“Your identity is not an obstacle to overcome. Your identity is your superpower.”
Who I am:
For too long I got in my own way...
For many years my self-concept was defined by Otherness. As a biracial Vietnamese American woman, I grew up with messages that I didn’t look like other people, that my perceived racial ambiguity was confusing, and that there was no place for me to feel recognized and included. This created self-criticism and self-doubt, which directly impacted how I showed up in the world. Playing small personally and professionally became my default, and thus limited my goals and dreams.
I have learned that I am in control of my choices, and I have the power to define my greatness and my possibilities. Believing that I have personal power to make the change I want in my life is liberating! That mindset has helped me feel brave enough to:
leave an unhealthy job without having a new job lined up,
express my opinions and ideas boldly, and
take action steps to actualize my career goals.
My experience and perspective:
I have a huge heart that brings compassion, deep introspection, and humor to every conversation.
My commitment to social justice and service has driven my professional trajectory. I’ve been a powerhouse of support for individuals, work groups, and organizations in higher education for over 25 years.
During my extensive career, I’ve helped young people of color successfully navigate predominantly white institutions; I’ve had a significant impact on personal, cultural, and organizational change; and I’ve sat alongside administrators, task forces, and leaders to help them develop policies and programs for education, engagement, diversity, and inclusion.
I’m a certified professional diversity coach through CoachDiversity Institute, a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, and a certified practitioner for administering the Myers Brigg Type Indicator®. I possess an M.A. in International & Intercultural Management and of course, am a proud visual artist.
