Calvin Xu
Brooklyn, NY
Class Of: 2012

Campus: Manhattan
Major: Computer Science, B.S.

Brooklyn native Calvin Loan Xu enjoyed his Fall 2010 study abroad at NYIT’s Nanjing campus so much that he decided to return to China for a second semester. He says the experience has shaped his career goals in unexpected ways.

"People in China have a unique perspective on world affairs because of its history, governmental policies and vast cultural differences when compared to the Western world,” explains the computer science major. “It made me reprioritize my academics — I currently have far more interest in international relations and languages.”

Calvin will continue his scholarly continent-hopping this summer in Germany. He was selected for a 10-week Research Internship in Science and Engineering (RISE) fellowship through the German Academic Exchange Service. While there, he will work with a doctoral student at Universität HCU Hamburg to research heat emissions and urban planning. More than 1,570 applicants applied to the 687 available projects.

Calvin credits his time at NYIT-Nanjing with pushing him to pursue further studies abroad.

“I have gained invaluable experience in working together with students from foreign cultures, and for whom English is not their first language. It is truly challenging, and I have made friendships that will last far longer than short time that I will stay in China.”