James Madison University

Leaders for International Friendship and Exchange

The LINK Program

What is the “LINK program?”

LINK stands for Leader for International Networking & Knowledge and consists of 10 JMU students (called LINKers). They serve as the main links between incoming international students and the current international community at JMU. Their resposibilities consist of positively impacting the lives of the JMU international community.

Ultimately, the LINK program is devised to:

Assist in the recruitment of new JMU international students
Improve the retention of the international student community
Develop the LINKers’ leadership skills

What do the LINKers do exactly?

Communicate with prospective and admitted international students
Act as orientation leaders during Transitions by leading small group discussions, campus tours, acting in a play, etc…
Serve as a role models and peer mentors for new international students
Positively impact the campus climate for international students

Tell me more...

They serve as conference hosts for the International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC) in March. They help the participants navigate the conference site, make them feel welcome and that they do have a positive experience overall. Furthermore, they serve as group leader to facilitate different activities, conversations, and games throughout the conference.
Any new prospective and admitted international students can be in touch with them. Check out the "ask an international student" section found on the JMU international admissions' webpage
Admitted international students should refer themselves to the LINKers' Top Ten Reasons to Choose JMU handout!
The LINKers get to meet all of the new international students during Fall Transitions as they serve as international student orientation leaders
The LINKers partake in the many monthly events and activities organized by the International Student and Scholar Services' office
They take on different projects such as developing handouts, activities, and proposals to help the international community better integrate this campus

Who are the current LINKers?

Spring - Fall 2013
- Pamela Sanchez - [Ecuador]
- Shiyao (Yoky) Yu - [China]
- Jessie Rosati - [US]
- Prince Owusu - [Ghana]
- Ashley Manalel - [US]
- Rayan Bahlaiwa - [Saudi Arabia]
- Weiwei Xu - [China]
- Ahmed Alotaibi - [Saudi Arabia]
- Michelle Lee - [US]
- Duc Tam Nguyen - [Vietnam]
Spring - Fall 2012
- Nam Nguyen - [Vietnam]
- Anh Nguyen - [Vietnam]
- Richa Tiwari - [US/ India]
- Jessie Rosati - [US]
- Moussa Ouedraogo - [Ivory Coast]
- Jiaqi (Nicole) Hu - [China]
- Rania Sheikh - [Ethiopia]
- Shiyao (Yoky) Yu - [China]
- Marina Mezzetti - [Brazil]
- Pamela Sanchez - [Ecuador]
Spring - Fall 2011
- Veronica Marchant - [Chile]
- Yoo Jin Lee - [S. Korea/ Guatemala]
- Nam Nguyen - [Vietnam]
- Quan Hoang - [Vietnam]
- Richa Tiwari - [USA/ India]
Spring - Fall 2010
- Debbie Dawitt - [US/ Ethiopia]
- Yifan (Elvis) Zhang - [China]
- Percy Ticharwa - [Zimbabwe]
- Naseef Rahman - [Bangladesh]
Spring - Fall 2009
- Elena Balkanska [Bulgaria]
- Jacob Loorimirim [Kenya]
- Percy Ticharwa [Zimbabwe]
- Yifan (Elvis) Zhang [China]
Spring - Fall 2008
- Ibrahim Almohaimede [Saudi Arabia]
- Emily(Ning) Jiang [China]
- Erika Orantes Pedrero [Mexico]
- Dinara Sekenova {Kazakhstan]
Spring 2007 - Fall 2007
- Ipeleng Bosilong [South Africa]
- Emily(Ning) Jiang [China]
- Erika Orantes Pedrero [Mexico]
- Martin Rio Perkasa [Indonesia]
Fall 2006
- Gavneet Kalra [India]
- Doyeon Kim [South Korea]
- Juan Ignacio Labarthe [Peru]
- Arifur Rahman [Bangladesh]