The Assembly of International Students was co-founded by undergraduate Alexander Giannakakis, (C’10), first AIS President, along with Tiago Sanfelice (C’09), Alec Webley (C’11) and Annabelle Hache (C’09).

AIS branched out from the International Student Advisory Board and the International Partners Outreach Group with the support of then-OIP director, Dr. Rudie Altamirano. The group was formed because of a noticeable lack of a student group that would cater exclusively to the needs of international students on Penn’s campus. It was formed to be continuously progressive, flexible in its agenda and always in touch with the current needs of international students. The structure of the group was designed to be non-hierarchical and flat that would enable freshmen to get involved with issues pertaining to their own experiences. It currently addresses all issues that international students face, while providing a supportive, social, and professional network.

Past Boards

Board 2018

  • Neeraj Chandrasekar, President

  • Eva Zhang, Executive Vice President

  • Shruti Keoliya, Vice President of Internal Affairs

  • Akmaral Janat, Vice President of Finances

  • Lucy Hu, Vice President of Communications

  • Eric Wang, Vice President of Marketing

  • Akmaral Janat, Alumni and Employment Committee Chair

  • Deniz Kecik, Alumni and Employment Committee Vice Chair

  • Khizrah Naveed, International Mentorship and Orientation Committee Chair

  • Justine de Jesus, International Mentorship and Orientation Committee Vice Chair

  • Wendy Qian, Social Committee Chair

  • Chae Hahn, Social Committee Vice Chair

Board 2017

  • Dhruv Agarwal, President

  • Alex Yang, Executive Vice President

  • Caroline Suter, Vice President of Internal Affairs

  • Neeraj Chandrasekar, Vice President of Finances

  • Akmaral Janat, Vice President of Communications

  • Gino Bermudez, Vice President of Marketing

  • Diane Shin, Alumni and Employment Committee Chair

  • Joe Zhou, Alumni and Employment Committee Vice Chair

  • Tammy Tan, International Mentorship and Orientation Committee Chair

  • Shruti Keoliya, International Mentorship and Orientation Committee Vice Chair

  • Eva Zhang, Social Committee Chair

  • Jen Higa, Social Committee Vice Chair

Board 2016

  • Anny Hu, President

  • Dhruv Agarwal, Executive Vice President

  • Vidya Daryanani, Vice President of Internal Affairs

  • Caroline Suter, Vice President of Finances

  • Sola Park, Vice President of Communications

  • Wesley Chow, Vice President of Marketing

  • Neeraj Chandrasekar, Alumni and Employment Committee Chair

  • Alex Yang, Alumni and Employment Committee Vice Chair

  • Ahaan Arora, International Mentorship and Orientation Committee Chair

  • Tresa Zacharia, International Mentorship and Orientation Committee Vice Chair

  • Chiara Bettale, Social Committee Chair

  • Patricia Chan, Social Committee Vice Chair

  • Dhruv Agarwal, Ivy League International Networking Conference Chair

Board 2015

  • Alexandre Kleis, President

  • Elise Pi, Executive Vice President

  • Anny Hu, Vice President of Internal Affairs

  • Michael Karam, Vice President of Finances

  • Fazaa Ahmed, Vice President of Communications

  • Chikezie Wood, Vice President of Marketing

  • Maya Murakami, Alumni and Employment Committee Chair

  • Ishita Batra, International Mentorship and Orientation Chair

  • Wesley Chow, Social Committee Chair

  • Dhruv Agarwal, Ivy League International Networking Conference Chair

Board 2014

  • Angel Gracia De La Garza, President

  • Julia Shin, Internal Vice President

  • Alexandre Kleis, External Vice President

  • Amanda Acosta, Treasurer

  • Anny Hu, Secretary

  • Elise Pi, Marketing Director

  • Fabiola Diaz, Advocacy and Academic Initiatives Committee Chair

  • Chikezie Wood, Alumni and Employment Committee Chair

  • Jenny Hu, International Mentorship and Orientation Co-Chair

  • Nicolette Sun, International Mentorship and Orientation Co-Chair

  • Omkar Vichare, Social and Community Engagement Committee Chair

  • Carmen Garcia Gallego, Freshman Representative

  • Vidya Daryanani, Ivy League International Networking Conference Chair

Board 2013

  • Nikita Patel, President

  • Amanda Acosta, Internal Vice President

  • Justin Cho, External Vice President

  • Alexandre Kleis, Treasurer

  • Julia Shin, Secretary

  • Vedika Laharuwalla, Marketing Director

  • Daniel Sentana Lledo, Advocacy Committee Chair

  • Fazaa Ahmed, Alumni and Employment Committee Chair

  • Angel Garcia de la Garza, International Mentorship and Orientation Chair

  • Toan Nguyen, Social Committee Chair

  • Anny Hu, Freshman Representative

  • Dhruv Ramesh, Freshman Representative

Board 2012

  • Sohaib Hashmi, President

  • Nikita Patel, Internal Vice President

  • Sonya Park, External Vice President

  • Natalia Llado Calderon, Treasurer

  • Amanda Acosta, Secretary

  • Sophia Dimitrova, Advocacy Committee Co-Chair

  • Justin Cho, Advocacy Committee Co-Chair

  • Bengisu Halezeroglu, Alumni and Employment Committee Chair

  • Julia Shin, International Mentorship and Orientation Co-Chair

  • Diana Gonimah, International Mentorship and Orientation Co-Chair

  • Kay Yan Lu, Social Committee Co-Chair

  • Daniel Penaloza, Social Committee Co-Chair

  • Nuria Riechenberg, Ivy League International Students Networking Conference Committee Co-Chair

  • Amy Li, Ivy League International Students Networking Conference Committee Co-Chair

Board 2011

  • Florentina Dragulescu, President

  • Nana Adwoa Sey, Executive Vice President

  • Arjun Mohan, External Vice President

  • Oliver Palley, Treasurer

  • Xiang Li, Secretary

  • Nuria Rachenberg and May Chen, Advocacy Committee Chairs

  • Sonya Park, Alumni and Employment Committee Chair

  • Nikita Patel, International Mentors Program Committee Chair

  • Sohaib Hashmi, International Students Orientation Committee Chair

  • Tania Vasilikioti and Hannah Peterson, Social and Community Engagement Committee Chair

Board 2010

  • Carolina Costa, President

  • Florentina Dragulescu, Executive Vice President

  • Gandharv Bedi, Vice President for External Affairs

  • Chloe Ho, Treasurer

  • Cynthia Ip, Secretary

  • Oliver Palley, Social Committee Chair

  • Jannelyn Ocampo-Tan, IMP Committee Chair

  • Nana Adwoa Sey, Advocacy Committee Chair

  • Barbora Podzimkova, Advocacy Committee Co-Chair

  • Arjun Mohan, Alumni and Employment Chair

  • Nhat Dang, US Community Engagement Chair

Board 2009

  • Trixie Canivel, President

  • Carolina Costa, Executive Vice President

  • Tanvi Gupta, VP for External Affairs

  • Rekha Jois, Secretary

  • Gandharv Bedi, Treasurer

  • Namu Lee, US Community Engagement Chair

  • Florentina Dragulescu, Social Committee Chair

  • Juli van Hoeven, ISO Committee Chair

  • Chloe Ho, IMP Committee Chair

  • Shama Jamal, Advocacy Committee Chair

  • Yuquing Fan, Publicity Director

  • Cynthia Ip, Webmaster

Board 2008

  • Alexander Giannakakis, President

  • Annabell Hache, Executive Vice President

  • Tiago Sanfelice, VP for External Affairs

  • Trixie Canivel, Secretary

  • Paula Lima, Treasurer

  • Alec Webley, Director

  • Nicholas Theuerkauf, US Affairs Committee Chair

  • Carolina Costa, Social Committee Chair

  • Rekha Jois, ISO Committee Chair

  • Tanvi Gupta, IMP Committee Chair

  • Angela Poe, Admissions Committee Chair

  • Yuquing Fan, Publicity Director

  • Cynthia Ip, Webmaster