International Reach Ambassadors 2024-25

• Hometown: Toyooka, Japan
• Major: International studies & Political Science (Undergraduate)

Hello I am Aika from Japan! My home city is called Toyooka and it’s a really small city with a population of 80,000. My hometown is a place of abundant nature, especially rice cultivation, which is one of the most important agricultural industries. It is surrounded by mountains and is a beautiful place, but in summer, it is the hottest place in Japan with high temperatures many times. In addition to rice and vegetables, Toyooka also has delicious seafood and beef. The delicious food is one of the things I am proud of about Toyooka. I lived in Japan until I was 18 years old and decided to study in the United States after graduating from high school. My majors are international studies and political science. Everyday things I experience in the U.S. surprise me and make me feel many cultural differences. I hope to share these surprises with you and have a lot of fun and laughter! I am good at origami and Syodo (calligraphy) which are traditional cultures of Japan! I would like to share with everyone not only tangible culture such as goods, but also intangible culture such as the way of thinking and customs in Japan.  I am really proud to introduce my culture!

• Hometown: Moshi, Tanzania (born and raised in Dar es Salaam city)
• Major: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (PhD)

Habari!!! My name is Doreen, I speak Swahili, English, and a bit of Korean. I enjoy traveling and have been in nine countries so far. My hobbies include nature exploration, music, and occasionally cooking and watching movies. I am fascinated by the evolution of our planet and the mysteries surrounding extreme weather and climate events, as well as how we can minimize their adverse effects through communication and research for a better tomorrow. As a Reach Ambassador, I am eager to share my culture, including the cuisine, language, climate, and landscapes of Tanzania, and learn about Madison and other cultures from those around me.

• Hometown: San Miguelito, Panama 
• Major: Life Sciences Communications & Molecular and Cellular Biology (undergraduate) 

Hola! My name is Dina. I speak Spanish and English. I truly enjoy learning about the gastronomy and traditions of other cultures. I love spending time reading, watching sunsets, and taking lots of pictures of flowers, trees, and nature overall. As a Reach Ambassador, I hope to share a bit of the culture of my home country, Panama: its food, dances, phrases, and the opportunities and environmental challenges we face, showcasing how strong and resilient we are. I also hope to continue developing intercultural relationship skills and get to know people from diverse backgrounds. 

• Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina 
• Major: Second Language Acquisition and Spanish Linguistics (PhD) 

¡Hola! Soy Martiniano. I am originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina but I have been living in the U.S. since 2018. I am currently a Dual-Ph.D. Candidate in Second Language Acquisition and Spanish Linguistics. As you can see, I love languages! Especially, I love getting people to learn more about the distinctive way in which we, Argentines, speak Spanish. As a Reach Ambassador, I look forward to sharing all things language and culture about Argentina, from how soccer can be a religion in my country to how mealtimes can be so different than those of Americans. 

• Hometown: Shenyang,
• Major: Pre-Nursing (Undergraduate)

Hello！大家好！I am Jianing (Allen) from China! My hometown is Shenyang, a wonderful city in the northeastern part of China that has a similar climate to Madison. Growing up there, I had a strong emotional connection to snow, fallen leaves, and autumn. In China, there are different kinds of cuisines; I love the local foods in my hometown. In my free time, I am passionate about driving and road trips. I hope to travel around the world with cars someday!!! I also love recording my life and travel through photo-taking and video-recording. I am learning to use UAVs and cameras to record recently, with which I can record my travel better hopefully. In addition, I also love listening to piano music and reading books. Particularly I like pianists, such as Alexis Ffrench, Robert J.P. Oberg, Ludovico Einaudi, Giovanni Marradi, Fabrizio Paterlini, and so on. I love swimming, hiking, and meditation as well, and keep them in my daily routine. Recently, I developed a strong interest in aerospace and hope to keep learning! I am excited to share anything interesting about my hometown through my own experiences, traveling and foods in China, and traditions of China. Look forward to seeing you! 

• Hometown: India 
• Major: Data Science (Graduate)  

Namaste! I’m Divya, and I speak both Hindi and English. Dancing is something I really enjoy and am part of the Indian Graduate Student Association dance team at UW Madison. I’m a total sunset enthusiast, so if you know any great spots, let me know! I also love travelling and exploring new places with friends. Coming from a country with such a rich and diverse culture, I’m excited to share stories about where I grew up, our vibrant traditions, and, of course, some delicious Indian food. Can’t wait to meet you all and share our experiences!

• Major: Education Leadership and Policy Analysis – Higher Education (PhD)
• Hometown: Kitale, Kenya

Jambo! See tahay! My name is Safiya, and I speak Somali, Swahili, English and a bit of Arabic. I enjoy adventure, reading, cooking, listening to multicultural music, teaching and I recently started crocheting. I also love learning new cultures and languages. I initially came to Madison as Fulbright FLTA (Foreign Language Teaching Assistant), a cultural exchange program which allowed me to share the Swahili language and culture with the Madison community. I have since interacted with multiple groups sharing the Somali and Swahili culture. Coming from a multicultural environment, I hope to share Somali and Swahili language and culture with the larger Madison communities as a Reach Ambassador.

• Hometown: Penang, Malaysia 
• Major: Electrical Engineering (Undergraduate) 

Hello! Apa khabar? My name is Kamilia. I speak Bahasa Melayu (Malay), English, and enough Korean to get by. I love travelling, diving into arts, exploring delicious food, and picking up different languages. I also enjoy cooking in my free time. As a Reach Ambassador, I can’t wait to make new friends, discover different cultures, and share the vibrant and diverse culture of Malaysia with everyone. 

• Hometown: Chuka, Kenya 
• Major: International Public Affairs (Master’s) 

Muugeni! Hamjambo! I’m Doris Mbaka from Kenya.I enjoy drinking coffee, listening to music, outdoor activities involving nature, and learning about different cultures and sports. I recently started learning how to do my nails, and I love the progress I have made. I look forward to sharing about Kenya’s rich cultural diversity and unity especially among its young generation. I also look forward to learning more about other cultures, making new friends and trying out new foods.

• Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
• Major: Anthropology (PhD)

Hi! I am Alice from Taipei, Taiwan. I speak Mandarin, Taiwanese, English, and a little bit Japanese. Currently, I am a PhD Candidate in Anthropology at UW-Madison. Before coming to Madison, I studied abroad in Arizona State University, researched Singapore’s multiculturalism, and taught Mandarin in Mongolia. I enjoy reading, writing, teaching, hiking, cooking, and spending time with friends from all over the world. As an experienced cross-cultural communicator and a passionate museum researcher, I can’t wait to share Taiwanese culture and my international experiences with you!

• Hometown: Chengdu, China
• Major: Political Science, Philosophy (Undergraduate)  

Hello! My name is KeLing or Lin, and I speak Chinese and English. I enjoy learning French, Japanese, and Swahili, and my interests are Tai Chi, calligraphy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and cuisine! My hometown is Chengdu, China, which is known for its giant pandas, snowy mountains, hotpot, and face-changing opera. Beyond Chengdu’s famous labels above, what captivates me even more is the city’s rich history and culture. For instance, the Jinsha Site Museum is home to relics from the ancient Shu Kingdom, dating back around three thousand years. However, this is just a small glimpse of China’s vast cultural heritage. Beyond Chengdu, countless other Chinese cities contribute to our long, diverse, and intricate culture. I look forward to discussing Chinese history, culture, cuisine, and architecture with more people and hope to connect with others from different backgrounds to learn new cultures and languages! 

• Hometown: Hangzhou, China 
• Major: Portuguese (PhD) 

Hi! My name is Tinging Lyu. I am from Hangzhou, China, the capital city of Zhejiang Province and is situated near Shanghai. I speak Mandarin, English, Portuguese and a little Spanish. I am excited to share wonderful and reviving cultural aspects in China and know more about the world! 

• Hometown: Ondo and Ekiti State, Nigeria  
• Major: Second Language Acquisition (Graduate) 

Ẹǹlẹ́ o! Orúkọ mi ni Toyin. Hi, my name is Toyin. I am a Nigerian and a third-year doctoral student in the Second Language Acquisition program. Before now, I taught Yoruba (my first language) at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor through the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistantship program. Apart from English and Yoruba, I speak some French and Swahili. My favorite things are music from everywhere, languages, thrifts, and walks around historic cities. As a Reach Ambassador, I hope to share my language and culture and learn from the community. 

• Hometown: Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
• Major: Landscape and Urban Studies, Undergraduate

¡Hola a todos! My name is Eduardo Martínez Villegas and I speak Spanish and English. I was born and raised in the city of Monterrey, México. My interests include sports (specially football (soccer) and basketball), videogames and movies in general. I am very excited to share my culture and my country as well as my experience as an international latino student in UW-Madison.

• Hometown: Barcelona, Spain 
• Major: Psychology & Neurobiology (Undergraduate) 

Hola a todos! My name is Clara and I’m originally from Barcelona, Spain. I fluently speak Spanish, Catalan and English and I’m in the process of learning French! I moved to the USA when I was 16 which allowed me to learn how to adapt to a new culture as well as how to appreciate my old one. I love traveling to new places, learning about other people’s lives and experiences around the world, and exploring new languages! I like spending my free time outdoors, surrounded by my friends and family, or with a good book in my hand. As a Reach Ambassador I hope to help make our world seem smaller by sharing my culture as well as my experience as an immigrant in the USA, and I hope to amplify the idea that the world along with all of its cultures and people is not as out of reach as it may seem.

• Home Town: Oke-Ode, Kwara State, Nigeria (raised and lived in Lagos).
• Major: African Cultural Studies, Doctoral

• Hometown: Tamil Nadu, India
• Major: Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture and Computer Science

Vanakkam (Greetings to Everyone)! I’m Dharani Suresh Babu, a Ph.D. student working as a Research Assistant at the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences. Trained in Agricultural Information Technology and Environmental Conservation, my interests lie in bridging agriculture and technology. My hobbies include gardening, cooking, baking, badminton, and crafting. I am trained in Kung-Fu. Honored to be an International Reach Ambassador, I aim to foster cultural exchange and inclusivity on campus, helping students academically and socially. By connecting cultures, we can enrich our global community, thereby enhancing educational experiences and promoting personal growth. Let’s co-create a harmonious campus at UW-Madison where we can live, learn, and thrive.

• Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya 
• Major: African Cultural Studies (Master’s) 

Jambo! My name is Rachel. I speak Gĩkũyũ, my first language, Swahili and English. I love everything about language and culture. As a Reach ambassador, I look forward to learning about other cultures as I share Kenyan and the broader East African cultures.