2011-12 Counselor Profiles

Your International Student Counselors welcome new and returning students to St. Olaf! Please do not hesitate to ask them anything, and you can email them directly by clicking on their names.

Kehan Bao‘13

 Hi! My name is Kehan Bao, from China. I will be a Junior this year.I have been an international student at St. Olaf College for two years.I want to congretulate you on your coming to St. Olaf. I believe it will be a exciting and life-changing four-year experience for you all.I am planning to be a biology major. Marine Biology is my favorite.I am also a big computer gamer: Counter-Strike, dota and Starcraft are all my favourites.
Sport is one indispensable element of my life. If you ever want to play basketball or frisbee, definitely find me! I am a Christian. So if you want to get connected to the bible study groups on campus, I would be glad to help you with that.Can't wait to see you all in St. Olaf. Again, Welcome to the hill!

 

 

Sudip Bhandari `14

Congratulations and Welcome. I am Sudip Bhandari from Kathmandu,Nepal. I love pure sciences but I also have deep fascination for human rights education and democracy. I like delving into the topics about
spirituality and politics. My first year here at St. Olaf ended withprofound engagement in social volunteering activities like Ole SpringRelief and Spread the Hope, international students activities like
International Night, Deewali Night and First Year Planning Committee,and club involvements like Amnesty International and Celebrate South Asia. As an admissions tour guide, I give tours to people who come to
St. Olaf, and when you arrive here this fall, I would love to show how beautiful and mesmerizing this campus is. We will definitely meet and talk about things that interest you when you come, but my only
suggestion for you now- Be mentally prepared to experience things you have never experienced before, because the path ahead is full of surprises and excitement, and I promise, after you come here you will
never go back the same person again. Take care and have a great summer!!!


Yinan Bu '13

My name is Yinan Bu and I am from Nanjing, China. I study Environmental Studies and Art here in St. Olaf. I was the treasure of Chinese Association For International Understanding last year. I also play in the Chinese music Ensemble in Carleton. I love movies and music. This summer, I participated in a architectural design workshop/camp in South Dakota and thus gained love for outdoors too. My favorite part of St. Olaf is the nice people here. I hope you can enjoy it as much as I do. Looking forward to seeing you here! ;-)

 

 

 

 

Frances Deram ‘12

Hi!My name is Frances Deram, but most people call me Fran.  I'm from the northwest suburbs of Chicago.  I'm very enthusiastic about my majors: Philosophy and Asian/Chinese Studies, but would love to discuss literature, math, theoretical physics, music, etc.  I participate in the Taiko (Japanese drumming) group, Badminton Club, Honor Council, and Philosophy Forum on campus.  While I'm not studying or attending these activities, you can find me talking with friends outside, playing cards, or sipping some delicious hot chocolate (mmm! you'll find that the cold weather brings people closer together...literally).  And between those minutes, I try to find a way to travel back to China.  I can't wait to meet all of you -- please don't hesitate to contact me! I'm excited to find out who you are, where you're from, what you like to do, and what your answer to the question: "What is the meaning of life?" is! (haha, ok, I can skip the last

 

 

 

Zhenghao Gui `13

Hello! I am Roderick Gui from Shanghai, China. I am majoring in math and economics. I have always been working with international students. Last year, I was the Co-Chair for International Student Organization. I am involved with many different activities on campus. I play intramural soccer and doge-ball with my friends, I take private piano lesson from music department, and I will work for the student government next year. This is going to be my fourth year in Minnesota. During fall time, I believe that our campus is the most beautiful place around the world! STOP worrying about the winter. I know it's cold, but I promise you we will have fun with the snow! See you guys Soon!

 

 

 

Duy Ha '14Duy Ha '14

My name is Duy Ha. I'm from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. I am a sophomore at St. Olaf College. My major is Economics with a concentration in Management Studies. I love traveling, photography, foreign languages, and running. I am also a web programmer. I plan to travel all over the world upon my graduation in 2014 so watch out! I am seeing you in your countries pretty soon. I'm excited to see you all in September. If you have any question or simply want to chat, add me on Facebook or drop me an email. Nice to meet you all.


 

Love Odetola '14

Hello there! My name is Love Odetola ’14. I am an international student, born in Nigeria, but grew up in Senegal. I am a biology major with a concentration in biomedical studies. I enjoy meeting new people and learning about other cultures and countries, including the country you are from. I am on the St. Olaf Rugby team and a thrower on the Track and Field team. I am also an alto in Manitou Choir ’14. I enjoy singing and will be singing in the Gospel choir next year. It’s opened to everyone, so I encourage you to join it if singing is a hobby. In my spare time, I volunteer at Northfield Hospital or go out with my friends. Have any questions concerning athletics (especially track), biology, volunteering or even just any random question? Send me an email me and I will be more than willing to help out. I can’t wait to see you in August. We are going to have such a great time!


 

 

Jenny Peterson '12

My name is Jenny Peterson and I am a senior who loves to travel and experience new cultures. Over the years, I have studied in Portugal, Costa Rica, and Ghana, and my time spent in these countries has made me hope that students coming to the United States will have as enjoyable an experience as I did abroad! I am a math major, but also love to play piano, dance, spend time outdoors, run, and cook. I'm a member of Company Dance and play in the jazz band, and enjoy participating in the many activities happening around campus.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

 

 

 

 

Sijia Wei `13

Hello! My name is Sijia Wei. I am an international student from China. I am a junior Chemistry major with a Biomedical Studies concentration. I am interested in alternative medicines and plan to build my career in integrative medicine. I am an officer of the Mind Body Studies Student Organization.  I am also an active member of Ole Spring Relief, International Students Organization, and ballroom dancing groups at St Olaf, in Northfield and at Carleton. I like to spend my free time dancing, running, and cooking.  St. Olaf is a great place to try new things, make friends with different people, explore challenging and interesting courses, pursue your passion and learn more about yourself, your culture and other cultures. I am extremely excited to meet you, get to know you and help you adjust to life on the hill! Um Ya Ya!

 

 

Zijie Xia '14

Hello! I am Zijie Xia from Suzhou, China. Most of my friends call me Beryl. I am a sophomore, Chemistry and Biology major with Biomolecule Science Concentration. I am interested in different cultures and meet different people. St. Olaf provides an excellent environment for students to experience different cultures. I am in Great Conversation Program in St. Olaf, which is a good chance for me to learn Western culture. People here are really kind, and I believe you will make many friends from different cultures and different backgrounds. I can't wait to meet you all at the end of August. If you have any question or concern, please feel free to send me an email. Have a good Summer!!!

 

 

 

Juan Fernando Yanqui Rivera '14

Hola guys! My name is Juan Fernando and I am originally from Riobamba, a small and charming city which is geographically located right in the middle of the Ecuadorian Andes. After I finished my high school education I felt the necessity to be more in contact with the “real life,” and started traveling a bit around the world, getting to know how people from different cultures interact, how the  traditions vary from place to place, and how the societies work. Those are the main reasons why I have a deep academic interest in Spatial Planning, Communication Design, and Latin American Politics. By the other hand, I consider that education is not just about reading books and getting grades that will define who you are in class. Education is much more than that, it is about getting to know what makes you happy and gives you joy, and that exactly is the reason why I love climbing mountains, going to ska and reggae concerts, riding a bike, composing electronic music, having a radio show, making documentaries, going to raves, and even watching hyper squirrels jumping up and down... you can learn a lot from all these experiences. So if you ever see any playful squirrel or know about some reggae concert in town, you know who to contact first! ;)