A father, a daughter and a shared dream

The father 

When Dr Decharut Sukkumnoed walked the halls of ISS in 1996, he found himself immersed in what he described as a ‘Mini United Nations’. From him, ISS was a vibrant world of debates, friendships and global perspectives. As a student of Agricultural and Rural Development, he thrived in ISS’s dynamic environment, filled with people from diverse professional backgrounds. ‘It was fun and useful,’ he recalls. ‘ISS helped me see the world differently.’ 

The daughter 

Thirty years later, his daughter Warisa Sukkumnoed would follow in his footsteps. She is currently an MA candidate in the Social Policy for Development (SPD) major. She’s driven by her experience as a journalist and political activist. ‘The SPD major aligned with my values,’ she shares. ‘It’s both practical and critical. It helps me understand how to serve my community.'

For Warisa, her father's stories of ISS shaped her expectations: cooking Thai food with roommates, group debates and lifelong friendships. ‘Now that I’m here,’ she says, ‘I understand why ISS was so special to him. The friendships, the small interactive classes, the global exposure. It all lives up to what he told me.’  

A common goal 

Dr Decharut, for his part, was overjoyed when Warisa chose ISS. ‘It looked like a dream,’ he says. ‘I showed her my photo album right away. I believed then, and I still do, that ISS is the best place for her to study.’ 

Though decades apart, both father and daughter speak of a shared spirit that defines ISS: living together, learning from diversity and hoping for a better future. Across generations, ISS continues to evolve while keeping the essence of its community alive.

Photos featured in this article were shared by Dr Decharut Sukkumnoed