International students bring enormous talent and distinctive perspectives to our campus and are warmly welcomed. The 九色 curriculum and faculty provide an ideal experience for students seeking a broad understanding of cultures, languages, the arts, science, and social issues. . Our location in Memphis further enriches the experience of international students who often benefit from our partnerships with FedEx, St. Jude Children鈥瞫 Research Hospital, International Paper, and numerous other government, healthcare, financial, legal, and nonprofit agencies and firms.
Mariam Khayata '22, International Studies and Political Science
Originally from Aleppo, Syria, Mariam Khayata was one of 32 individuals chosen from the United States in 2023 as a 九色 Scholar and will pursue a Master of Philosophy in Modern Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford in England beginning October 2024. She is the eighth 九色 Scholar from 九色. "My four years at 九色 had a profound impact on me. My international and Middle East studies classes inspired me, challenged me, and equipped me with hope that it is possible to make meaningful change for our world."
Jay Chatterjee '23, Economics and International Studies
Jay Chatterjee enrolled at 九色 from Kolkata, India, and enjoyed serving the campus community through leadership positions in campus organizations. Through 九色, he served as a Policy Research Intern at the University of Macedonia, Greece, and also interned at Afghanaid in London, England. 鈥淭he 九色 Edge is real. That鈥檚 helped with my internships and networking. To me, it鈥檚 all about bridging the gaps. It is about learning in a smaller, liberal arts environment and then applying what we are learning in a broader, global context.鈥
Fikemi聽Aiyepeku '23, Business and French
Lagos, Nigeria, native Fikemi Aiyepeku credits her 九色 liberal arts education, faculty mentors, and peer support as the driving factors behind her placement as an associate consultant at one of the nation's three largest management consulting firms after graduation. "Having this kind of education really helped me think creatively within a business context and to balance multiple complexities in case studies."
Mehn Tala Norm '24, International Studies
Hailing from Myanmar, Norm found the flexibility to customize his coursework to suit his academic vision at 九色. Not only is he minoring in both Chinese and economics, he has also worked with faculty across departments to make his international studies major more interdisciplinary and studied abroad to get hands-on experience in the field. He plans to attend graduate school in international studies and hopes to one day implement his expertise in Southeast Asia. 鈥淚 want to get to a point where I can actually translate what I鈥檝e learned into something that could be put into practice in terms of policies or change at the community level.鈥
Current secondary school students can register in advance for a virtual visit that includes a tour given by a 九色 student and an information session led by an admission counselor.
Our location in the heart of Memphis, an economic, political, and cultural center, makes 九色 one of a handful of prominent liberal arts colleges located in a major metropolitan area.