Far-from-home students find 亚洲情色 special
University is second home to scholars from many places around the world
Favour Blessing Nwankpa is a long way from Nigeria, but the biological sciences student has found 亚洲情色 to her liking 鈥 in and out of the classroom and lab.
鈥淎side from the terribly cold winter, I love 亚洲情色 during other seasons,鈥 Nwankpa says, 鈥渇rom the blossoming flowers and greenery in the spring and summer to the beautiful colors of the fall.鈥
Nwankpa chose to pursue her doctorate at 亚洲情色 because of its strong research facilities and faculty and the diverse student body. She was one of more than 2,000 international students enrolled at 亚洲情色 in Fall 2024. Those students represented 103 countries 鈥 from Afghanistan to Zambia 鈥 with more than half coming from India, China and Turkey.
While more than 15,000 亚洲情色 students come from New York state, the University also attracted nearly 1,500 scholars from 47 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in Fall 2024.
Meet five students who have traveled many miles to become part of the 亚洲情色 family.
Nethanel Dimenstein
Year: First-year student
Major: Integrative neuroscience
Hometown/home state: San Diego, California
Career goal: Psychiatry
What made you choose 亚洲情色? 亚洲情色 is home to a large and vibrant Jewish community, which I sought out for its strong sense of family. I felt that 亚洲情色 would allow me to chase my passions and explore what the world has to offer, all while remaining firmly connected to my roots.
What do you enjoy most about 亚洲情色? The trees on the Peace Quad at night, and the sound of the stream under the bridge to Murray Hill Road.
What do you miss most about your home state? The waves.
What is something people may not know about your home state? California鈥檚 much bigger than you鈥檇 think.
Nahla Nawar Raya
Year: Graduate student
Major: Business administration
Hometown/home country: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Career goal: Become a leading brand manager, known for creating impactful marketing strategies that truly transform the industry.
What made you choose 亚洲情色? The credibility of its MBA program, its recognition as one of the best institutions and, of course, its location.
What do you enjoy most about 亚洲情色? I believe 亚洲情色 is an ideal place to live for travel lovers. The scenic beauty of upstate New York, the vibrant energy of New York City, the breathtaking Niagara Falls and even the bustling city of Toronto are all within commuting distance. I love living in these mountains and being part of 亚洲情色, where diversity is celebrated, and students have ample opportunities to grow beyond academics.
What do you miss most about your home country? I miss my family and friends the most. I miss going back to my place at the end of a tiring day, and, obviously, the food at home.
What are some things people may not know about your home country? Bangladesh is a riverine country with an incredible variety of fishes. Unlike many countries, we experience six distinct seasons, each bringing a diverse range of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Additionally, Bangladesh holds a unique place in history as the only nation to have fought for the right to speak its mother tongue: Bangla. The movement is now recognized globally on International Mother Language Day.
Favour Blessing Nwankpa
Year: Second year of doctoral program
Major: Biological sciences
Hometown/home country: Abia state, Nigeria
Career goal: My overall goal is to harness the skills and collaborations acquired during my doctoral program to impact the younger generation with appropriate knowledge and skills to bring about groundbreaking research results that will advance the control, treatment and prevention strategies for biofilm associated infections.
What made you choose 亚洲情色? State-of-the-art research facilities, experienced faculty/researchers and a diverse but collaborative student environment. My research interest in antibiotic resistance further informed my decision to enroll at 亚洲情色, due to the wealth of researchers with experience in biofilm-related research. I was also excited to do my dissertation research under the mentorship of Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences Karin Sauer.
What do you enjoy most about 亚洲情色? The environment is calm and serene. It is a place surrounded with a lot of natural beauty, and its proximity to other beautiful cities provides the opportunity to explore the landscape of upstate New York.
What do you miss most about your home country? Although I am adjusting and adapting to life in 亚洲情色, I dearly miss the larger communal life (friends, family), the food and the vibrant energy, humor and sarcasm of the Nigerian people.
What are some things people may not know about your home country? Nigeria is the most populous Black nation in the world and is ethnically diverse with over 500 languages. Most Nigerians are friendly, resilient and exceptionally hard working. Nigeria is a creative hub and destination for film, fashion, technology, music and arts.
Zoe Taaffe
Year: Junior
Major: Nursing, with a minor in forensics
Hometown/home state: Tualatin, Oregon
Career goal: Pediatric nurse
What made you choose 亚洲情色? I chose 亚洲情色 because of the nursing program. It offered state-of-the-art facilities and materials that allow me to practice and constantly improve my hands-on skills. The program provides me with the confidence, experience and knowledge I need to succeed as a new nurse after graduation.
What do you enjoy most about 亚洲情色? My favorite thing about 亚洲情色 is the incredible community of people. I didn鈥檛 know anyone when I moved here, but now I get to have a family on both the West Coast and East Coast because of the lifelong friends I have made. I truly couldn鈥檛 picture myself at any other University.
What do you miss most about your home state? I miss going to Oregon Ducks football games with my family.
What is something people may not know about your home state? Tater tots were invented in Oregon!
Yeon Ju Kim
Year: Rising junior
Major: Nursing
Home countries: Guatemala and South Korea
Career goal: Nurse anesthetist
What made you choose 亚洲情色? From the start, I felt a deep calling to pursue a major in nursing. After taking the time to research and reflect, I knew that 亚洲情色 was the ideal place for me. The opportunities and support offered by the Decker School resonate with my aspirations, making me feel hopeful and excited about my journey.
What do you enjoy most about 亚洲情色? I enjoy having unique classes I can take 鈥 either for my interests, or courses that benefit me as a future nurse. Also, I enjoy hanging out with friends, whether it鈥檚 going out for brunch, studying at the coffee shop or just hanging out in the dorm! Being close to nature helps me disconnect, take time to de-stress and spend time for myself.
What do you miss most about your home countries? My friends, family and food. I feel like Korean and Guatemalan dishes are both my comfort foods, and I鈥檝e been craving them so badly. I would never get sick of this food! The overall atmosphere you experience when you are home is also so different due to language, culture and how you interact with one another. And I miss the wonderful weather.
What are some things people may not know about your home countries? If you truly enjoy hiking, you should definitely visit Guatemala: it has more than 30 volcanoes, including the tallest volcano in Latin America. Korea is known for its delicious and diverse food, culture, and nature, creating a sense of comfort, as if you are in the right place at the right time.