Riya attends Gettysburg College majoring in Economics with a minor in Data Science. In summer 2022, she participated in the Eisenhower Institute’s Washington Summer Fellowship in which she got to learn about important policy issues and how decisions are made in the nation’s capital. In Fall 2021, she did a semester exchange at Lancaster University, UK. 

On campus, she works as a Library Student Supervisor where she assists in training new student hires and overseeing overall user services performance. She is also a Peer Research Mentor in which she helps students with all sorts of research related inquiries. In her first year, she was selected to represent Gettysburg at the National Leadership and Diversity Convention and was also a member of the president advisory group for inclusion and belonging.

Before joining SHE-CAN and coming to the U.S, Riya organized a fundraiser to provide necessary school supplies to 47 primary school students back in her hometown in Kampong Cham province, Cambodia and was a very involved youth advocate at Transparency International Cambodia where she attended trainings, implemented a community project, went on a study tour in Malaysia, and was a guest speaker on a national radio show discussing her involvement in social activities. 

Riya is passionate about international economic development, education and women empowerment. She aspires to work for international organizations to promote sustainable economic development and improve the living standards of underserved population in developing countries through data-supported policy implementation and evaluation.

Highlights From Riya’s Past Work Experience:

• Program Intern at Transparency International Cambodia
• Peer Research Mentor at Gettysburg College
• Student Supervisor at Musselman Library, Gettysburg College

Dean’s List                   GPA: 3.85          Languages Spoken: English and Khmer