David Owoade, a master’s student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, is paired with Taolin Qin, a master’s student in Medical Physics. They are planning an Arts and Crafts/Field-day Event this spring. They plan to have different stations for arts and crafts, where students can take and process polaroid images, and for other outdoor recreational activities, such as volleyball, cornhole, and spikeball. Snacks and drinks will also be available. Be on the lookout for an announcement after winter break. 

“My partner(Taolin) and I wanted to create an environment that would be very inclusive for students with different interests, while being engaging and most importantly, fun to partake in,” says Owoade. He is looking forward to a diverse crowd and hopes the activities offered will appeal to a wide range of interests.

Owoade shares that he was driven to apply for the program so that he could have a positive impact on graduate students during the school year.

Partners Ma Irene Quilantang, a doctoral candidate in Behavioral and Social Health Sciences, and Kei Yoshida, a doctoral student in Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, are planning an evening at Trinity Repertory Theatre for the show La Broa’ (Broad Street). The performance is directed by Brown alum, Tatyana-Marie Carlo ‘20 MFA and opens January 18, 2024.

“I believe that the show can be an excellent way to familiarize international students with the rich history and vibrant culture of their new home in the U.S. Additionally, I believe that it is a great way for students to build connections with and show support for a local organization in Providence,” says Quilantang. She credits performance arts and shows at the Trinity Repertory as pivotal in her self-care and community-building experiences during her time at Brown.

Both Quilantang and Yoshida are excited for their mentorship roles. Yoshida shares that when she started at Brown in 2020, she missed out on some opportunities to get connected with the local community in Providence during her first year. “As a peer mentor, I am thrilled to be able to provide a chance to engage with local Providence and delve into the rich Latine history of Rhode Island, as well as build connections with fellow students,” she says.

Quilantang is grateful for the invaluable guidance and support she receives from her mentors and peers and is driven by a profound appreciation for the impact of mentorship. “My desire to pay it forward and contribute to the well-being of my fellow students motivated me to take on a voluntary peer mentor role with the GBC and the Grad School a few years ago, and I am excited to continue in this role in an official capacity this year,” says Quilantang.

Other peer mentors for the year include:

• Aishwarya Bose, master’s student in Biomedical Engineering
• Zhaowei Jiang, doctoral candidate in Engineering
• Pavani Nerella, master’s student in Computer Science
• Tianjie Qiu, master’s student in Data-Enabled Comp. Engn. & Sci
• Maria Luisa Rocha, doctoral student in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
• Zidan Yang, master’s student in Engineering

Be on the lookout for announcements in the spring about their planned events.