International Student Advisory Board 2026-2027

Jungeun "Jay" Kim
Hometown: Goyang, South Korea
Major: Conflict Analysis and Resolution, BA

Jungeun “Jay” Kim is a fourth-year undergraduate student at George Mason University, majoring in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a concentration in Justice and Reconciliation and a minor in Criminology. Originally from South Korea, she is passionate about bringing people from different backgrounds together, encouraging meaningful dialogue, and creating opportunities for students to feel heard and represented. She hopes to pursue a career in international organizations or the nonprofit sector, focusing on international cooperation and community development. 

At Mason, Jay serves as a Leadership Consultant with the Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement (CLIE) and a Peer Career Advisor with University Career Services. She previously served as a Department Representative in Student Government, where she advocated for student interests and contributed to campus initiatives. Through these experiences, she has developed a strong commitment to student leadership, representation, and building connections across diverse communities. 

Beyond campus, Jay has worked with nonprofit organizations and represented a youth-led NGO delegation at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), participating in international discussions on sustainable development. She also presented research on political misinformation and youth political disengagement at the Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference, reflecting her interest in connecting global challenges with local communities. 

As a member of the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB), Jay hopes to use her experiences studying and working across different cultural environments to advocate for international students, strengthen communication between students and the university, and help create a campus where everyone feels a sense of belonging. 

Daria Munkhbayar
Hometown: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia  
Major: Computer Science, BS

Daria Munkhbayar is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science. Originally from Mongolia, she is passionate about data engineering and building technology that solves real problems. She will graduate in May 2027 and begin her master’s degree in Fall 2027 through Mason’s Bachelor’s Accelerated Master’s (BAM) program. After graduating, she hopes to build a career in data engineering, software engineering, or embedded systems. 

Daria is a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Computer Science, where she supports fellow students as they learn to code and work through challenging coursework. She is also a member of Girls Who Code. Balancing school and teaching has given her a close view of the challenges students face, and as an international student herself, she hopes to help make Mason a more welcoming place for her peers. 

She joined ISAB because she knows firsthand how much it means to have a community when you are far from home, and she wants to make sure every international student at Mason feels heard and supported. Through ISAB, she hopes to turn the experiences she has had as an international student into real improvements that make campus life more welcoming for everyone. 

Takunda Muradzikwa
Hometown: Harare, Zimbabwe   
Major: Business Management, BS 

Takunda Muradzikwa is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Business management with a minor in conflict resolution and analysis. Originally from Zimbabwe, He is passionate about leadership and consulting with the hopes of working for a big 4 consulting firm, or a major global firm.  
 
Takunda has been actively involved in supporting the international student community at Mason. He previously worked with the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) as an Intern for the past two years, an experience that inspired him to continue helping international students navigate and feel welcomed on campus. He currently serves as a Peer Mentor with Contemporary Student Services, where He develops comprehensive programs that help nontraditional students build community and allow them to feel a sense of belonging on campus. In addition, Takunda is the President of fraternity (Phi Sigma Kappa) and serves on the President Student Advisory Group on behalf of all international students. Takunda wants to join ISAB to be given the opportunity to represent all international students and be the voice for them and continue to strive for their wellbeing. 
 
In his free time, Takunda enjoys watching sports/tv, playing games, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Venu Gopal Bobbadi 
Hometown: Hyderabad, India   
Major: Artificial Intelligence, MS

Venu Gopal Bobbadi is a first-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence at George Mason University, where he holds a 4.0 GPA. He earned his B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence from Anurag University in Hyderabad, India, and his research interests include computer vision, multimodal AI, and 3D deep learning.

At Mason, Venu serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, leading lab sessions for Fundamentals of Computing and helping undergraduates build confidence with technical material. Before coming to the U.S., he worked as a Program Analyst at Cognizant Technology Solutions, building enterprise data systems.  

Having recently made the move to Mason himself, he knows firsthand how much the early weeks shape an international student’s experience, and he joined ISAB to help make that transition smoother for others by sharing their concerns and improving the support available to them.

In his free time, Venu enjoys nature, traveling, and reading.

Bhuvan Sri Sai Damarla 
Hometown: Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India 
Major: Data Analytics Engineering, MS 

Bhuvan Sri Sai Damarla believes every dataset has a story waiting to be told. Now in his final semester of a Master of Science in Data Analytics Engineering, he has traveled from Vijayawada, India, to Mason with one clear goal: to become an expert data analyst who turns numbers into decisions that matter. He is especially drawn to healthcare and finance, where the right insight can help a doctor spot a pattern that improves patient care or help an organization make a smarter financial move. For Bhuvan, data is about people, and he wants his work to make a real difference in their lives. 

At Mason, Bhuvan brings the same energy he has for data to the community around him. As a Fitness Attendant with Mason Recreation, he has become a familiar, friendly face for students, faculty, and staff, helping create a space where everyone feels safe, motivated, and welcome. Having made the leap to study in a new country himself, he understands both the excitement and the challenges international students face. Through the International Student Advisory Board, he is eager to be a voice for them and help make Mason feel like home. 

When he steps away from the numbers, Bhuvan is usually planning his next adventure. He loves traveling, discovering new places, and connecting with people from different communities and cultures, because every new connection, like every new dataset, has something to teach. 

Nikki Kazimova
Hometown: Azerbaijan
Major: Creative Writing, MA

Nikki is a Composition 101 course instructor in the Fall 2026 semester. She is a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the English Department’s MFA in Creative Writing program, with a concentration in nonfiction.  

Nikki has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a teaching certificate from Moreland University. She is a credentialed educator and has taught writing and literacy in K-12 and post-secondary settings using her many years of experience in journalism and public relations. 

At GMU, Nikki worked as a writing tutor at the Writing Center from August 2025 to August 2026 and was named a Consultant of the Year. She has written about Alan Cheuse International Writers Center events and worked as an English teacher with the Early Identification Program and as a Graduate Research Assistant with the Costello College of Business where she wrote articles about faculty research. 

Nikki speaks several languages, with Russian and English being her fortes. Born in Soviet Baku, she has lived, studied, and worked in the United States, Azerbaijan, and France. In addition to news articles and press-releases, she has written intercultural training manuals for global expatriates and the Culture Smart – Azerbaijan guidepublished by the Kuperard publishers in London. In her creative writing explorations, including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, Nikki reflects on cross-cultural comparisons and linguistic identity in postcolonial states. 

As an ISAB advisory board member representing contemporary students, she hopes to share insights gained from her multifaceted international experience with other students in different stages of their cross-cultural, academic, and professional journeys. 

Greeshma Vasudeva Sagar
Hometown: India 
Major: Computer Science, MS 

Hello, I am Greeshma Vasudeva Sagar, an international graduate student pursuing my

Master of Science in Computer Science at George Mason University. I am currently

working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Information Sciences and Technology, where I support IT 343 and IT 102, hold office hours, and help students succeed in their coursework. As a GTA, I work with many students who are navigating life far from home, and as an international student myself, I understand those challenges personally. I joined ISAB to help strengthen the support available to international students and to bring their perspectives to the university.

Before coming to Mason, I spent about three years in industry as a Software Engineer and Data Scientist. At Foundit (Monster APAC), I built FastAPI micro services for a platform serving more than 10 million users, and at TuringMinds.ai, I worked on data science and AI projects.

Teaching has been a big part of my journey. Over four years, I taught machine learning and data science to more than 200 students at Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (an EY-sponsored program), New Horizon College, Srinivas Institute of Technology, and REVA College in India.

I also led an IoT-based water quality monitoring research project funded by the Government of India (NSTEDB/DST), and our work was published by IEEE. I hold a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Computational Data Science from INSOFE in association with Case Western Reserve University.

Looking ahead, I hope to build my career in AI engineering, with a focus on large language models and production AI systems.

Nouha Hamdi
Hometown: Tunisia 
Major: Linguistics, PhD 

Nouha Hamdi is a Ph.D. student in Linguistics at George Mason University and a Graduate Professional Assistant in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). Her academic interests include second language acquisition, language teaching, and language revitalization. She is particularly interested in the relationship between language, culture, and identity. Originally from Tunisia, Nouha is a Fulbright alumna with an academic background in applied linguistics and English studies. She holds a research master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Carthage and a bachelor’s degree in English Language, Literature, and Civilization from the University of Manouba. 

Nouha has professional experience in higher education in both Tunisia and the United States. She previously taught English at a Tunisian university, where she designed curricula and taught communication and personal skills courses. As a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at George Mason University, she taught Arabic and organized conversation sessions, language clubs, and cultural activities. In her current role at CHSS, she develops training materials, coordinates events, and contributes to initiatives that support the Mason community. 

As a member of the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB), Nouha is committed to strengthening communication between international students and the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS). She hopes to contribute to building a supportive and inclusive intercultural learning community where international students at Mason can connect, learn from one another, and feel a sense of belonging. When she is not studying or working, Nouha finds joy in painting and expressing her creativity through art. 

Nafisa Mehjabin
Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh 
Major: Information Sciences and Technology, PhD

Nafisa is a PhD student in Information Science and Technology at George Mason University. Prior to that, she also completed MS in Computer Science. Nafisa stays active in both academics and student life. She currently works as a Research Assistant in her department and previously held several roles across the university that have allowed her to engage with different parts of the Mason community. Beyond her professional roles, she has been involved with the Google Developer Group on campus, helping organize workshops on the latest technologies. She is now a student member of The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), with her current research focusing on AI literacy among undergraduate engineering students.  

Through these experiences and her own journey as an international student, Nafisa has developed a strong interest in student engagement and cross-cultural connections. She joined ISAB to help international students navigate challenges, become more aware of available resources and opportunities, and feel comfortable sharing their experiences and concerns.  

Outside of academics, Nafisa enjoys exploring nature, traveling, and capturing moments through photography. 

Maribel Tohara Nakamatsu
Hometown: Lima, Peru  
Major: Multilingual/Multicultural Education, PhD  

Maribel Tohara Nakamatsu is a fourth-year PhD student in the Multilingual and Multicultural Education Program. Originally from Peru, Maribel is an elementary school teacher with a background in dual immersion programs. She also has academic training in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) and Family Educational Counseling.  

In her role as a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA), Maribel is currently engaged in community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) projects aimed at promoting systemic change and advancing equity among immigrant populations.  

She is interested in supporting international students because she understands how important it is to have a supportive network to help navigate different situations, especially when living in a new country. Maribel has been actively involved in the Multilingual and Multicultural Education Student Leadership. She is also the mother of a four-year-old boy. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new places with her son.

Yingjie Zhang
Hometown: Lanzhou, China 
Major: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, PhD  

Yingjie Zhang is a Presidential Scholar pursuing a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at George Mason University. Originally from Lanzhou, China, Yingjie holds master's degrees in Chemistry from DePaul University, Biomedical Informatics from the University of Chicago, and Data Science from New England College. His interdisciplinary research focuses on artificial intelligence, computational biology, and drug discovery, bridging scientific innovation with real-world biomedical applications. 

Beyond academics, Yingjie is passionate about innovation, entrepreneurship, and community engagement. A co-founder of AccelP3, an AI-driven clinical trial venture, Yingjie participated in Mason's MIX Innovators Launchpad Program, earning second place in its 2025 Final Pitch Competition. He also participated in MIT Hacking Medicine GrandHack, the Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab Hackathon, and Hack-Nation's Global AI Hackathon. His team was later selected for Hack-Nation Cohort 2, among 30 teams chosen from approximately 5,500 applicants across 36 countries. At Aikium, another biotechnology startup, he researches AI-driven protein engineering and drug design to accelerate therapeutic discovery. 

In summer 2026, Yingjie was one of two Mason students selected for the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Fellowship with a placement at Virginia Bio. His fellowship focuses on AI adoption in clinical development and Virginia's biotechnology ecosystem. Virginia Bio subsequently invited him to help establish a student chapter at Mason, aiming to strengthen connections between students, researchers, and Virginia's life sciences industry.

As a first-generation graduate student educated at multiple U.S. universities, Yingjie understands international students' academic, cultural, and professional challenges. On ISAB, he aims to advocate for international students, expand academic and career opportunities, improve communication with university leadership, and ensure students feel heard, supported, and empowered. He also serves as Vice President of oSTEM at Mason, helping foster an inclusive LGBTQ+ community and expand opportunities for student engagement.  

Outside academia, Yingjie is an avid traveler who has independently backpacked through 23 countries and enjoys exploring cultures, swimming, yoga, rock climbing, frisbee, beach volleyball, and pickleball.

Eelma Ahamed
Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh  
Degree: Econometrics & Quantitative Economics, MS  

Eelma Ahamed is a recent graduate of George Mason University, where she earned a master’s degree in Econometrics & Quantitative Economics in May 2026. Originally from Bangladesh, she is passionate about contributing to an efficient framework for the welfare of the economy and hopes to apply her expertise in microeconomics, quantitative analysis, and policymaking to help eradicate inequality. 

Eelma has been actively involved in advocating for the graduate student community at Mason. She served the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA) as Vice President of Mason Square, where she worked to provide graduate students with a better, well-facilitated graduate life. In this role, she collaborated with University Life Mason Square, the Graduate Division, and the Graduate Success Fellows to ensure campus resources were distributed effectively. Through her involvement on the International Student Advisory Board for 2026-27, she aims to do the same for international students across the entire campus.  

In her free time, Eelma enjoys spending time with her family and friends, driving, and watching movies.