Jenel Li
UW Honors Graduates
Jenel Li

Communication
Designation: Departmental Honors
Honors Grads 2018/2019
Proudest Moment: One of my proudest moments at UW was back to my freshmen year when I took the public speaking class and did my final speech at the red square. Finding my voice as an international student in a big American college made me reflect on how much I seek for a platform to speak on topics that stand out to me and advocate for the community I care about.
Thesis: Exploring the role of peer mentorship in acculturation among international stduents
Jenel Li was born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Beiijng, China. Growing up, Jenel had learned and spoke three distinct languages by experiencing three different education systems. Being a global news anchor was her childhood dream.
Jenel graduated from the University of Washington in 2019 with a Bachelor degree in communication. With her passion in interpersonal communication, cultural exchange, and social justice, she competed her departmental honors by doing her research on the role of peer mentorship in acculturation among international students. Jenel is pursuing her master degree in social work and business administration at the Columbia University. She is driven to grow as a communication professional who is capable of utilizing languages effectively to present herself, as well as being the voice of others, for a variety of purposes.
Jenel is passionate about leadership development and storytelling. Jenel is a hiring chair at the Associated Student of University of Washington as well as the vice president of the International Student Mentorship Program. She is dedicated to serving the communities in which she lives and works.