Skip to content

CIRCLE of Friends

Established in 2022, CIRCLE of Friends (CoF) is a space for international undergraduates as well as students interested in different cultures, to hangout, make friends, share, learn, and get support.  Every Tue and Fri from 6:00-8:00 p.m., you can stop by HUB141 to join CoF teams for all kinds of fun activities, helpful presentations, meaningful discussions, free snacks, and many more.
CIRCLE calendar. A long list of amazing CoF events is coming up soon for Spring quarter.

Chat 1:1 with Dan, Executive Director of CIRCLE:

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

CoF Program Goals:

  • Provide a welcoming space where international undergraduates can hang out, make friends and find a community where they belong.  (Connection & Community)
  • Create a safe space where international undergraduates can share their stories, voice their concerns, and support one another (Safe space)
  • Connect international undergraduates with campus resources to support their academic and professional growth. (Resources and support)
  • Create fun activities to enhance cultural understanding, as well as social aspects of being a college student in the U.S. (Social life)
  • Build a casual environment for students to reach their full potential. (Leadership)

Meet the CoF Team

CoF Leadership


Dan Zhu (朱老師) (she/her) | CoF Program Founder

From: Jiangxi & Beijing, China
Languages Spoken: Mandarin Chinese, Hakka and English
Major: I did my undergraduate in BNU (北师大) and finished my PhD in English composition at UW a while ago.
Fun fact: I have two lovely mixed boys: Miles and Sebastian.


Xinyue Yu | CoF Program Manager

From: China
Languages Spoken: Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and English
Major: Linguistics
Hobbies: Skiing, skating, golfing, hiking, swimming, and traveling around the world!


Celia Malone (she/her) | Program Manager

Languages spoken: English
Favorite place to eat in Seattle: Retreat in Greenlake
Fun Fact: at age 9 I memorized over 200 digits of pi, but now I can only remember around 80.


Meet the CoF Team

Sangey Rinchen (he/him) | CIRCLE of Friends Peer Advisor (PA)

Languages spoken: English, Dzongkha, a little German
About me: I enjoy long hikes, writing stories, and spending time with my family!


Yung-Ching Lin | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages Spoken: Chinese and English
Major: Engineering undeclared
About me: I am the only child. I like listening to music, drawing and reading!


Adhiman Jagota | CIRCLE Ambassado

Languages Spoken: English, Hindi, and Punjabi
Major: Pre-Sciences
About me: Breaking bad is one of my favorite shows; I like traveling, and making new friends.


Da Wei | CIRCLE Ambassado

Languages Spoken: Chinese and English
Major: Pre-social science
About me: I like playing basketball, listening to music, and exploring new experiences


Anh Nguyen | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages spoken: Vietnamese, English, and some Spanish
Major: Marketing
About me: I love listening to music, watching movies, and traveling!


Xiaoxuan (Catherine) Tang | CIRCLE Ambassado

Languages Spoken: Chinese and English
Intended Major: Computer Science
About me: Love forcing ChatGPT to give me responses with a bunch of cute emojis.


Xiangying (Jenny) Wang | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Major: Marketing
About me: I like to find new music to listen to. Almost 3000 songs in my playlist.


Aditi Manjunath | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages Spoken: Kannada and English
Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering
About me: Love singing!


Melody Wu | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages Spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Major: Pre-social science
About me: I have a twin sister!


Patrissa Gunawan | CIRCLE Ambassado

Languages Spoken: Indonesian and English
Intended Major: Business Administration
About me: I love playing sports and eating noodles.


Alaa Albuaijan | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages Spoken: Arabic and English
Major: Political Science
About me: I love film, music and photobooth!


Niece Theppithuck | CIRCLE Ambassado

Languages Spoken: Thai and English
Intended Major: Economics
About me: I love playing golf and pilates.


Raynah Silprasert | CIRCLE Ambassado

Languages Spoken: Thai and English
Major: Biology (Physiology)
About me: I like playing badminton and pool


Xiangcheng Ji | CIRCLE Ambassado


Jessy Zhao (she/her) | CIRCLE of Friends Peer Advisor (PA)

Languages spoken: English, Mandarin, and a little bit Japanese

I love writing song lyrics, singing, and reading novels with my friends!


Mingle Liang | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, and English
Major: Economics & Environmental Science
About me:


Selbi Orayeva | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages spoken: English, Russian, Turkmen, Turkish, and some German
Major: Educational Leadership and Policy
About me: I used to play table tennis quite regularly and I am planning to join the table tennis club at UW. I also love reading, traveling and spending time outdoors. I can’t swim yet but I enjoy all types of water activities (as long as I have a life jacket 🙂


Yihong (Rena) Yin | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Intended Major: Statistics
About me:


Miyu Kodama | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages Spoken: Japanese and English
Major: Medical Anthropology and Global Health
About me: I love shopping, traveling, makeup, and listening to any kind of pop music


Zhongyu (Andy) Wang | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages Spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Intended Major: Business Administration
About me: I play table tennis and I love music.

 


Brian Yuan | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Major: Informatics (Junior)
About me: Like playing badminton, tennis, hiking, skiing, traveling, and ping pong.

 


Michelle Yu | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages Spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Major: Biochemistry
About me: Love music and traveling

 


Qianyi (Linda) Jiang | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages Spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Major: Pre-science (intended biochemistry)
About me: I love cooking and hiking.

 


Sinuo (Angela) Sun | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages Spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Major: Mathematics, Computational Finance and Risk Management
About me: I am good at playing FPS games.

 


Jason Kariadi | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages Spoken: Chinese, English, and Indonesian
Major: Aeronautics & Astronautics Engineering
About me: I play soccer and love travelling.

 


Jessie Chang | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages Spoken: Chinese and English
Major: Biochemistry

 


 

Erich Ang (she/her) | CIRCLE of Friends Peer Advisor (PA)

Languages spoken: English and Tagalog

I love singing, musical theater, watching TV shows (FRIENDS, Modern Family, and Grey’s Anatomy), and hanging out with friends!


Nadiah Sheldon | CIRCLE Ambassado

Languages Spoken: English, Indonesian, and some Japanese
Major: Biology
Minor: Russian
About me: I love sports! I play soccer, volleyball, and snowboard.


Grace Zhang | CIRCLE Ambassado

Languages Spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Major: Human Centered Design Engineering
About me: I love traveling and fencing.


Qiyu (Gracia) Wang | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages Spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Major: Applied Math
About me: Love cats love music 🙂


Meichen Liu | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Intended Major: Psychology/Accounting
Hobbies: I’m Evangelical Christian and I play the piano and the cello…also homeschooled for eight years:)


Lujia (Luna) Cao  | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Intended Major: Applied Math / Mechanical Engineering
About me: I love trying new things~


Niece Theppithuck | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages spoken: English and Thai
Intended Major: Economics
About me: I love playing golf and pilates


Samriddhi Sivakumar | CIRCLE Ambassador
Languages spoken:
Intended Major:
About me: 


Sofila Song | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages spoken: Mandarin Chinese and English
Intended Major: Informatics
Fun Fact: I take out contacts with my knuckles.


Sara Allami | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages spoken: Arabic, English, and  Some Turkish
Major: Law
About me: My favorite seasons are fall and winter.


Raynah Silprasert | CIRCLE Ambassador

Languages spoken: Thai and English
Major: Biology (Physiology)
About me: I like playing badminton and pool


CIRCLE of Friends Autumn Quarter Events Overview
(All dates are tentative!)

 

Date Event Name Time Location
10/1 (Tue) 6:00-8:00 p.m. Zoom
10/4 (Fri) Mochi Donut & Ice Cream Social & Friendsmaking 6:00-8:00 p.m. HUB Games
10/8 (Tue) International Studies Advising 5:00-6:00 p.m. Zoom
10/11 (Fri) Board Game Night with Snacks 6:00-8:00 p.m. HUB 141 & 145
10/15 (Tue) Language & Cultural Trivia Night with Boba 6:00-8:00 p.m. HUB 141
10/18 (Fri) 6:00-7:00 p.m. Zoom
10/22 (Tue) Study Night with Ramen 6:00-8:00 p.m. HUB 141
10/25 (Fri) Business Advising 6:00-8:00 p.m. Zoom
10/27 (Sun) At night Bob’s
10/29 (Tue) 5:30-8:00 p.m. HUB 141 & 145
10/31 (Thu) Diwali Celebration 5:00-7:00 p.m. Intellectual House
11/5 (Tue) 11:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. HUB Ballroom
11/8 (Fri) Table for Four 6:00-8:00 p.m.
11/12 (Tue) Movie Night with Pizza 6:00-8:00 p.m. HUB 141 & 145
11/15 (Fri) Scholarships and Grants for Undergraduates 5:00-6:00 p.m. Zoom
11/19 (Tue) 6:00-8:00 p.m. HUB 141 &145
11/22 (Fri) 6:00-8:00 p.m. HUB Games
11/27 (Wed) 5:00-7:00 p.m. Intellectual House
12/3 (Tue) Meal before final (Tentative) 6:00-8:00 p.m. HUB 141