Interview by Annie Lin
What is your role at Yale?
I work as Assistant Director of the Richard U. Light Fellowship in the Center for International and Professional Experiences. I advise students interested in studying abroad on approved programs in China, Japan, and Korea, and also manage the Light Fellowship, which provides full funding for over 100 Yale students to do intensive language study in East Asia each year.
Can you share a memorable place from where you grew up?
I grew up on Long Island and didn’t get my driver’s license until after college, so I was quite limited in where I could go. Luckily, I lived within walking distance to the public library, where I spent most summer afternoons. Actually, I probably spent most of the time playing basketball with my friends at the park next to the library, but the library was always a good place to grab some water and escape the heat whenever we needed a break!
What inspires you about education today based on your experiences across greater China and the U.S.?
I am inspired by educators who work to build bridges across borders and cultures for students around the world. Students today have more opportunities to come together and engage with peers from around the world than ever before, which I believe will lay the groundwork for more international cooperation down the road.
You recently started a new position at Yale – how does it feel?
It’s challenging to move to an entirely new division and department, but both my previous office and my new office made the transition very smooth. I am excited that my new position will allow me to work more closely with students and look forward to continuing to grow professionally at Yale.
Do you have any advice for others considering developing their career path at Yale?
Look for opportunities to branch out of your department and interact with people around the university who are doing work you are interested in. There are lots of opportunities available at Yale but it can be difficult to keep up with everything in STARS – I think word of mouth is a more reliable way to learn about openings that might be a good match.
Is it ok to share? Welcoming Baby Autumn to the world, how does it feel to be a working parent?
Being a working parent is tough! I will say that having Autumn has definitely helped improve my time management skills – there are always things that need to get done and never enough time to do it all so you really need to think about how to best use the time you have.
Will you do anything special on the baby’s 100th day?
We haven’t put too much thought into it, but when she hit two months we bought two cupcakes so maybe we should pick up 100 cupcakes for her 100th day?
How do you navigate the differences in cultures that you experience in your work and at home?
Growing up as a Chinese American in a largely Jewish community, I have always had to operate in different cultures in and out of home and have grown very comfortable doing so. I generally try to match how I interact with people to what will make them feel most comfortable, but most other parts of who I am remain the same in both realms. Mutual respect and a willingness to learn from others are two guiding principles that have really helped me successfully navigate cultural differences.
Having lived in different communities and met people from many walks of life, how do you see Yale staff better embracing the diversity of its community?
The fact that Yale is so large is both a blessing and a curse. It’s great because I think almost anyone can find a community that they identify with within the greater Yale community, but this also makes it a lot easier to avoid interacting with those who are not in that community. To better embrace the diversity of its community, I think Yale staff could focus not only on finding their community at Yale, but also spend time and energy fostering community in their immediate workplace, which is usually made up of a diverse group of individuals.
What’s your favorite comfort food?
Mac and cheese!