Chuyi Yang

As a Hmong American, growing up meant being part of one of the smallest ethnic groups in the Asian diaspora. Throughout my life I have answered the question "what is Hmong?" too many times to count. Growing up Hmong meant explaining how my parents and grandparents immigrated to the U.S. as refugees of the Vietnam War. It also meant being significantly underrepresented in education. In my undergraduate studies, I worked extensively through student organizing to support and improve the diversity of the student body. As a graduate student representative of the PBS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, I hope to do the same within our department so that others like me can envision themselves here at the university and in academia.