Our SHE-CAN Scholar:

Sochea Chhay

SHE-CAN Scholar: Sochea Chhay

Sochea Chhay is a student at Beloit College, majoring in Quantitative Economics with double minors in Mathematics and Finance. On campus, she is an active member of the Black Students United, which promotes inclusivity and supports students of color, while also educating the community on Black issues. Sochea also works for the Sustainability Channel, advocating for sustainable practices and environmental responsibility.

This past summer, Sochea interned as a Tech Equity Summer Associate at the Greenlining Institute in Oakland, where she conducted data collection on broadband access across 58 counties in California. Her work focused on identifying low-income and communities of color with limited broadband access and contributed to a policy memo recommending collaboration with these communities to foster digital inclusion.

Sochea was born in a small community in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and moved with her family to Phnom Penh at the age of eight. She is the first in her family to pursue a college degree. Her journey is deeply motivated by a passion for gender equality and women’s empowerment. She led a project supported by Transparency International Cambodia, organizing two virtual panel discussions to address issues such as women’s skill gaps, the economic impact of COVID-19 on women, and the role of youth in responding to these challenges. Sochea was invited to share her insights on Cambodia Women’s Radio, discussing youth involvement in pandemic prevention.

In addition to her academic work, Sochea has demonstrated her commitment to social change through various internships. In the summer after her first year at Beloit, she received funding from SHE-CAN to return to Cambodia and lead a “Women’s Water and Sustainable Livelihood in Cambodia” project, aimed at improving rural women’s access to clean water and sustainable livelihoods. She also interned with Plan International Cambodia, focusing on integrated nutrition, early childhood care development, and sanitation programs to enhance hygiene and health in rural communities.

Currently, Sochea works as a research assistant with Dr. Diep Phan of the School of Business and Economics, contributing to research in her field.

Sochea’s long-term goal is to initiate projects that empower young women and girls in Cambodia, helping them become powerful leaders and agents of change.

Sochea Chhay
Attending

Academic Major

Quantitative Economics; Minor: Mathematics
Class of 2025

Mentor Team

Paula Gorman, Senior Manager Customer Operations, Formation
Kimberly Steffen, Senior Marketing Manger, Johnson & Johnson
Manjula Shivanna, Data Scientist Leader, Cisco
McCall Renold, Senior Manager of Strategy, Athleta
Lindsay Kresch, Director of Strategic Partnerships, CultureSync
Chantal Veale, Human Potential Coach, iPivot Professional Coaching