Sopharoth Ith

Attending

Academic Major

Economics

​Class of 2022

Sopharoth “Rosie” Ith graduated from the University of Portland with a degree in economics and a minor in political science. She was the first SHE-CAN scholar to graduate from UP. Upon graduation, Rosie is spending her summertime in Cambodia as a Junior Resident Fellow at the Center for Khmer Studies (CKS) where she spends time researching the impact of discrimination and restrictions on women's education opportunities.
 
At UP, Rosie’s passion for social justice got her involved in leadership roles such as a First-Generation College Student (FGEN) Programming and Event Coordinator, Rural Immersion Co-coordinator, and a Provost Initiative Awardee to intern at the Center for Migration, Gender, and Justice. Upon graduation, she was recognized by UP for her leadership contribution to the university and her academic achievements. She is also widely known by many of her peers as a well-respected leader.
 
Rosie will return to the United States to continue her journey in academia with her master’s degree in international policy at Stanford University this fall semester. During her next two years, she will focus on international policies and solution to alleviate poverty through women empowerment and education in Cambodia and the Global South. She hopes to work at international organizations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, and other non-governmental organizations to gain experience in international development and policy. She wants to become a female policymaker in Cambodia and play a more active role in advocating for women and their education.
 
She believes that Cambodia’s development must include women’s participation, and she is determined to use her voice to increase the number of women in the workforce in order to lift Cambodia from poverty.


​Watch her leadership speech here: https://vimeo.com/390650595

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Mentor Team

Shannon Faucette
Claudia Hinz, Owner, Wholistic Consciousness 
Christine Mattsson, Personal Stylist and Wardrobe Consultant, J. Hilburn Men's Clothier 
Karen Meadows, Author and Consultant, Karen Meadows Consulting
Beverley Talbott