International Student Advisory Council
The International Student Advisory Council (ISAC) brings together a diverse representation of international students at Stony Brook University to communicate the needs and challenges of international students. Council members are volunteer student leaders who work on projects with the Office of Global Affairs to improve international student support and engagement at Stony Brook.
Applications for the 2026/27 Academic Year are now closed.
What is ISAC?
The International Student Advisory Council (ISAC) supports the international student success efforts of the Office of Global Affairs (OGA) and serves as a direct line of communication between the international student population and Stony Brook administration in order to improve the international student experience on campus.
General Expectations
International Student Advisory Council members will:
- Provide guidance, ideas, and advice to OGA on student engagement, communication strategies, event planning, etc.
- Share international student stories and communicate feedback and concerns
- Advocate for international student issues with the Office of Global Affairs
- Develop and implement activities for International Education Week and one Spring semester event for international students
- Engage with the international student community at OGA events
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
- Demonstrate passion for Stony Brook and advocating for your fellow international students
- Be reliable, responsible, and flexible
- Actively participate and show enthusiasm at events
Benefits
- Build up your resume by demonstrating leadership skills
- Develop critical thinking, effective reasoning, creativity, and other cognitive competencies
- Improve communication, technical capabilities, professionalism, collaboration, and other practical skills
- Network with University staff and students
Join ISAC!
ISAC consists of 7 international student council members from a variety of backgrounds: 3 appointed positions, and 4 elected positions.
Appointed Positions
Appointed positions are selected from Stony Brook’s international and student government
groups and ISS initiatives, and may be elected or appointed by their organization.
Positions last for a minimum of one academic year, or as long as the student remains
in their role.
- Graduate Student Organization (GSO) Representative
- International Student Organization (ISO) Representative
- Freshman Representative
Elected Positions
All international students are welcome to apply for one of the 4 elected positions
to ISAC. The maximum term length is 2 years. The four positions are:
- Sophomore Representative
- Junior Representative
- Senior Representative
- Master's Representative
Eligibility Requirements
- Good academic standing (3.0 GPA or better)
- Commit to a minimum of one academic year on the Council
- Attend bi-weekly meetings during the Fall and Spring semesters (may be more frequent before ISAC events)
- Demonstrate a passion for Stony Brook and advocating for fellow international students
How to Apply
Applications for the 2026/27 Academic Year are now closed. Please check back in spring
for the 2027/28 Academic Year.
Meet the ISAC Team!
2026/27 ISAC Members will be announced in September.
Ponny Ma
Major: Health Sciences
Hometown: China
Year: Senior
Hi! My name is Ponny Ma, I’m an international student from China majoring in Health Science at Stony Brook University. I’m especially interested in public health and epidemiology and hope to continue my studies in this field after graduation. Outside of academics, I enjoy reading, traveling, exploring new places, and making new friends. I’m excited to be part of ISS and look forward to connecting with students from different backgrounds!
Luiz Sautchuk
Major: Mathematics
Hometown: Brazil
Year: Freshman
Hi! My name is Luiz Sautchuk and I'm an international student from São Paulo, Brazil. I'm currently a freshman majoring in Mathematics, with a special interest in Mathematical Logic. Outside of academics, I really enjoy playing the violin and basketball, and I'm also very interested in Philosophy.
Yeju Seo
Major: Technological Systems Management
Hometown: South Korea
Year: Sophmore
Yeju Seo is a sophomore majoring in Technological Systems Management with a specialization in Computer Science. She is originally from Seoul, South Korea, and she began her studies at SUNY Korea before transitioning to Stony Brook’s main campus. She hopes to help international students feel more connected to the Stony Brook community, and outside of school, she enjoys cooking and watching movies.
Gyumin Kim
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: South Korea
Year: Sophmore
Affiliation: IPM & ISO
Hi! My name is Gyumin. I'm an international student from South Korea and a sophomore majoring in Biomedical Engineering. I'm currently an International Peer Mentor with the ISS and the Treasurer for the International Student Organization (ISO). I enjoy meeting new people and learning about different cultures from around the world. As part of the ISAC, I’m excited to support international students and help foster a welcoming, inclusive campus community!
Pritthvi Raj Paul
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Bangladesh
Year: Sophmore
Hi everyone, I am Pritthvi Raj Paul and I am a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering at Stony Brook. I am from Bangladesh and outside of academics, I enjoy staying active and spending time outdoors. I like traveling, hiking, working out, and exploring new places. I also enjoy meeting new people and learning about different cultures, which is one of the things I look forward to most about being part of ISAC. I am looking forward to meeting more people, sharing experiences and making the transition to college a little easier for others.
San Vo Yen
Major: Linguistics
Hometown: Vietnam
Year: Junior
Hi Stony Brook! My name is San, currently majoring in Linguistics. I'm looking forward to serving our community as your Junior Representative. Go Seawolves!