Organizational Dynamics International/Full-Time Student Community (ODISC)

The Special Interest Group ODISC is dedicated to assisting international and full-time students with the application process, offering career-enhancing activities, promoting cultural diversity, and serving as ambassadors for the O.D. degree programs both here and abroad. ODISC was launched in March 2008 via a special presentation at an Organizational Dynamics Dinner Lecture. Membership is open to all and will be of especial interest to any ODEN members who have participated in an International Course Abroad or intend to do so. Memebership applications are available here.

Founding Members

Liping Di

A Human Resources professional, Liping Di, from Shanghai, China, searched the Internet for a program that would satisfy her desire to further her career in HR and Organization Development. “I regard the Organizational Dynamics Program as a timely, strong support to achieve my future career goals,” she says, but she has not yet decided whether she will work towards those goals in the U.S. or China after graduation.

Eunjung Lee

Eunjung Lee hails from Korea and has worked and studied in France and England, serving as an HR Manager and an Analyst before returning to school. Like most international students, she learned about Penn’s Organizational Dynamics Program on the Internet. “No other program in education or business truly seemed to be as prepared to tackle business organizational issues,” she says, and “learning from peers who are successful managers was a great merit.” She plans to work for a multinational organization following graduation.

Kimiharu (Haru) Kurokawa

Kimiharu (Haru) Kurokawa from Osaka, Japan, studied International Politics as an undergraduate, focusing on Japan-U.S security relationships. He worked as a diplomat in the Japanese foreign ministry prior to discovering the Organizational Dynamics program on the Internet. "I wanted to acquire OD skills and competencies to solve various problems I’ve seen in my organization,” he says. "After graduation, I will go back to where I come from and try to apply what I’ve gained in this program for organizational changes.”

Gmelina (Gem) O. Guiang

Gmelina (Gem) O. Guiang has “over seven years of work experience in various economic research and development projects under the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. She was recently the infrastructure development sector manager and policy development specialist with the Economic Policy and Reform Advocacy Project of USAID Philippines.” She also taught economics and statistics to both undergraduate and graduate students at the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines from 2003 to 2007. She obtained her Master’s of Social Science in economics degree from the National University of Singapore and BA in economics from Ateneo de Manila University.”

Nai-wei Shih

Nai-Wei Shih, a full-time international student, has become a tireless volunteer and organizer since joining the Organizational Dynamics program. In addition to participating on the Coaching Advisory Board throughout the year and assisting with the development of Ambassador Kits, she carved out time to co-found the ODEN SIG for international enthusiasts (ODISC). Originally from Taiwan, Nai-Wei was reared in New Zealand and takes a global approach to everything. She is an alumna of the University of Auckland and serves as volunteer alumni coordinator for U.A. here in Philadelphia. Prior to enrolling in O.D., she worked for a multi-national pharmaceutical company in Taiwan as Sales Representative and later Training Manager. “I am enjoying every minute of my time here at UPenn,” she says. “I hope to use what I’ve learned here and contribute back to the ODISC community, the university and society!”

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