Alex Billingsley OC ‘24

J.F. Oberlin University, Japan (2024-26)

Alex Billingsley (she/her) ‘24 majored in East Asian Studies and Musical Studies during her time at Oberlin. In particular, her studies focused on Buddhism in Japanese culture, Japanese language classes, music theory, and voice performance. Alex loves to travel and has spent time living in Australia and western China, studying traditional vocal music in Corsica and Georgia, and working on a tea farm in Japan. She spent her high school career in a variety of programs focused on community-building, acts of stewardship, and outdoor education. At Oberlin, Alex has worked as an Observatory Assistant, tutored in music theory, and taught a class in the Experimental College about Chinese and Japanese tea. She spends as much time as possible singing in choral ensembles, reading and translating manga, and playing the banjo. During her fellowship, Alex plans to continue learning more about Japan while implementing her skills in community-building to contribute to networks of cross-cultural understanding and respect.