Board Members

We will soon be accepting applications for the 2018-2019 Advisory Board. This page will be updated as soon as that process is finalized.

Current members are shown below:

Somtochukwu “Somto” Dimobi

Hi all! I’m Somto Dimobi, from Anambra, Nigeria! I am a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering. I have learned a lot from my time at Vanderbilt, and I really want to use that experience to make sure that all internationals have a near-seamless transition into the Vanderbilt Community. In my spare time, you’ll most likely find me having a candid and fun conversation with friends and strangers alike or trying to get myself to go to the gym to practice my newly found hobby, hula hooping!! I really love meeting and talking to people, so hit me up if you ever have the chance to talk about you, me, or just life in general!

Martina Schaefer

Hello, I am a PhD student in the History Department, specializing in Modern U.S. History. I grew up in Germany and received my M.A. in North American Studies at Freie Universität Berlin. Together with Isaac, I co-chair the ISSS Advisory Board’s Subcommittee on Graduate Housing. I would love to bring the Vanderbilt and Nashville communities closer together. Well aware of the fact that affordable housing is a pressing issue affecting Nashville, I hope to make the transition for international students to Vanderbilt easier. Our committee wants you to get the most out of your experience – on campus and in Music City. We are here to support you and therefore appreciate your input.

Z. Troy Jiang

Hey, everyone! This is Z. Troy Jiang from Jilin, Jilin, China. I lived in several different cities in China before I moved to Nashville in 2013. I am a member of the Vanderbilt Class of 2020 and currently enrolled in the College of Art and Science; major in Physics and Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science. I am also involved in Dore for a Day, My Vanderbilt Experience, Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science, Code Ignite, Spike Ball Club, and Juggling Club. I am really looking forward to my years at Vanderbilt and working with our international fellows at Vanderbilt through the ISSS advisory board.

Alejandro Arango

Hello! I am Alejandro Arango. I come from Bogotá, Colombia. I obtained my Ph.D. in Philosophy from Vanderbilt in May 2016, and I serve in the ISSS-Advisory Board as Alumni Representative. I am currently Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at Tennessee State University, here in Nashville, and a Visiting Research Scholar at Vanderbilt. During my time as a student at Vandy, I was actively involved with ISSS in different capacities. I co-founded the Latin American and Caribbean Vanderbilt Student Organization (LACS), now a vibrant organization on campus. I regard my work with LACS as my most significant contribution to Vandy’s international community. I was awarded the 2016 Thomas M. Weser International Student Excellence Leadership Award.