Meet the 2026 Shansi Fellows to Japan

Please join us in welcoming the newest Shansi Fellows headed to Japan. Bennett Elder ‘25 will work with the Office of International Programs and the English Language Faculty at J.F. Oberlin University in Machida. Ellie Hyde ‘26 will work in Hiroshima with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and nongovernmental organizations ANT-Hiroshima and Green Legacy Hiroshima.

Bennett Elder ‘25 majored in East Asian Studies and Mathematics with a minor in Studio Art. At Oberlin, Bennett’s studies bridged and interweaved disciplines, with mathematical concepts, artistic practice, and explorations of Japanese history, imagery, and daily life often occupying the same academic and creative endeavors. Bennett was a long-time performing member of Oberlin College Taiko, serving as a treasurer, co-chair, and ExCo instructor for the group throughout his tenure. He was also the Vice President of Student Life on Oberlin’s Student Senate, working to support the interests of the student body and create bridges between students and the administration.

Since graduating, Bennett has served as the STEM Fellow for Oberlin College’s Center for Learning, Education, and Research in the Sciences (CLEAR). Through his work with CLEAR, he has designed and facilitated trainings and workshops for CLEAR mentors, coordinated across departments on a CLEAR newsletter, and fostered community and belonging amongst STEM students. In his free time, Bennett continues to play taiko, volunteers with the Taiko Community Alliance and TaikoVentures, and studies architectural design. At J.F. Oberlin, Bennett hopes to continue to support students and their interests, while exploring his own and furthering his career aspirations.

Ellie Hyde ‘26 majored in Economics with a concentration in Mathematics and a minor in Statistical Modeling. She has worked as an economics teaching fellow and chaired the Economics Majors Committee, where she focused on increasing gender diversity within the major. In her third year, Ellie was named a Geneen Scholar at Oberlin College, which kindled her interest in regulatory policy and inspired her to intern at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Beyond her academic and professional work, Ellie is deeply engaged with her Japanese American heritage through leadership in the Japanese Student Association and through two Winter Term projects researching the A-bomb survivor trees of Hiroshima.