#titansreachhigher

“Each of us is on a unique journey in life, and our prior experiences culminate in how we carry out our present roles. I feel blessed that my dreams of working in the aviation industry and higher education have come true, and they were deepened after graduating from college and returning to teach at my high school alma mater. My graduate school alma mater gave me my first valuable experience in higher education after working at United Airlines. At Cal State Fullerton, everything from my professional past has come into place in my position as an academic librarian: teaching, counseling, interaction with people, customer service. I always try to meet people where they are in their respective journeys. It’s humbling because I learn a lot from my interactions with others. What I’m committed to is being a navigator, helping to guide people through the library’s resources. I feel I am at my most authentic self in what I’m doing right now.”

“Study abroad opens your mind to new possibilities. It helps you mature and helps you become more cosmopolitan. For many of our students who, like me, are the first ones in their family to go to college, it represents the first time they leave their family, their city...For me, it represents a unique opportunity to mentor them and support them.”

“I tell my students, you’re probably not going to look in the classifieds and see ‘Wanted: Anthropologist.’ But on career days, when I’m talking to employers, they tell me that they love anthropologically trained students. Anthropology students learn the art of observation, they learn how to talk to people, how to write, and they appreciate the importance of people’s beliefs and traditions. They’re gaining a holistic understanding of the world.”

“There’s this perception that PR is all about spin. On the first day of class, I ask my students, ‘What is PR?’ Then I put up a picture of Samantha Jones from Sex and the City. I point to her and say, ‘It’s not that!’ PR works best when it’s quieter, more immediate. The world is flooded with press releases, they’re all just blah blah blah. I try to teach my students the importance of the story. I get them to ask, ‘How can we create a compelling story that’s inclusive and positive? How can we help our client make society better?’”

“I always say that leadership is both a science and an art. There are core timeless principles—if followed, excellent leadership results emerge. That’s the science. The art of leadership lies in the beauty of divergent perspectives, creativity, and styles we bring from our own unique personalities, cultures, strengths, experiences, etcetera. That’s the creative art of leadership. We all want to make a difference in the world. What can you or I do to transform our society and humanity in the way we hope and dream? My Chinese heritage, like other ancient civilizations with thousands of years of history, sees ourselves on a continuum. I am just planting seeds of trees whose shade our generation will never sit in. Therefore the vision of the greater and brighter future is absolutely a must for any transformation process to start. We’re bonded by being a human race and must work in unity toward a vision that transcends ourselves, our generation, and our boundaries of thoughts. That’s what leaders do!”