Student Leaders

Anya Ruda
ISC Student Leader
My name is Anya. I was born and brought up in Ukraine (KryvyiRih City). This is going to be my 7th year in the United States and 4th year at Seattle University. I am working as a programming assistant at the International Student Center and it's my second year being an orientation leader. I am studying Diagnostic Ultrasound and am minoring in Biology. Aside from my nerdy side, I am a painter (come see my artwork at Starbucks! ) I love spending time outdoors hiking, camping, or just enjoying the scenery. That being said, most of my favorite places in Seattle are parks, beaches and mountains. Gasworks, Discovery and Alki Parks are top three places to see. Seattle has many amazing eateries, but I strongly recommend trying some Russian food at Piroshki on Madison!
Angelina Kalinovich
ISC Student Leader
Hello Everybody! My name is Angelina Kalinovich. I am an international student from Russia. This is my 8th year studying in the US and my final year here at SeattleU. I am double majoring in International Studies and Spanish. This is my second time working in ISC since I went abroad for a year to Madrid, Spain. I love traveling and learning new languages, traditions and cuisines. Also, I really enjoy my work at the center because I get to meet all of you and learn about your backgrounds and cultures on a personal level. I think that ISC is an excellent source on campus for both, domestic and international students to get involved and step out of their comfort zones. Thus, I hope you all will take advantage of it and stop by whenever
Anh Nguyen
ISC Student Leader
My name is Anh and I'm a biochemistry major from Vietnam. My freshmen year was full of exciting events and I was able to make great friends from several different countries. I've been involved in most of ISC sponsored events and I'm an active member of the Japanese Student Association (JSA). In terms of interests, I like to learn Japanese, listen to music, and explore new restaurants in Seattle. SU provides a fun and diverse environment to students and also helps to nourish the potentiality in every student. Get
involved, make friends, be loud, and have fun here at SU. My favorite Seattle spot to visit are Alki Beach and my favorite Seattle eatery is the Tamarind Tree or Palace BBQ.
Balveen Purewal
ISC Student Leader
My name is Balveen Purewal and I am a junior and this upcoming fall I will be starting in Seattle U's Nursing program. I was born and raised in Surrey, BC, Canada and currently reside in Kent, WA. I enjoy watching baseball and hockey (Go Mariners & Vancouver Canucks!!), I also enjoy shopping, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends. My favorite Seattle spot to visit is the U Village in U District. A message for incoming students would be to get involved and join any clubs you think you would enjoy. I have worked with the International Student Center and it's been a great experience and I encourage others to get involved! Welcome to you all!!
Halla Ahmad
ISC Student Leader
My name is Halla Ahmad. I am currently a senior, majoring in International Studies. My parents emigrated from Pakistan to New York City where I was born, and then, we moved to Washington when I was very young. I grew up north of Seattle, in the cities of Lynnwood and Snohomish. I really enjoy visiting the city of Seattle. One of my favorite places to eat is in the U-district, where I enjoy eating Thai food at Thai Toms and delicious gyros at Aladdin's. Another great place I like to visit in Seattle is Gas Works Park, which has a great view of Lake Union and across from the lake, the city. As a Seattle University student, some of the clubs I participate in are the Muslim Student Association, the International Club, and the South Asian Student Association. I am also involved in the Global Awareness Program, the Faith and Family Homelessness Project and just finished my involvement in the International Development Internship Program. I love learning about other countries and cultures through the many different opportunities Seattle University has to offer. I am really excited to be an NBP leader again this year, and am looking forward to getting to know everyone.
Sara Itagaki
ISC Student Leader
Welcome to Seattle University! :D I'm Sara Itagaki from Japan (Yes, I do speak Japanese). I am a junior studying International Studies and Philosophy. I recently studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea (but I can't speak Korean yet -.-) and now I am returning from a second study abroad experience in Tokyo, Japan. I'm excited to welcome you guys to Seattle. I choose SU because I like the close community of the university, and I am sure you will find it that way also. I like to eat and cook especially with new people that I meet. I also like to listen to music, watch movies, read books, and sleep. I also like biking and tennis but I don't do it often. :3 I don't like spiders and being sleepy, but most of the time at SU I am, so I like drinking coffee and making coffee. I'm also a barista on campus so stop by and say hello. :) If you have any questions feel free to come talk to me. I can answer most questions.
Tran Nguyen
ISC Student Leader
Greetings, My name is Nguyen Tran, a sophomore from Vietnam majoring in Biochemistry. I work at the International Student Center as a Programming Assistant. This is my fifth year living in Seattle and I love everything around here, except the occasional three weeks long rain. Get involved in campus activities and feel free to join our events here at ISC, your experience here will be unforgettable.
Joyce Keeley
ISC Student Leader
Hailing from the great state of Colorado, Joyce is an avid tide-pooler and peanut butter enthusiast. An International Studies major, she loves traveling, feasting at Adey Abeba Ethiopian restaurant and dancing to all sorts of music. When she's not dumpster diving or going on late night bike rides to Volunteer Park or Beacon Hill, you can usually find her playing Wikipedia race with the nearest willing challenger in the library. She has been involved in a number of volunteer activities with the SU Center for Service and also spent a year studying Swahili in Tanzania.
Kara Ortbal
ISC Student Leader
Hello SU Friends! My name is Kara Ortbal and I am a Humanities for Teaching major from Bellevue, WA. I love to volunteer, work with children, and eat good food! My favorite place in Seattle is Seattle Center and my favorite place to eat is Plum. Here at Seattle University, I am a mentor at the Juvenile Detention Center, a member of the Peer Health Action Team (PHAT), and have volunteered with various schools and organizations tutoring children. I look forward to meeting you!
Alex Hopkins
ISC Student Leader
My name is Alex Hopkins and I am an International Studies and Public Affairs double major. I am from Port Orchard, WA and have loved my time living in Seattle. My favorite place to spend time in the city is Pike Place Market. The market also serves as a great place to get a bite to eat. My time on campus has been jam-packed with all sorts of activities, so even new students can find something to become involved in; I have put a lot of time into the Children's Literacy Project and Campus Ministry.
Kirsti Ruud
ISC Student Leader
My name is Kirsti Ruud, and I am from Tacoma, Washington. I will be double majoring in Political Science and International Studies with a minor in Non-profit Leadership. Currently, I work as a Peer Adviser in the Education Abroad Office on campus, and I plan to study abroad in Africa during parts of both my Junior and Senior years. I love living in Capitol Hill because it is such an urban environment with things happening all the time, but I also love that there are such great places within the community to just get out of the city and enjoy nature--I love taking walks through Volunteer Park and the Arboretum! There are also so many wonderful places to eat, but one of my favorite spots is this little Russian perogie/peroshki restaurant in Pike Place Market---so good! I look forward to meeting all of you!