“I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy.” - Marie Curie
Featured Articles
“A culture of Caring” (Penn University Life, 2021)
“How to engage academic wellness services” (Penn Today, 2021)
“A charter bus to Chinatown” (Penn Today, 2022)
“Penn announces the largest one-time increase to minimum Ph.D. stipend” (Penn Today, 2022)
“2022-23 Graduate Leadership Awards” (Penn GSC, 2023)
“Penn’s 2022-23 Graduate Student Leadership Awards” (Penn Today, 2023)
2023 Penn Global Graduate Student Citizenship Award Winner (Penn Global, 2023)
Whether in science or in everyday life, I firmly believe that each individual can create changes and make a difference. Motivated by this notion, I have always been passionate about advocacy, community service, and student governance. During my time as a Ph.D. student at UPenn, I held different leadership roles on campus, served on different University’s Council & Committees, stayed involved in our student government (GAPSA), and participated in a plethora of volunteering and outreach activities.
In 2021-2022, I led GAPSA’s International Student Affairs (ISA) Committee, working with our incredible committee members and other graduate & undergraduate students to advocate for international students’ issues exacerbated by the pandemic. Additionally, I co-led GAPSA Executive Board Bylaws & Restructuring effort that recently resulted in many exciting GAPSA constitutional changes, built-in accountability for officers, and new opportunities for students to get involved. In 2022, I served as GAPSA’s Vice President of Advocacy, helping to shape and align our student government’s advocacy efforts. In the same year, I was elected to serve as the Executive Vice President, serving as the Chief of Staff of our student government. As our student government’s VP, I worked with my colleagues to identify and lower barriers, empower, holistically support our student body, and improve communication & transparency. Our accomplishments are summarized here.
Besides, from 2019-2023, I served as a Weingarten Ambassador of the Weingarten Center at UPenn. I also served on the International Student Advisory Board and the International Student Table for Advocacy & Relations (ISTAR), working closely with the International Student & Scholar Services at Penn to advocate for international students’ needs. Within my home Chemistry Department, I served as the Chair of the Professional Advancement Committee of Penn Women+ in Chemistry, helping to organize symposia as well as professional development events and initiatives.
For my extensive service and leadership at Penn, I was awarded the 2023 Dr. Andy Binns Award for Outstanding Service to Graduate and Professional Student Life - an award for “graduate or professional students, upon their graduation from Penn, who have significantly impacted or extensively contributed to graduate and professional student life at Penn through outstanding service involvement in student life programs, initiatives, or organizations.” I also won the Penn Global Citizenship Award 2023, which is for “a graduating international student who has best exemplified a spirit of global citizenship during their time at Penn.” As the graduate winner of the award, I was recognized for being “an exemplary steward of global citizenship and leader of Penn's international community.” I am grateful for these recognitions, and I feel more inspired each day to become a better citizen and person.
Currently, I serve as the Co-Chair of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Postdoc Alliance (CPA).