Career Strategy Fellowships Study Abroad

Connect with Former Fellows

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The Light Fellowship Student Advisory Committee (SAC) was founded in 2007 by a group of Light Fellows returning to campus after their time abroad, eager to share their experiences with peers, encourage other students to seek the same opportunity, and give back to the Light Fellowship Program.  

Reach out to one of the SAC members below if you are interested in speaking to a former Fellow about applying to the Light Fellowship, choosing a program, spending a term or year abroad, or have general questions about the Light Fellowship experience and studying abroad in East Asia!

Tip: Contact the Light Fellowship office:

  • If you are interested in speaking to a recent Fellow with similar academic or career interests or who did a particular program or term abroad not represented below.
  • If you have questions or concerns about how your race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, language, disability, religion, or other identity considerations may impact your experience abroad and are unsure which SAC member to speak to.

We would be happy to share resources and put you in touch with former Fellows who are willing to share their experience and insights into these important considerations.

SAC Members


Jaxon Havens

BA
2025

Award Details

Summer
2022
No

SAC Details

Japanese Language Representative
2024-2025

Hello! My name is Jaxon Havens and I am a sophomore in Trumbull College. My intended major is History and I hope to go for the certificate in Japanese. I was a Light Fellow in the 2022 Summer through the CET-Japan program at Osaka Gakuin University. It was a truly life-changing experience and I am incredibly grateful for how I have progressed in both my study of Japanese and in my understanding of myself as a multiethnic person in an increasingly globalized world. I would love to talk all about Light, applying to programs, adjusting to life in Japan, and studying Japanese at Yale, so do not hesitate to reach out. 頑張りましょう!


Mason Abrell

BA
Physics and Global Affairs
2025

Award Details

Summer
2023
No

SAC Details

Japanese Language Representative
2024-2025

Hey I’m Mason! I studied abroad in Japan with the Princeton in Ishikawa program and had an incredible time. While there I continued practicing kendo as well as learnt more about renewable energy in Japan. If you have any questions about PII or study abroad in Japan, don’t hesitate to reach out!


Nicholas Yee

BA
Global Affairs & History
2027

Award Details

Summer
2024
No

SAC Details

Japanese Language Representative
2024-2025

Hey everyone! I'm Nick, a sophomore in Berkeley studying Global Affairs and History. My time in Osaka was nothing less than transformative—building bonds with other Japanese university students is a unique experience you won't get in any other program, and thus, my Japanese certainly improved a ton. The fellowship also allowed me to travel around and hit some of my lifetime bucket list items—climbing Mount Fuji on a whim, watching a Sumo Tournament live, staying with Buddhist monks, visiting an onsen town, and getting very acquainted with the Japanese vintage thrifting scene! I would love to talk about my experiences anytime so please reach out!


James Richardson

BA
Ethics
Politics
and Economics and East Asian Studies
2025

Award Details

Academic Year
2022-2023
No

SAC Details

Japanese Language Representative
2024-2025

Hi! My name is James and I spent the 2022-23 academic year at International Christian University through the Middlebury in Japan program as a Light Fellow. As I am a heritage speaker of Japanese, this program's heritage track courses really helped me hone my language skills. Outside of the classroom, I was able to travel a lot and see so much of the country. I also have great memories of campus life, as I was able to make many friends in my dorm and on the school's basketball team. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions!


Cindy Liu

BA
Art
2026

Award Details

SAC Details

Japanese Language Representative
2024-2025

My name is Cindy Liu, and I am a Light Fellowship Summer 2023 recipient. I was able to spend my summer abroad in Tokyo at the Sun Academy Nihongo Program, a program specifically made for Yale students! I discovered my favorite Japanese cuisine (dango and cold udon), watched fireworks with new friends through the Japanese buddy system, consistently challenged myself adhering to the language pledge, and developed a love for discovering Ikigai (reason for living) through Japanese arts. If you have any questions about the Light Fellowship, Sun Academy, or your first trip to Japan, feel free to reach out to me!


Jason Wang

BA
Mathematics and Computer Science
2025

Award Details

Spring
2024
No

SAC Details

Japanese Language Representative
2024-2025

Greetings and Salutations! I'm Jason, and I spend Spring 2024 abroad in Osaka with CET Japan. I had an incredible time abroad not only sharpening my Japanese skills, but also taking a deep dive Japanese society and culture, observing its deep history and its differences and connections to the American and Chinese culture I come from. I was able to explore the country from Nagasaki to Hokkaido, and I made so many great connections with all sorts of amazing people. I'm thrilled to share my experiences with everybody!


Natsume Wu

BA
Chemistry
2026

Award Details

SAC Details

Japanese Language Representative
2024-2025

Hi! I'm Natsume, and I'm a sophomore in Davenport! I studied at SANC (Sun Academy Nihongo Center) in Tokyo during Summer 2023. From the amazing teachers and new friends I made, to the endless variety of places and experiences I got to explore in Tokyo, I couldn't have asked for a better summer! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!


Jesús Cebreros

B.A
Art
2026

Award Details

SAC Details

Japanese Language Representative
2024-2025

Hello! My name is Jesús Cebreros and I am a third year in Trumbull College majoring in Art. During the 2023-2024 year, I studied abroad at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan. At Nanzan I got to practice my Japanese through intensive Japanese courses as well as several art courses like 生花(Flower-Arrangement)、書道 (Calligraphy)、踊り(Dance)、and 武道(Martial Arts). Outside of the classroom, I practiced with Nanzan's Judo, Track and Field, and Art clubs, frequented a jazz bar in Sakae called Jazz Inn Lovely, experienced salsa and bachata through the oldest salsa bar in Nagoya, got close to a couple of the nearby mom-and-pop shop owners, made a trip to Tokyo to see the Hakone Ekiden and thrift with a friend studying at Middlebury's ICU program, climbed at two local climbing gyms (one in Sakae and the other in Imaike), went on multiple CJS field trips including to Tokugawaen, Ghibli Park, and Toyota Automobile Museum, completed two bike trips (one to Tokushima and the other around Shikoku and Shimanami Kaido), saw Kaneko Ayano and her band perform live at Zepp Nagoya, and SOOO much more!!! My year abroad in Japan was such a transformative experience and one that I will never forget. If you have any questions regarding the Light Fellowship, Nanzan, living in Japan, studying Japanese, or any of the experiences I mentioned above, please don't hesitate to reach out.


Dean Centa

BA
Global Affairs & East Asian Studies
2025

Award Details

SAC Details

Student Advisory Committee Co-Chair
2024-2025

Hello!! My name is Dean Kenichiro Centa and I am a junior in Jonathan Edwards College studying Global Affairs and East Asian Studies. During the 2022-2023 year, I studied abroad at Nanzan University in Nagoya studying Intensive Japanese!! I have grown up with Japanese culture my whole life because of my half-Japanese background, but being able to live and learn there for a whole year was a dream come true thanks to the Light Fellowship. During my year in Japan, I got to spend lots of time with my family, travel the entire country, and even watch Shohei Ohtani in-person at the Tokyo Dome for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. If there is anything you want to know about life in Japan, the Light Fellowship, or anything at all, feel free to reach out!


Tan Yi Tseung

BA
History
2025

Award Details

Summer
2021
No

SAC Details

Student Advisory Committee Co-Chair
2024-2025

Hi! My name is Tan Yi and I’m a history major with a passion for learning new languages. I started Japanese L1 my first semester at Yale and attended the CET-Japan virtual program during the summer after my freshman year. I then took a gap year to study at Nanzan University in Nagoya after finishing my sophomore year. Not only did I improve my Japanese tremendously through living with a host family but I also made many friends from all over the world. I learned to value human relationships more and to take risks and tried new hobbies such as swimming and hip-hop dance! I had such a blast thanks to Light Fellowship’s generous support and I would love to give back by connecting with prospective and future Fellows!


Elyse Thomas

BA
Ethnicity
Race
& Migration Studies
2025

Award Details

Summer
2022
No

SAC Details

Japanese Language Representative
2024-2025

In Summer 2022, I studied abroad with CET Japan in Osaka! Studying abroad enabled me to advance my Japanese and to build community with Japanese speakers after my first year of language classes at Yale. From traveling to different cities each weekend to attending summer festivals, I will always cherish my summer in Japan (いい思い出がたくさんあります!) , and I owe my immersion in Japanese language, culture, and society to the Light Fellowship. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or would like to talk more about Japan!


Aruna Balasubramanian

BA
Anthropology and History
2026

Award Details

SAC Details

Japanese Language Representative
2024-2025

Hello! I’m Aruna, a junior in Saybrook studying Anthropology and History. I started learning Japanese at L1 as sophomore, then spent an amazing summer in Kyoto on the Light Fellowship! The rigor of KCJS pushed me to express myself in Japanese in new ways, and to engage in both academic and fun settings with Japanese peers. After finishing the course, I was thrilled by how much my communication abilities improved. While in Kyoto, I also had a great time traveling with new friends, discovering the history of Zen garden design, learning about Japanese contemporary art, and exploring the many flavors of kakigori. I would love to talk about KCJS, so don’t hesitate to contact me!