Board of Directors

2024 Board of Directors

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President

Joanne Lai, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Term began: 2022

Joanne is a psychotherapist. She specializes in mind-body approaches in the areas of trauma, stress-related struggles, relationship challenges, and cultural issues. Her main passions are supporting women to find safety and comfort in their own bodies, reconnect to their authentic selves, and reclaim their voices.  As a Taiwanese and Chinese-Thai female immigrant growing up in Asian and Western countries, Joanne has a unique perspective in her work with the API community and with the clients she serves. Joanne is also a Gyrotonic® Movement Instructor at her private studio in Fresno. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new foods, traveling, being in nature, and spending time with her family and pets.

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Vice President

Dr. Dana Riley, Manager of Clinical Services/Child Psychologist, EPU Children's Center

Term began: 2021

Dana is a Child Psychologist who specializes in Infant Mental Health for children 0 to 5 years old. She describes herself as a hapa (multiracial) Japanese-Portuguese, cisgender woman from Hawaii. Her favorite thing about her culture is the food, particularly malasadas (Portuguese donuts) and andagi (Okinawa donuts) – both fried dough, both have no hole!

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Treasurer

Maybo Heu, Nurse Practitioner

Term began: 2021
Maybo is a Nurse Practitioner in the Central Valley and is honored to serve on the CCAPW Board of Directors as the Treasurer. She is a first-generation Hmong American woman who believes in empowering AAPI women through higher education. Maybo’s other community work includes working with local community-based organizations to advocate for health and wellness in the AAPI community. 

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Secretary

Jennifer Xiong, 

Term began: 2024

Bio coming soon 

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Dr. Varaxy Yi Borromeo, Associate Professor of Higher Education Administration and Leadership at Kreman School of Education & Human Development, California State University, Fresno

Term began: 2021

Varaxy Yi is an associate professor of Higher Education Administration and Leadership at Fresno State (beginning fall 2023). She also serves as the Director of the Research Center and is a core faculty member in the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership. As a first-generation Khmer American graduate and faculty, Varaxy is committed to advancing knowledge to serve racially minoritized communities, specifically Southeast Asian American (SEAA) students. She appreciates the collectivism within her Khmer community and how we show love for each other through food and nourishment. 

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Dr. Vicky Xiong-Lor, Lecturer at Kremen School of Education & Human Development, California Sate University, Fresno
Term began: 2022

Vicky has a passion for preserving languages for future generations. Her work in Hmong language reclamation has been instrumental in developing Hmong language, literacy, culture, and history standards and Hmong-centric ethnic studies curriculum for Hmong teachers nationwide. Vicky is also a member of the National Hmong Educator Coalition and serves as a Hmong language consultant and Hmong-centric ethnic studies curriculum leader where she works with teachers across the nation in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California under the non-profit organization, MN Zej Zog. Alongside teaching full-time as a World Language teacher at Clovis High School and Buchanan High School in the Clovis Unified School District, she is a Hmong language consultant for three charter schools in Minnesota. In addition, Vicky prepares future Hmong teachers to teach in the dual language immersion programs and high school world language classrooms in the Central Valley in the Hmong Bilingual Authorization Program (Hmong BAP) at Fresno State. 

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Dr. Ahran Koo, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Art Education, California State University, Fresno
Term began: 2023
Ahran is an associate professor of art education at Fresno State. As a first-generation Korean immigrant artist and art educator, she promotes the efficacy of art to address cultural and social awareness. Locally and globally, she focuses on Asian art and culture, socially engaged and community art, and critical multiculturalism, encourages interdisciplinary collaboration through civic engagement, and advocates culturally responsive/sustaining pedagogy.

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Audrey Tan, Physical Therapist
Term began: 2023

Audrey is the owner of Body Ease Physical Therapy and Yoga, and has been helping people improve their health and wellness for more than 20 years. She is a licensed physical therapist, specializing in Fascial Counterstrain, and a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher. Audrey is a first-generation Chinese-American, who has a strong desire to support and empower others through education, wellness, collaboration and community building. She credits both her mother and grandmother for setting examples of resilient Asian women business owners, as well as instilling in her the belief that through education and hard work, anything is possible.

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Crystal Togo Ansay, Broker/Owner, Diamond Realtors
Term began: 2023

Born and raised in Clovis, California, Crystal is the oldest daughter of 3 girls and is Japanese American. Crystal is a 2nd generation Realtor and the broker/owner of DIAMOND REALTORS®, a local real estate company. She runs her brokerage, actively helps buyers and sellers, manages/trains all her agents and if that isn't enough, manages all her personal rentals too. Crystal has been very active in AREAA (Asian Real Estate Association of America) since 2010, she's been on the local board for over 13 years and is one of founding members. Holding the position of President, Vice President, past President/advisor, secretary, and membership director. She is currently sitting on the AREAA National board as VP of Member Services and just finished her term as National A-List chair. Crystal also sits on two committees at her church, United Japanese Christian Church. The women’s league and the Healthy Church Initiative task force where she can share her talents and insights with her church community. Crystal is engulfed in her community and had donated hundreds of hours volunteering her time to numerous organizations. Crystal has her master's in teaching specializing in curriculum and instruction allowing her to take complex real estate transactions and break it down for her clients to understand. Crystal's passion for real estate is obvious and is reflected in her going above and beyond to exceed all her client’s expectations. She made the AREAA A-list (Top Real Estate agents in the country) 4 years in a row. She is the wife to her college sweetheart and the mother to a passionate 7-year-old girl and energetic 3-year-old boy!     

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Ziang Her, Owner, Ziang Enterprises LLC

Term began: 2023
Born in Luang Prabang, Laos, Ziang emigrated from the refugee camps in Thailand after fleeing Laos to the United States with her family after the end of the Vietnam War and has made the Central Valley her home. She graduated with both a BS and a BA from Fresno State. As an artist and business owner, Ziang uses her experience to educate and empower artists and business owners with the necessary tools to succeed as an adjunct professor, a guest speaker and a consultant to small business through the California Hmong Chamber of Commerce, the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno Arts Council. When not working, Ziang spends her spare time with Nick and Sally, her Mini-Rex Hotot rabbit, and tending to her growing collection of house plants. You can find her art online at ziangher.art. 

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Rosalyn Jamili,

Term began: 2023

Bio coming soon

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Michelle Fabros,

Term began: 2024

Bio coming soon 

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Monica Chahal, EdD, Vice President of Instruction, Clovis Community College

Term began: 2024

Bio coming soon 

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Jenny Banh, Associate Professor, Asian American Studies and Anthropology, California State University Fresno

Term began: 2024

Bio coming soon 

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Mai See Xiong

Term began: 2024

Bio coming soon 

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2024 Advisory Board

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Dr. Gena Lew-Gong, Lecturer, Asian American Studies at California State University, Fresno 

Term began: 2024

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Ya-Shu Liang, Program Director, Fresno Clinical PsychD Program, Alliant International University

Term began: 2024

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Pa Nhia Xiong, Assistant Professor at California State University, Fresno

Term began: 2024

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Past Board Members

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Joydee Padua, Owner and Director, Halau Hula I Ka La (Hula Studio) and Halau Hula I Ka La Cultural Foundation

Term: 2021-2022

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Dr. Kimiko Vang, Deputy Director of Employment & Training Branch, Merced County Human Services Agency

Term: 2021-2022

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Jamie Xiong-Vang, Attorney, McCormick Barstow LLP

Term: 2019-2023

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Millie Thao, Director, Physician Marketing & Communications, Community Health System

Term: 2022-2023

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Gaonoucci Belle Vang, Student Success Project Coordinator, California State University, Fresno

Term: 2022-2023

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