Throughout our interview with her, Keya Tanna was consistently enthusiastic. This attitude is evident in her activity as International Student Representative.

Despite entering office during the wave of SEVIS revocations – when student visas were effectively revoked – without having a team, Tanna persevered and built an office with a diverse set of directors and strong programming for international students.

[Related: Trump administration revokes visas of multiple UCLA, UC students]

Aside from consistently sharing officer reports and participating in interviews, Tanna ensures transparency and connection with the student body through tabling at several events and publishing a survey on student legal services.

Throughout her term so far, Tanna has supported and advocated for the international student body. She hosted town halls to offer opportunities to connect with UCLA administration and collaborated with UCLA Housing to spotlight international dishes in dining halls, she said.

Though Tanna has not yet published the International Student Survival Guide – her proposed user-friendly redesign of the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars website – she has made several other efforts for UCLA international students, including a cultural creative writing event and an international alumni career panel for winter quarter.

Although she entered office during a time of uncertainty, Tanna bounced back. She has, and continues to, connect with UCLA administration and the international student body to best advocate for and address international students’ needs.