Center for International Student Engagement Who We Are
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David Dongseong Ko
Director, Center for International Student Engagement
Pronouns: He/Him
David Ko is the Director of the Center for International Student Engagement, bringing a wealth of personal and professional experiences to his role. Originally from South Korea, he pursued graduate studies in International Comparative Education at Stanford University. As an international student himself, David advocates for the needs of international students and promotes global and intercultural learning. He is passionate about creating an inclusive campus environment where students can express their unique perspectives, learn from one another, and build bridges between cultures. Through his leadership, David fosters a welcoming and supportive community that empowers international students to thrive and make lasting connections. In his free time, David loves to cook East Asian food, hike with his family, and roast coffee beans.
Student Staff
Spring 2024 CISE Staff
Aika Shorayeva
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Communications Organizer
I am Aika (she/her) from Aktau, Kazakhstan! I am an exchange student from Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea majoring in Quantitative Risk Management and currently doing Economics & Statistics program as a part of my study abroad at Amherst. I am an avid pop culture enthusiast and a big music nerd, so get ready for a rundown on history of sampling, lyrical analysis of “IGOR” and a lot of bossa nova if you happen to catch me during my shift. As an international student myself I am excited to be working at CISE and giving back to the very community that made me feel so welcomed at Amherst.
Pronouns: She/Her
Ariana Rodriguez ’24
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Center Organizer
I'm Ariana, and I'm from El Salvador! I'm a sophomore majoring in English and Economics. I love horse riding, puzzles and hiking. As a CISE staff member, I look forward to meeting more international students and sharing my experiences as one!
Pronouns: She/Her
Ata Sevgi ’27
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Program Organizer
I am Ata, a first-year student from Turkey! I haven’t declared any majors, but I plan to study Physics with Mathematics or Philosophy. I love cooking, photography, coffee, learning new languages, jigsaw puzzles, and Lego. I am so excited to be a part of CISE and organize events for us, the “Unapologetically Internationals!” During my shifts, I will do my best to play good songs, and I am always open to any feedback about my choice.
Pronouns: He/Him
Dohyeon Kim ’26
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Program Organizer
I am Dohyeon from Suwon, South Korea. My academic interests lie in History and Education Studies. Outside of school, I enjoy blogging, reading poetry, and watching stand-up comedy.
Being an international student at Amherst has been a transformative experience. I often feel like I’m living in between two worlds. I constantly reevaluate my sense of self and home. I am pushed to think hard about topics like U.S. hegemony, assimilation, and exclusion. If you have a similar experience or are simply interested in these topics, I would love to talk with you!
Pronouns: She/Her
Ira Sobschyshyna ’24
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SPECIAL PROJECTS ORGANIZER
My name is Ira, and I am a senior from Ukraine :) I am majoring in Political Science and Economics, and I love working at CISE! The support CISE offers to the international community is extraordinary, and I have made some of my best friends here. In my free time, I love reading, traveling, taking care of plants, playing guitar, and dancing (my favorite is Ukrainian folk-stage dance!). At Amherst, I also dance with DASAC. I look forward to having a great semester and getting to know more people!
Pronouns: She/Her
Khue Dang ’27
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Program Organizer
I'm Khue and I'm from Hanoi, Vietnam. I'm majoring in BCBP and potentially Political Science or LJST. In my free time, you can find me reading, binging shows, listening to music, compiling playlists and everything in between. At CISE, I'm excited about potential new projects with other staff as well as meeting and chatting with new friends, so feel free to stop by!
Pronouns: She/Her
Taku Mhuru ’24
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Special Projects Organizer
I am Taku. I am a senior from Zimbabwe majoring in Computer Science and Statistics. In my free time, I do photography, play the mbira and write. You can also catch me curating my Spotify playlists (all named after foreign cities) so when you get the chance, drop by CISE and give me song recommendations
Pronouns: He/Him
Venumi Gamage ’26
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Program Organizer
Hi! My name is Venumi and I’m a first-year from Colombo, Sri Lanka. I’m planning on majoring in Physics and English but can also be very indecisive. I enjoy reading and binge-watching tv shows in my free time, eating (spicy) Sri Lankan food, and crocheting whenever I get the chance.
One of the best things about CISE are the discussions I get to hear/be part of—so feel free to chat whenever you see me around:) I’m so excited to contribute to one of my favorite communities on campus!
Pronouns: She/Her
Please contact our student staff team with questions about or ideas for programming and resources at CISE@amherst.edu.