Tessa Machida: Program Director ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Hello everyone! I had a great time with the American Culture and Language Program last summer, and I’m excited to work with all of you this summer at Stanford University! I just earned my master’s degree at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Public Administration in beautiful Monterey, California. Before living in Monterey, I was teaching English in Matsudo, Japan.

I’ve studied abroad three times in my life - twice in high school (Japan and New Zealand) and once in college (Japan). Studying abroad is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in a foreign language and make life-long friends. My studies shaped my life in an amazing way, and I look forward to passing that kind of experience on to you. The coordinators are all busy planning a wonderful August and we look forward to seeing you!

Kazutoh Ishida: Program Director ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Hello, everyone! Thank you for your interest in our American Language and Culture (ALC) Program. I was an ALC participant myself in 1991 and am excited to be involved again as Senior Program Director. Participating in ALC enabled me to learn about the diverse culture of the United States and broadened my perspective about Asia, including my home country of Japan. Through the program, I developed life-long friendships. I hope your participation in our program will provide opportunities to change the way you view the world and also to develop friendships that you treasure for life.

In my spare time I listen to music, watch movies, and travel. We are looking forward to seeing you this summer at Stanford!

Abe Cabangbang: Stanford Coordinator

Hey everyone! I am super excited to get to know all of you! I just graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Apart from academics, I have been involved in coordinator roles for New Student Orientation, Reunion Homecoming, and Parents' Weekend. I've had many amazing experiences as a student, and I am grateful for the opportunity to come here. I'm sure you all will feel the same way!

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, but embraced the Bay Area as my second home. In my spare time, I play video games, watch reality television shows, solve puzzles, and cook. In addition, I am a scorpio and secretly enjoy reading my horoscopes. One of my recent accomplishments was running my first half marathon. I am now training for my second, so join me for a jog! I also enjoy reading about the latest technologies so let me know if you recommend anything! We're going to have an awesome time this summer!

"A.K." Andrew Kim: Stanford Coordinator

Hello! I am an upcoming senior at Stanford and Product Design Engineering major. I hope to design the things you use every day-- from your phones to your furniture. My dream is to design my own sports car. I love to draw and do arts and crafts in my free time.  I listen to hip hop and electro dance music. I enjoy a bit of fun freestyling rapping and horsing around in general. You can often find me outside playing basketball, throwing around a football, or kicking a soccer ball.

My greatest passion is dance, and I am on a hip hop dance crew here on campus: Alliance!  I choreograph for the group and for myself, and love freestyling in the mirror. You might even catch me dancing in the reflections of windows. Another group I actively participate in is my Asian American interest fraternity: Lambda Phi Epsilon. Feel free to come play some sports, talk about music, art, and dance, or just goof around! Being silly is what I do best =P

Andrew Linford: Stanford Coordinator

Nam Nguyen: Stanford Coordinator

Hello everyone! I'm currently a rising junior at Stanford University working towards my B.S. in Management Science and Engineering while at the same time finishing up my premedical science classes. I'm hoping to enter the medical field as a plastic surgeon specializing in both cosmetic and reconstructive methods. Even so, my interests in medicine are very broad. I'm currently working in a stem cell research lab -- specializing in heterotopic heart transplants, volunteering as an HIV/AIDS counselor at Arbor Free Clinic and serving as a Referrals Intern for Pacific Free Clinic.

I’ve lived an itinerant lifestyle, from the “Mile-High City” of Denver, to the rugged and heavily underserved streets of New Brunswick, New Jersey and to the highly conservative suburbs of Ashburn, Virginia. Having been exposed to such diverse communities, I’ve acquired and developed a broad and adaptive understanding of what it means to be American and hope to share that with you this summer!

During my free time, I'm usually working on my basketball game, carving hills with my longboard or paddling with the Stanford Dragon Boat team. I enjoy the company of friends and greatly appreciate good conversation. There’s nothing like a good late night talk!

Pearly Meixsel: Stanford Coordinator

Hello, all! I am a rising sophomore at Stanford University. I am exploring majoring in either International Relations or Economics with a minor in East Asian Studies. I was born in the Philippines, but I spent my childhood in a small town in southeast Georgia. Moving to California was a big change. However, I love Stanford as my second home, and I look forward to sharing it with all of you this summer. I promise that we will have plenty of memorable experiences together, and as a result, I hope we will all become close friends by the end.

Growing up in a multicultural Filipino-American household, I have always had an interest in learning about other cultures. In fact, I took classes in French and Spanish in high school. I also studied abroad for a semester of high school in Kawasaki, Japan, so I speak some Japanese and hope to be fluent some day. To help me achieve that goal, I often watch Japanese dramas and listen to J-Pop, so share your recommendations with me!

My other interests include traveling, photography, and playing soccer. I also enjoy
watching good films, reading novels, and playing board games. However, I adore being outdoors, so you will rarely find me inside on a sunny day. Hopefully we will spend time enjoying the beautiful California weather together. Here’s to a fantastic summer!

Tracy Vu: Stanford Coordinator

Hey, all! I’m an upcoming sophomore. I plan on majoring in Economics and Political Science. I was born and raised in Orange County, but traveled extensively. One of my favorite places was Japan. I definitely want to learn more about contemporary East Asian culture from all of you. Hopefully, I’ll expand your views on modern American popular culture as well.

I have very varied interests including cultural and gender studies, marine biology, social science, and art history. I LOVE to eat and shop and big cities are definitely my environment, so if any of you are looking for a companion to go shopping with in San Francisco, ask me! I have an obsession with chai lattes, hipsters (don’t know what that is? Ask me!), and American food politics. Talk to me about anything-- I love to talk! Also, I’m the newest member of the Asian-interest sorority, KDPhi! Ask me about Asian Greek life!

I cannot wait to meet you all!

Xin Shan: Stanford Coordinator

Hello! My name is Xin, and I am a rising junior thinking of majoring in Linguistics and Biology. I was born in China, raised in Japan, and moved to America when I was 9 years old. I love languages. I grew up speaking Chinese and Japanese, but then I started English and picked up Spanish. In my freshman year here, I took Korean. The next language I want to learn is Sign Language! In the future, I want to become a doctor who can communicate and connect with her patients with their native languages. I would also love to invent something medical-related, language-related, or a combination of both!

I love to draw and to sing while playing the piano, albeit I cannot sing too well. On Saturdays I volunteer at Pacific Free Clinic as a Chinese Interpreter for doctor and patients. I also do linguistics research on Japanese particles and biology research on endocannabinoids. In addition, I recently pledged as a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, the Professional Co-ed Business Fraternity. I love exploring and getting diverse experiences. Don't forget to live for the present--always!