August 13, 2026

International Student Council set for upcoming academic year

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s International Student Council’s (ISC) leadership team for the 2026-2027 academic year is organized and ready to strengthen the university’s “global spirit.”

The council’s primary mission is representing the interests of international students studying or working at SIU Carbondale and celebrating the diversity of SIU by organizing activities and events representative of cultures and traditions from around the world.  

Learn more about the ISC, its history and events.

“As the International Student Council, our mission is to support, advocate for, and empower international students while fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus community,” said Mehak Saeed, ISC president. “We strive to celebrate cultural diversity, promote cross-cultural understanding, and create opportunities for leadership, engagement, and collaboration among students from around the world. We look forward to building connections, supporting student success, and strengthening the global spirit of SIU throughout the 2026–2027 academic year.”

The International Student Council Board for 2026-2027 is, with major and their home country:

  • President:  Mehak Saeed, doctoral student, population health, Pakistan.
  • Vice President of Internal Affairs: Samuel Idowu, doctoral student, English literature, Nigeria.
  • Vice President of Finance: Mahdi Fadaei, doctoral student, political science, Iran.
  • Chief of Staff: Rohan Shrestha, master’s student, accountancy, Nepal.
  • Media Manager: Alliah Evangelista Bombais, master’s student, computer science, Philippines.
  • Undergraduate Student Government Senators: Mayaas Jastaniyah, undergraduate student, business and analytics, Saudi Arabia, and Aisah Muftau, computer engineering and biomedical engineering, Nigeria.

In 2025-2026, SIU Carbondale had 800 international students from 89 countries. There are presently 10 active registered student organizations under the ISC’s umbrella. The ISC is also available via Facebook and Instagram.

The ISC office is on the Student Center’s third floor and open from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.