Meet The Crew

Born in Colorado and raised by Vietnamese immigrants, Christopher is a second
generation Vietnamese American, writer, poet, visual artist, and an activist for AANHPI communities. They are currently pursuing Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and minors in Ethnic Studies and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado-Boulder. With a strong interest in critical ethnic studies, Asian American studies, and critical refugee studies, he is interested in applying to graduate school to explore and reflect on the decolonial futures that are continually being made within and outside these fields. Having started AALA during the fall semester of 2022, he hopes that AALA can be a place to discover, discuss, and reflect on Asian American and diasporic culture and anti-Asian racism. Outside of school, you can always find him at a café near you or in his cramped room enjoying black tea or a cà phê sữa đá. On other occasions, you can also find him drawing, climbing, playing the piano, or waiting for the next song(s) from Kendrick Lamar.

Born and raised in Aurora, Colorado to Vietnamese immigrant parents, Andy is a first-generation undergraduate junior studying Biomedical Engineering alongside pre-med and minors in electrical engineering and biochemistry at CU Boulder. With a deep passion for providing access and informed decision-making of healthcare technologies as well as fostering heartfelt connections among people, he hopes to broaden knowledge and access for underrepresented communities – empowering people to live their lives to their utmost potential. Connecting with AALA, he wishes to make lasting friendships and foster a community that values understanding, appreciation, and multi-faceted growth. You’ll often find him solo – on a walk singing along to music, taking pictures of local landscape/wildlife, playing video games, reading, or screaming at raves. He’s usually quieter in group settings, so try to catch him in smaller groups for conversation!

Nina is a sophomore studying Computer Science with a minor in Creative Technology and Design. As a transfer student from CU Denver, she joined AALA in hopes of making new friends and sparking genuine discussions about Asian American diasporic experiences. She is Vietnamese-American and uses her passion for Asian American media as a way to listen and empathize with stories she can identify with. When she’s not busy, she likes to draw digitally, crochet, travel, spend time with friends and family, and expand her Sonny Angel and Smiski collection!

Jenny is a freshman at CU Boulder majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology. She is passionate about understanding the human mind and human behavior, as well as learning about and discovering new ways to help with mental health. She joined AALA in hopes of connecting with like-minded peers and to find a safe space to openly talk about Asian American identity and culture. Through the medium of drawing and painting she has created many pieces depicting her own experiences as a Korean-American. During her pastimes, she’ll be sketching, reading a good book, or listening to R&B music.

Originally from Bloomington, Indiana, Soph is currently a senior at CU Boulder pursuing a B.M in Jazz Studies, and a minor in English. She has always enjoyed working for communities created around social justice issues, especially those surrounding minority experiences. She hopes to delve more into this area through the subjects of AALA, and the people who are a part of it. She also hopes to use her strong interests in media, art, and music, and passion for helping the vulnerable, in order to continue to raise awareness of minority issues in the future. When not being professionally involved, Soph loves to write and produce her own music, or search for good eats.

Matthew is born in San Francisco, CA as the son of Toisanese immigrants, and he has been part of the Critical Ethnic Studies Ph.D. program since 2022. Matthew’s research is in the field of Critical Sports Studies, where he explores the transnational, ethnic, racial, and gendered boundaries of “home" and “team" throughout the life-course of one’s identity formation, transition, and exit from physical activity. Much of his research is informed by his own experiences and perceptions of Asian American identity formation, and he comes to AALA to encourage everyone to trust in their appreciation of similarities and the differences of being Asian American. As a graduate student mentor, he also wants to help demystify the graduate school process and break the door open for undergraduates who otherwise wouldn’t know where to go for grad advice. In his free time, Matthew likes to cook, stream anime and tv shows, and practice meditation through movement!

Valerie is a senior at CU, majoring in Asian Studies with a focus in Korean Studies and minoring in TESOL. She aspires to work in interpreting and teaching English overseas, specifically in Indonesia and South Korea. Last year, Valerie transferred to CU Boulder from Colorado State University and was looking to make new friends by joining AALA. For her, AALA has become a safe place to meaningfully reflect on Asian American issues and her own experiences growing up as an Indonesian-American. She has always been interested in Asian American and Ethnic Studies. In her free time, she enjoys reading and watching Korean historical fiction pieces, particularly those set during the colonial era.

Christina is currently a student at University of Denver pursuing her certificate in UX/UI Design. She aspires to work in the gaming industry in UX/UI Design. Christina is Christopher’s older sister! She has been very supportive from the beginning of AALA and contributed to creating/designing this website that you are currently experiencing. While recently she has been busy with her career ventures, she will continue to support us from afar.