). Come talk to me about STEM at Yale, about your home country, or about whatever you want. I'm looking forward to meeting you all!

 

Mina Cezairli, BF ’21, Turkey

 

My name is Mina and I'm so excited to meet you all! I am from Turkey and whenever someone asks me for a fun fact, I resort to "I traveled from Europe to Asia every day for high school" (thanks Istanbul). I'm a rising sophomore in Ben Franklin college planning to major in Mechanical Engineering but also hope to take art and humanities classes here and there because Yale is such a great place to explore (I'm convinced intro to painting and thermodynamics would go well together). I'm on the sailing team and love to be on the water. When I'm not at practice, I'm involved as secretary for the Yale Friends of Turkey for chances to eat Turkish food!! and dance to Turkish pop (HIGHLY recommended). I'm also in Yale Aerospace to occasionally fly rockets. Other than that, I'm passionate about traveling, coffee, and Duolingo. This year I hope to try more things that Yale has to offer, and sample even more New Haven pizza. OIS was one of the most fun and memorable weeks for me at Yale, so I can't wait to welcome you all to this beautiful place I call home and hope you're all as excited as I am for OIS !!!

Gabbie DeSombre, BR ’21, Hong Kong

 

Hi Class of 2022. My name is Gabbie DeSombre, a rising sophomore from Hong Kong. I am an intended Psychology major that plays varsity golf here at Yale! On campus, I am involved in multiple cultural groups (CASA board, KASY, and ISO), as well as freelance photography. OIS was one of the main highlights of my first year, as I met most of my closest friends during this time. I hope to share my experiences with you, and help you embark on your own Yale journey!

Fred Ebongue Makolle, BF ’21, Cameroon

 

Wassup Class of 2022! Congrats on getting into Yale! I’m a rising sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College hailing from the City of 7 Hills, better known as Yaounde, Cameroon. I hope to double major in Political Science and Statistics & Data Science. When I am not doing problem sets or writing last-minute essays, my activities revolve around The 1701 Golfing Society and the Yale First Year Class Council, but most often I am just aimlessly scrolling through my Facebook News Feed. I also serve on the boards of both the Yale African Students Association and the Yale Undergraduate Association for African Peace and Development. If you are interested in internet memes, sports, music, or the African continent, then hit me up and if you aren’t interested in any of those still hit me up, I love meeting new people. I am also a big foodie and you will quickly learn that New Haven is the paradise for food fans. You will enjoy the best four years of your life here at Yale and OIS will be the first highlight in your incredible journey.

Sofia Gonzalez, BF ’21, Chile & Peru

 

Hi 2022 Internationals! Welcome to Yale! My name is Sofia Gonzalez and I am a Chilean/Peruvian rising sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College. I am a potential MCDB or MBB major, but I am open to changing my mind. This year I was involved in the International Student Organization, The Club of Argentine students, and the Alpha Phi sorority. I will spend this summer exploring Rio de Janeiro and learning Portuguese. OIS was definitely one of the highlights of my first year (also how I met my wife, Mimi). Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about life at Yale. I look forward to meeting you all this fall!

Lucas Holter, DC ’21, England & Canada

 

Hey Class of 2022! I'm Lucas from London, England although my family are from Norway and Canada. I'm a rising sophomore in Davenport College and I hope to double major in Economics and Art. This year I have played on the rugby team and have been involved in the Yale Daily News as a Photo Staff. I've also worked as an event photographer mostly for the popular computer science class CS50. This summer I will be working in Milan and will be in London/Canada for the rest of the time. Please don't be afraid to reach out to chat or if you share any of my interests!

 

Mimi Kostoska, BF ’21, Macedonia

 

Congrats Class of 2022! I am Mimi and I am a rising sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College. I come from Skopje, Macedonia and I am hoping to major in Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics. At Yale I spend most of my time in lab researching yeast (It's fun I promise!), however I am also part of Danceworks, International Student Organization and No Closed Doors. OIS was one of the best experiences at Yale where I met most of my friends, including my best friend Sofia. We met on the second day of OIS and have been inseparable since, literally. P.S. She also a counselor! P.P.S. Looking forward to meeting you all! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Jun Kwak, TC ’21, South Korea

 

Hey first-years! I'm Jun Kwak, and I'm a rising sophomore in Trumbull College. I'm from Seoul, South Korea and I am really excited to meet every one of you from different countries around the world (which is exactly why OIS is so great!) I am a potential Cognitive Science major and I'm a member of the Yale Precision Marching Band, Yale Computer Society, and Yale Launch. I love playing and watching sports (though all of the teams I cheer for - Newcastle Utd., Colts, and Korean national soccer team - pretty much suck). I had a great experience in OIS last year and made a lot of good friends (who also became counselors this year) so I hope you guys enjoy OIS as well! See you soon!

Michelle Lim, HC ’21, Singapore

 

Welcome home, Yale Class of 2022! My name is Michelle Lim. I am a rising junior majoring in Computer Science and I am from Singapore. At Yale, I play Squash, code medical apps and run Helix, a health tech club I co-founded to build ventures to disrupt healthcare. I used to sing in acapella, and I love movies, musicals, psychology, philosophy and history. I can’t wait to meet you in August, and I hope you will make as many friends as I did when I did OIS.

Bohan Lou, ES ’20, China

 

Maybe you're from a megacity like my hometown Shanghai or you live in a place where there's more sheep than humans. Either way, I'm super excited that you made the absolutely right choice of coming to Yale and joining OIS. I'm a rising junior in Ezra Stiles College from Shanghai, China and I'm studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science so all the STEM kids hit me up! Even if you're not interested in technology, don't worry, I'm sure we'll fill our awkward silences with my obnoxious beatboxing or me telling you for the hundredth time about my study abroad in France last summer. I didn't do OIS as a first-year (FOOT is also cool) but being an OIS counselor last year was one of my favorite experiences at Yale and I hope it will be for you too. Transitions can be hard but don't worry. We got your back and I can't wait to see you thrive.

Jever Mariwala, ES ’21, India

 

Hi internationals! I’m Jever, a rising sophomore in Stiles. I’m from Mumbai, India, and I hope to major in Neuroscience, English, or both – I haven’t decided yet! In my free time, I like to write for the Yale Daily News, work with Yale UNICEF, and teach health workshops at New Haven public schools. I also particularly like exploring New Haven’s food options in my free time – I’m a solid victim of the Freshman 15. If you’re missing home food and need some restaurant recommendations, or just need to talk, come say hi! OIS was definitely the best possible way to start my Yale experience, and I’m sure you will make some incredible friendships during this one, event-filled week.

Joshua Monrad, SY ’20, Denmark

 

Congratulations on being admitted to Yale, and congratulations on not going to that awful excuse of a school that is Harvard. My name is Joshua and I’m a junior in Saybrook College. I hail from the small, cold utopia of Denmark, where I was born and lived until I moved to New Haven. My first two years here, I have been engaged with the Yale Effective Altruists, competed in soccer and basketball intramural matches for Saybrook and written for the some of the student publications – and yet, I feel like I’ve still only scratched the surface of what Yale has to offer! I am a big fan of the interdisciplinary opportunities of Yale academics and am majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics. I recommend taking at least one class in philosophy while you’re here, no matter your choice of major, as it will change how you think about everything. I look forward to getting to know you all at OIS, learning from you all, and to building some long-lasting friendships!

Liviu Mosnoi, BF ’21, Moldova

 

Hello incoming internationals and future friends! My name is Liviu (pronounced as “I will never leave-you”) and I’m a rising sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College, hoping to major in EP&E (Ethics, Politics, and Economics). I come from Republic of Moldova, a sunny eastern European country where we make and drink a lot of wine. Before coming to college, I graduated from UWC Dilijan in Armenia. At Yale, I’m a part-time pirate, sailing boatz on the deep blue sea with the varsity sailing team. I’m also pursuing my passion for European politics as a member of the European Horizons think-tank, which, hopefully, will help me become the king of my country one day (even though it’s not a monarchy, not yet). I have a low-key obsession with cheese (cuz it goes well with wine), Latin-American dances and learning foreign languages (speaking five so far). Coming from a completely different socio-cultural background, my transition here has been hard, but I received tremendous support and learned a lot from fellow OIS peers. Hence, I sincerely advise you to do the same and not hesitate to ask us for any kind of help. Can’t wait to meet y’all and hear your stories. Cheers!

Phyllis Mugadza, SM ’21, Zimbabwe

Salibonani, Makadini, Hello international students of the class of 2022! Congratulations and welcome to Yale. My name is Phyllis Mugadza and I am from the great nation of Zimbabwe. I am a first year student in Silliman College majoring in Biomedical Engineering. When I am not in the classroom, you'll find me doing the Hula with Yale's Polynesian dance group "Shaka", meeting with the Yale African Students Association, staying fit with the Yale Triathlon Club and being awesome because I am a Yale tour guide! This summer I will be doing research for 9 weeks with the STARS program then I will be a counselor for the Yale Young Global Scholars program. After that, I'll get to meet all of you which I am so excited about! Attending OIS was the best and smartest decision that I have ever made. (That, and choosing Yale!) OIS gave me a family and I know that you will experience the same support, guidance and love that I have been given. In the meantime, feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Yes, Yale is the best university. Yes, it is possible to survive a New Haven winter! Sending lots of international love to your part of the world, Phyllis.

Stuart Nicholls, MC ’20, Australia

 

Hi, I'm Stuart! I am from Adelaide, Australia, where I grew up playing Australian Football and cricket. Since I came to the US and Yale I've joined the club baseball team. I hope I can share my experiences adapting to the unusual ball games played in this country and make your transition to the US a little bit easier. I'm majoring in Physics. I like running and playing sports and travelling different places. I look forward to welcoming you to Yale!

Sebastian Quaade, PC ’21, Denmark & Uganda

 

Hello Internationals of 2022! We so look forward to having you here :) I am Sebastian Quaade, a rising sophomore living in Pierson College. I am of Danish and Ugandan blood, and I have lived in both countries, in addition to spending my last three years before coming to Yale in Swaziland. While there I did lots of farming and hiking, and especially hope to do more of the latter in the coming year. My intention is to major in Economics and Mathematics but... we'll see how that goes :) On campus, you may find me: toiling with an article that is refusing to write itself, busting a move with the Yale Breakers, or cooking your favourite late-night meals in the Pierson Buttery. I am also involved with some research with an economics professor, which I will be continuing while staying in New Haven this summer. Personally, OIS proved crucial to the process of me finding my feet here. It's also a great time, so look forward to it. Have a great summer and see you soon!

Carlos Romero Jantacomma, BF ’21, Thailand & Spain

 

What's up class of '22! My name is Carlos and I'm rising sophomore in Franklin college. I'm a Spanish/Thai halfie, born in Singapore but I've spent the majority of my life in big, beautiful Bangkok. In terms of my major I'm currently even more confused than I was coming into college, having said that, its looking like I might go down the EP&E or Economics route. OIS was easily one of the highlights of my freshman year and as you can see, I enjoyed it so much that I'm back for round two. I can tell you now that even though we may come from different parts of the world, we end up having a lot more in common with each other than you would expect. Looking forward to meeting you all and welcoming you to the international fam!

Marwan Safar Jalani, BR ’20, Syria

 

Welcome to Yale, 2022s! My name is Marwan. I was born and raised in Damascus, Syria. I lived in Egypt, Turkey and Bosnia & Herzegovina before coming to the Untied States, but my family is currently based in Sweden. I am a rising junior, majoring in Global Affairs and Comparative Literature. I am part of the Yale academic program on human rights. Outside class, I am involved in the Yale Refugee Project, Yale Review on International Studies and the Arab Students Association. I enjoy writing, poetry, spoken word (Stay tuned for the OIS talent show!), podcasts and Jane the Virgin. I am so excited to meet you and welcome you to the OIS family!

Trutz Schwarz von Warburg, BR ’21, Germany

 

Hey, future Yalies! I am Trutz, from Ratzeburg, Germany and I a rising sophomore in Branford College (objectively the best college). I compete for the lightweight crew team and enjoy playing poker in the Yale Poker Club from time to time. When I am not studying "hard" I like to play any kind of sport or video game and eat absurd amounts of food. I also plan to major in econ or political science. I am looking forward to meeting all of you guys! Get excited and see you all in August.

Rega Sota, SM ’19, Albania

 

Hello Class of 2022 and congratulations on choosing the best orientation program! I am Rega Sota, an Albanian rising senior in Silliman College, studying mathematics. I was born and raised in Durrës, a coastal city in Albania. At 17, I started attending the United World College in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. I still remember all the correspondence I had with Ann before coming to Yale for OIS and I am really glad to be a counselor. On campus, I am involved with the Yale Undergraduate Math Competition (I found out about YUMC from Chi, one of my OIS counselors) and work as a peer tutor for Italian. I spend my time trying to understand math, translating and reading answers on Quora. Let me know of any questions about arriving in New Haven, the residential colleges, student jobs or libraries at Yale! I had a lot of questions about Yale before reaching campus, so please ask them!

Mary Tate, BK ’21, New Zealand

 

Hi, Class of 2022! I'm Mary, a rising sophomore at Berkeley College. I was born in Vladivostok, Russia but have spent most of my time growing up in Auckland, New Zealand. I am majoring in Political Science and History of Science, Medicine and Public Health and this summer plan on attending the London School of Economics. Outside of class, I am part of the Yale Swimming and Diving team and also participate in Every Vote Counts and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. OIS is an incredible program and definitely a highlight of my first year at Yale. Beyond excited to meet you all this coming August!

Teddy Tyankova, SM ’21, Bulgaria

 

Hey everyone! My name is Teodora, and I am a rising sophomore from Sofia, Bulgaria, but after my exchange year in Austin, I am now in love with all things Texas. I am interested in Psychology and Political Science, but my major is still a mystery. I'm also involved in the Bulgarian Organization on campus, the Internation Student Organization, and some cool research on prejudice at the Automaticity in Cognition, Motivation, and Emotion Laboratory. I am exceptionally passionate about food, so feel free to randomly talk to me about your countries' cuisines. I can't wait to meet you all and share the amazing OIS experience with y'all!

Sammy Westfall, ES ’21, Philippines

 

Hi 2022! My name is Sammy and I’m a rising sophomore in Ezra Stiles. I come from Manila, Philippines, where I spent 11 years of my life. I’ve also lived in Frankfurt, Germany and Baku, Azerbaijan. I’m planning on majoring in Political Science or English. On campus, I write for The Politic and for the Yale Daily News as the Policing in New Haven associate beat reporter. You may also catch me taking groups around campus as a Yale tour guide. Every Sunday afternoon, I also teach the GED at a local prison with the Yale Undergraduate Prison Project. OIS is such a wonderful time, and I can’t wait to spend it with all of you!

Jonathan Wu, ES ’21, Canada & Taiwan

 

Hi Class of 2022! Welcome to Yale. My name is Jonathan and I am a rising sophomore in Ezra Stiles. I hail from both Taiwan and Canada, though I spent my childhood between Seattle and Taipei. I am currently undecided, but I am super interested in both Biomedical Engineering and Literature! Outside of classes, I am involved in the Yale Undergraduate Aerospace Association as well as the Taiwanese American Society. I love all types of food, though my favorites are probably fried pork and cabbage :) This summer I will be back home in Taiwan, learning how to drive, as well as studying abroad at Cambridge University for the Pembroke-King’s Program. For me, OIS was the perfect way to start my Yale experience so I can’t wait to meet and welcome all of you soon! PS: I am perpetually cold, so if you see someone wearing a thick coat in the summer, it’s probably me.