Visiting Scholars
2025
Qiao Yu
Reflecting on her two wonderful years at Oberlin, Qiao is amazed at how much she has grown, becoming braver and more resilient in the face of challenges. Life at Oberlin has been incredibly fulfilling and vibrant—She cherishes each day, embracing life with enthusiasm and determination to live it fully and thoughtfully. She loved engaging with students, colleagues, and the supportive Shansi.
She has actively participated in academic conferences, expanding her professional horizons and deepening her expertise in Chinese language teaching. Each experience has helped her refine her teaching methods, striving to better support her students' unique learning journeys. Organizing engaging cultural activities has been a true joy, enabling her to share the beauty and depth of Chinese culture while creating lasting memories with students and peers alike.
As she prepares to say goodbye in May, she feels immense gratitude for the warmth, friendship, and support from Shansi and Oberlin College. Leaving behind such a cherished chapter of her life is difficult, but she is eager to carry forward everything she has learned. She sincerely hopes to find ways to give back to this wonderful community, sharing the love and friendship that Oberlin and Shansi have generously shown her. She remains passionate about living life fully, treasuring every moment, and striving to make each day meaningful.
Naoko Omori
Naoko Omori is a Japanese language instructor at East Asian Studies. Last year, Naoko also taught Japanese in the United States, gaining valuable experience in language education within a cross-cultural environment. Naoko holds an MBA and transitioned into the field of education after working at two companies in Japan. In the past, she also worked as a Japanese language assistant teacher at a local school in Australia. Now, she finds great joy and fulfillment in spending each day with motivated students who are eager to learn Japanese in a supportive and enriching environment.
Hillela Praysamuel
Hillela P serves as Assistant Professor in the PG Department and Research Centre of English at Lady Doak College, India. Her Master’s dissertation explored postcolonial theory in the context of older adults, and her doctoral research examined stereotypical views on ageing in select novels by Philip Roth. She has also created an interdisciplinary asynchronous course titled “Literature and Gerontology” which is available on Udemy. She is passionate about making literature accessible and encourages critical and creative engagement. At Oberlin, she finds the Writing Center and librarian consultations especially helpful. She values the small-scale academic and cultural events that encourage thoughtful dialogue and appreciates Oberlin’s environment for nurturing intellectual growth and supporting meaningful, self-directed research.
Novita Sari
Novita Sari holds the position of Assistant Professor at Syiah Kuala University, specializing in Psychology. Alongside her academic responsibilities, she also practices as a psychologist at various psychological service centers in Banda Aceh. Participation in the Shansi Visiting Scholar Program represents a remarkable opportunity. She engaged with a range of psychological, social, and cultural issues through workshops and seminars at Oberlin College. Additionally, she enrolled in several courses, including Advances Methods in Adolescent Development, Expository Writing for ESOL, and an ExCo Class. During the program, she expressed a keen interest in expanding her expertise in Trauma Psychology, attending various workshops and conferences, such as the International Society for the Study and Dissociation (ISSTD) conference in Boston. She received the supervision from a professor in the Psychology Department at Oberlin College for a research proposal concerning in the Psychology of Trauma in context of disaster impact.