“Please, please, please make friends with upperclassmen,” she encourages today’s students. "They’re an invaluable resource who can show you the ropes, share their resources, and give some of the best advice.” This dedication to the MICA community shone through during her ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ years, where she served as a student ambassador and program coordinator for the Office of Culture and Identity, and founded the Brown Asian Student Union so that "…students who looked like me would feel less alone.”

Since graduating, Leili has completed two residencies, co-juried the 2024 Stick in the Dirt MICA Animation Festival, taught workshops, and exhibited her work—all while working full-time as an art director and project manager for an XR startup. Proud to have found a sustainable path in art, she credits her MICA experience with shaping her journey. “When you’re far from home, having a community of people willing to open their arms and accept you as you are is incredible,” she reflects. “I left MICA with strong bonds and wonderful memories.”