Sopharoth Ith

Attending

Academic Major

Economics

​Class of 2022

Sopharoth “Rosie” Ith attends the University of Portland, majoring in economics, with a minor in political science. Rosie was the first SHE-CAN scholar at UP, paving the way for her little sisters. This summer, Rosie is a Provost Initiative Awardee to conduct policy research and analysis with the Center for Migration, Gender and Justice on the Global Compact on Migration (GCM) and Global Compact on Refugees (GCR).

On-campus, Sopharoth is an FGEN (First Generation College Student) Programming and Event Coordinator who leads a team of 18 other student Ambassadors on events planning that serves the FGEN Community at her school. She was an Admissions Assistant at the International Student Services on campus, a participant in Habitat for Humanity, Model UN, and with her excellent academic record, she is also a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. She spent the Spring semester of 2020 studying abroad in London. During the fall of 2019, Sopharoth organized and led a fall break “rural immersion” trip in Washington’s Yakima Valley. There, students got to learn about the issues facing immigrants in the region and volunteered at a food bank and a local non-profit.

After returning to the U.S in January 2021, Sopharoth has purposefully engaged in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion discussion at UP and how to advocate for International Students at University of Portland. She is passionate to pursue a Master's degree in International Development and Policy before returning to Cambodia to be an advocate for women and girls through development projects. 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