Vanessa is recognized for her dedication helping international students overcome challenges and fostering intercultural understanding throughout her undergraduate career. As an orientation leader in the International Student Orientation Program (ISOP) and mentor in the International Family Tree in the Columbia Mentoring Initiative (CMI), she has made countless students feel a sense of home away from home through providing one-on-one mentorship and support. She adapted creatively to build community despite the virtual format of ISOP 2020 through hosting virtual spaces for people to connect despite being physically apart and developing guides to resources. Vanessa's academic interests in the economics of language policies - investigating how language policies interacts with globalization, especially in developing countries with high ethnolinguistic diversity - exemplifies her drive to advance and advocate for equitable development in the world.