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