Where are they now?
Alumni Profiles
Since the first Shansi Fellows crossed the ocean to China more than 100 years ago, and Visiting Scholars began arriving in Oberlin a few years later, we have supported more than 470 Fellows and more than 200 Visiting Scholars.
Shansi alumni from these programs represent an amazing diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and pathways in life. Among their many careers, they have conducted groundbreaking agricultural and medical research, tirelessly defended human rights, shaped entire academic disciplines, produced seminal pieces of art and literature, and dedicated their lives to diplomacy and peace-building.
Some of these stories are told in the Oberlin Shansi Centennial book published in 2008 and the wonderful Shansi: Oberlin and Asia digital collection in the Oberlin College archives. Now, as part of our Alumni Mentorship program, we hope to capture more recent stories of our alumni from the Fellowship and Visiting Scholars programs.
Alumni Profile: Dr. Adi Sutrisno, M.A.
Higher Education in Indonesia
Dr. Adi Sutrisno is an academic leader and mentor to Shansi Fellows to UGM in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. We spoke with him about his life and Shansi experiences.
Alumni Profile: Dr. Tim Henrich ‘96
Medicine & Research
Dr. Timothy Henrich ‘96 was a fellow at J.F. Oberlin University in Machida, Japan. Now he researches HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and human herpes viruses.
Alumni Profile: Dr. J. Paul Jayakar
Higher Education in India
Dr. Paul Jayakar is a Visiting Scholar alum from spring 2007 and is now the Dean for International Exchange and Study Abroad at American College in Madurai, India. Phoebe von Conta ‘22 caught up with Paul in this Alumni Profile.
Alumni Profile: Beatrice Camp '72
Foreign Service
Bea was a Shansi Fellow at Chiang Mai University in Northern Thailand from 1973 to 1976. Following her time as a Shansi Fellow, Bea went on to have a long and distinguished career in the Foreign Service. She served as the Consul General in both Shanghai and Chiang Mai, along with positions in Beijing, Bangkok, Indonesia, Mongolia, Hungary, Sweden, as well as Washington, DC. Currently, Bea serves as the editor of American Diplomacy, an online journal offering insight and analysis from foreign affairs practitioners and scholars.
Alumni Profile: Chris Nguyen ‘15
Business
Chris Nguyen ‘15 realized his dream to stay in Japan post-Fellowship and is currently working in Tokyo as a senior consultant at weConnect.
Alumni Profile: Ruby Saha '14
Assistant Director of development for UChicago Arts
Ruby graduated in 2014 majoring in Art History and served as a Shansi Fellow in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from 2014-2016.
Alumni Profile: Karl Orozco '13
Artist and Museum Educator
Karl graduated in 2013 majoring in Visual Art and Sociology and served as a Shansi Fellow in Banda Aceh, Indonesia from 2013 to 201.
Alumni Profile: Elizabeth Rogers '07
Author and Professor
Beth graduated from Oberlin in 2007 majoring in Creative Writing and Dance and served as a Shansi Fellow from 2007-2009 at Shanxi Agricultural University in Taigu, China.