Isabella Cerio is a junior at Syracuse University set to graduate Spring 2027. She entered with a major in International Relations at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and soon added a second major in Public Relations at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Outside of class, she serves as president of the Syracuse Art Club and is involved with the designer team in the Fashion And Design Society. She also enjoys volunteering at Dr. King Elementary in Syracuse, NY through Step Ahead Tech to facilitate an afterschool program for 4th and 5th graders. 

As a SUccess Scholar at SU, Isabella’s passion for education is driven by her family’s escape from the Khmer Rouge genocide which targeted individuals with any hint of intelligence. She is inspired by the courage and strength of her mother and grandmother to escape the country and establish a new life with many more opportunities. This influenced her educational interests in international security and diplomacy as well as international law and organization. 

In the future, Isabella hopes to enter the research field and continue her education in international affairs at a higher level. She is driven to understand and mitigate the complex geopolitical issues which have affected the current international sphere. She holds hope that continued international regulation and cooperation will contribute to a more peaceful world.