# MeetRamsey Ismail

**Source**: https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/ramsey-ismail.html
**Parent**: https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/index.html

# Meet **Ramsey Ismail**

**Tell us a bit about your background**

I am a third-year Ph.D. student in the [Anthropology Department](http://anthro.ucsd.edu), specializing in [psychological and medical anthropology](http://anthro.ucsd.edu/graduate-studies/program-requirements/psychological-anthro/index.html). I discovered my interest in anthropology when I was an undergraduate at the University of Rochester. There, I studied abroad in Tokyo in my junior year and got to conduct my own fieldwork project in order to graduate.

**Describe your involvement in the UC San Diego Community**

At UC San Diego, I have TA'd in the Anthropology Department for 5 quarters and have received a number of fellowships, including a [Critical Language Scholarship](https://clscholarship.org) for Japanese, a [Gary E. and Jerri Ann Jacobs Diversity Fellowship](https://socialsciences.ucsd.edu/fellowships/jerri-ann-and-gary-e-jacobs.html) from the dean of Social Sciences, and a [Joseph Naiman Fellowship](http://japan.ucsd.edu/graduate/jn-graduate-fellowship.html) for summer fieldwork in Japan. Most recently, I earned a [National Science Foundation - GRFP](https://www.nsfgrfp.org) for my proposed research on social withdrawal and a [Nippon Foundation Fellowship](https://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/en/what/scholarships) to study advanced Japanese in Tokyo next year. I also play intramural volleyball on campus and in the community.

**Why UC San Diego?** 

When I was deciding on schools, the kindness of my prospective advisor, [Joe Hankins](http://anthro.ucsd.edu/people/faculty/faculty-profiles/joseph-hankins.html), really made me feel welcome at UC San Diego. Upon arrival, Dr. Hankins showed me a number of potential professors to work with across campus and I knew that I would be able to hit the ground running with all that support. I have been going ever since. My favorite thing though, being from New York, is how nice the weather is and all the opportunities to be outside all year long.

## [Social Sciences](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/index.html)

- [Lilly Amirjavadi](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/lilly-amirjavadi.html)
- [Lourdes Carmona](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/lourdes-carmona.html)
- [Morgen Chalmiers](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/morgen-chalmiers.html)
- [Bianca Freeman](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/bianca-freeman.html)
- Ramsey Ismail
- [Ruby Johnston](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/ruby-johnston.html)
- [Benjamin C. Kennedy](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/benjamin-c.-kennedy-.html)
- [Ana Lopez-Ricoy](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/ana-lopez-ricoy.html)
- [Shanelle Watkins](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/shanelle-watkins.html)