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Who We Are
Project IVY is an educational advisory and mentorship organization founded in Cambodia. We support high-potential students in navigating international education pathways with confidence and purpose.
About Project IVY
Building Cambodia's Academic Advising Infrastructure
Making world-class academic guidance a right, not a privilege — starting in Cambodia, and scaling across Southeast Asia.
Mission
Our Mission
To build a Khmer for Khmer ecosystem where experienced Cambodian scholars empower and equip the next generation with essential skills, allowing them to successfully navigate not only the admission process to global universities, but become future leaders and impactful global citizens.
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A world where Cambodian students are recognized, represented, and respected in global spaces—creating impact at home and around the world.
Our VisionWho We Are
The foundation behind Project IVY
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What We Do
We provide expert guidance on academic planning, application strategy, scholarships, and personal branding. Through our programs, advising, and resources, we help students turn their potential into opportunity.
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Why We Exist
We exist to level the playing field. Every Cambodian student deserves access to the right information, the right advisors, and the right opportunities to build a global future, regardless of their background.
Why Should You Choose Us
What sets Project IVY apart
Built by Khmer Scholars
Our advisors are not generic admissions coaches. They are Cambodian students and alumni who earned scholarships to the world's best schools and chose to come back to share everything they know. They understand your background, your barriers, and your potential in a way no outside consultant can.
Small, Selective, and Personal
Project IVY caps enrollment intentionally. Every student receives real one-on-one time with an advisor. You are not a number here. You are a scholar with a story worth telling, and we take the time to hear it.
Real Deliverables: Guaranteed
You will not leave Project IVY with just inspiration. You will leave with a drafted personal statement, a personalised school list, a completed activity resume, a test prep strategy, and an application roadmap, or we will give you a full refund.
Holistic Approach
We work on the whole application: your story, your strategy, your essays, your activities, and your mindset. We help you understand what top admissions officers actually look for and how to present who you are in a way that is authentic and compelling.
Our Advisors
Built by Khmer scholars who lived the journey
Project IVY is led by Cambodian scholars and mentors who have walked the path from local classrooms to global universities — and are dedicated to helping the next generation do the same.
Somphors Tann
Founder & Program Director
Harvard Graduate School of Education, Kenyon College, Aiglon College
Somphors is a Cambodian education professional and first-generation university graduate from Siem Reap, who earned scholarships to Aiglon College in Switzerland, Kenyon College in the US, and Harvard's Graduate School of Education. Drawing on her own journey, she founded Higher Education Dreamers, Kone Khmer Project, and Project IVY to advise high-achieving Cambodian students through college admissions, scholarships, and financial aid. She built this program to be the guidance she never had.
Kaitlyn Mady
University Admissions Advisor
Harvard College : Government & Educational Studies
Kaitlyn studies at Harvard while working as a Recruitment Ambassador at Harvard's own Admissions and Financial Aid office, making her one of the most uniquely positioned advisors in the program. As founder of Harvard's Khmer Students' Association and a volunteer in legal aid and youth music programs, she is an ideal guide for first-generation students navigating this process for the first time.
Virithkarvan (Vaughn) Van Chum
University Admissions Advisor
Harvard College : Biomedical Engineering (Secondary: Economics)
Vaughn's experience at Harvard spans water quality research, housing advocacy for homeless families, entrepreneurship, and market research consulting for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He brings a rare ability to connect across fields and at Project IVY, he helps students discover that their most valuable asset is often the exact intersection of interests they've been told doesn't make sense.
Peipei Soeung
University Admissions Advisor
Dartmouth College : Computer Science with Digital Arts (SHE-CAN Scholar)
Peipei works across software engineering, AI, and interactive media, including Python animation pipelines, Unity UI systems, and Khmer natural language processing research. At Project IVY, she helps students craft clear, compelling narratives from their academic and extracurricular experiences, especially for students applying to STEM and interdisciplinary programs.
Sonisa Leng
University Admissions Advisor
Dartmouth College (incoming) : previously Aiglon College (full IB scholarship)
Sonisa earned a full scholarship to the IB program at Aiglon College in Switzerland, where she founded the school's first K-pop dance club, served as MUN Secretary-General, and mentored peers across multiple subjects. A self-directed learner and natural teacher who also completed a teaching internship in Cambodia, she now heads to Dartmouth College and brings both her boarding school and university application journeys to Project IVY.
Ayden Hayes
University Admissions Advisor
Dartmouth College : Computer Science & Earth Science
Ayden bridges technology and real-world impact through machine learning and environmental data science at Dartmouth College. A Teaching Assistant across five CS courses and SAT tutor to 25+ students, he has a gift for making complex ideas accessible and for helping students see the intellectual depth already present in their own curiosity.
Sophuth Phon
University Admissions Advisor
Georgia State University : MSc Geosciences
Sophuth's research spans urban tree removal, flood risk modelling in Cambodia, and environmental policy advocacy. At Project IVY, he brings years of teaching experience and a grounded, research-backed approach to helping students understand their own academic profile and how to articulate it to the world's best universities.
Rathanakmealea (Mealea) Mang
University Admissions Advisor
Northwestern University : Data Science & Economics
From managing a $50,000 graduation exhibition at Liger Leadership Academy to conducting cross-university research at Northwestern, Mealea brings analytical depth and real leadership experience to her work with students. She helps Project IVY scholars build compelling, competitive profiles by understanding exactly how admissions readers weigh data, story, and initiative together.
Vanndet Va
University & Boarding School Admissions Advisor
Lafayette College : Civil Engineering
Vanndet is a Civil Engineering graduate from Lafayette College who has redesigned fish ladders in Wyoming, built homes with Habitat for Humanity in Cambodia, and now serves as Assistant Project Manager on the Chea Chanto College project. At Project IVY, he brings the same hands-on, community-first mindset to helping students build their academic future — and is one of our advisors with direct boarding school experience through the ASSIST program.
Rasy Hai
University Admissions Advisor
Asian University for Women : BSc Public Health & Environmental Sciences
Rasy holds a degree from the Asian University for Women and currently works as an Education program Coordinator at Chea Chanto College. With national-level experience in policy research, curriculum development, and teacher training, she has mentored hundreds of students across Cambodia. At Project IVY, she helps students craft authentic, compelling narratives for university applications.
Jennifer Chheang Kheng
University Admissions Advisor
Lehigh University (incoming) : previously Aiglon College
Jennifer attended Aiglon College before heading to Lehigh University to pursue a 4+1 program in Chemical Engineering. At Aiglon, she founded a jewelry-making club, completed the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, and was part of the CubeSat and Philanthropy teams. Later, she volunteered at a provincial hospital in Ratanakiri. She also attended summer programs including Yale Young Global Scholars and a psychology program at the University of Hong Kong.
Sokniza Noeun
University Admissions Advisor
Babson College (incoming, SHE-CAN Scholar) : Business Administration
Niza will attend Babson College this fall with a focus on Business Analytics and Entrepreneurship. She brings experience in admissions advising, educational coordination, and outreach. At Project IVY, she offers both professional expertise and personal insight into what it takes to build a strong, honest application.
Pichanbormey (Violette) Pisith
University Admissions Advisor
Denison University (incoming, SHE-CAN Scholar) : Politics & Public Affairs / PPE
Violette graduated as Valedictorian, became a SHE-CAN scholar, and was elected cohort leader before organising InterLawked, a youth initiative promoting legal literacy and human rights through Khmer folktales. At Project IVY, she advises students through authentic storytelling, leadership, and writing, with a particular focus on helping young people find confidence in their own voice.
Sreynich Vann
University Admissions Advisor
Bucknell University (incoming, SHE-CAN Scholar) : Environmental Studies
Sreynich is a SHE-CAN Scholar and Stanford Climate Leaders Fellow whose high school career included an internship at APSARA, contributing to the excavation of historical artefacts and exploring the intersection of history and geology. At Project IVY, she helps students connect their interests, experiences, and values into a cohesive, compelling application narrative.
Start your journey
Your Future Starts Here
Please contact us today to register for a free 1-on-1 advising session with a Project IVY advisor!