Shih-Ya joined the International Center in September 2024. She was born and raised in Taiwan and spent most of her elementary to high school years in Shanghai, China. Shih-Ya was an international student in the U.S.A. from college to her Master’s. After completing OPT, she returned to Taiwan and worked in non-profit and for-profit settings. Shih-Ya’s role as an International Student Advocate focuses on supporting the health and well-being of the international student community at U-M. She is a part of the International Center Global Engagement and Education Abroad (GEEA) team and a Visiting Staff at the Dean of Students Office Student Support & Critical Incident Response Team.
Shih-Ya holds a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Dallas Baptist University and a Master of Social Work in community organizing and management in human services from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. During her years as an international student, Shih-Ya went on service and study-abroad trips in Guatemala, Kenya, Portugal, China, and the UK. She also served in various student organizations and worked as a student staff in student activities units. Shih-Ya is passionate about multicultural affairs and the global intersectionality and interconnectivity of diversity, equity, and inclusion.